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Estrellas enjoy some Thanksgiving Pie

Orioles outfielder hits grand slam, nearly cycles in rout of Toros


Dominican Winter League

Estrellas 11, Toros 2

Orioles veteran Felix Pie fell a triple shy of the cycle and hit an eighth-inning grand slam off Yunior Novoa to lead Estrellas' 12-hit attack. Cubs prospect Junior Lake, who joined Estrellas following a stint in the Arizona Fall League, hit his first homer in the first inning and Donell Linares went 3-for-5 with a pair of RBIs. Mat Gamel (Brewers) drew three walks and knocked home a run in support of reliever Esmerling Vasquez, who recorded two outs in the fifth for the win. Toros starter Gonzalez Germen took the loss after allowing two runs on two hits and four walks over 2 1/3 innings.

Gigantes 5, Aguilas 4

Yeral Sanchez and Luke Montz (Marlins) homered to fuel a three-run insurance rally in the eighth inning for the Gigantes. Astros farmhand Brian Bogusevic went deep for Aguilas, who scored three times in the ninth but failed to tie the game. Roman Colon got the win with a pair of scoreless innings while Marino Salas took the loss after surrendering a run in the fourth.
Felix Pie is batting .300 this winter, including .395 with 12 RBIs in his last 10 games. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Licey 5, Escogido 0

Mario Santiago threw 4 1/3 scoreless innings, striking out five, in the Tigres' shutout. Leones pitcher Edward Valdez and pitching coach Gary Ruby were both ejected (Valdez in the fourth, Ruby in the third) and Licey hurler Victor Marte was tossed in the ninth, all by home plate umpire Quinn Wolcott. Valdez and Marte both hit batters in the game. Christian Marrero and Juan Rivera (D-backs) drove in runs for Licey.

Mexican Winter League

Hermosillo 11, Guasave 6

Rockies infielder Jorge Cantu homered, Mark Hamilton (Cardinals) knocked home two runs and former Major Leaguer Karim Garcia had three hits and an RBI for Hermosillo. Mario Valenzuela slugged his eighth home run for Guasave.

Mexicali 6, Navojoa 4

Former Major Leaguer Geronimo Gil drove in five runs thanks in-part to a three-run homer in the first for Mexicali. Christian Zazueta and Flavio Romero went deep for Navojoa. Mexicali starter Oscar Rivera struck out four and held the Mayos to one run on seven hits over five innings before ambidextrous Yankees reliever Pat Venditte pitched a pair of frames. Sergio Lizarraga allowed six runs in taking the loss.

Obregon 3, Culiacan 2

Carlos Valencia's three-run homer in the fourth inning, his ninth, was the difference for Obregon. Royals starter Luis Mendoza was the first of eight pitchers used by Obregon, allowing two runs on five hits over five frames. Alejandro Armenta started for Culiacan and was charged with two runs over seven frames before the Nationals' Oliver Perez worked the final two frames.

Los Mochis, Mazatlan (postponed)

Puerto Rican Winter League

Caguas 9, Carolina 7

Marlins outfielder Jorge Padilla went 3-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs and Andy Gonzalez knocked home two runs behind starter Nelson Figueroa, who struck out seven and allowed one run on six hits over five innings in the win. Gigantes starter Cesar Valdez was rocked for six runs on nine hits in two innings en route to his second loss. Radames Nazario came in as a defensive replacement for Florida's Ozzie Martinez and added a two-run homer in the seventh for Carolina.

Mayaguez 4, Ponce 0

Dodgers right-hander Travis Schlichting struck out six and held Ponce to just four hits over 5 2/3 innings for his first win. Martin Maldonado homered while Randy Ruiz and Jesus Feliciano each knocked in a run. Giancarlo Alvarado, a former Dodgers' farmhand, started for Ponce and was charged with three runs on four hits over six innings.

Venezuelan Winter League

Caribes 4, Aragua 3

Jose Gil homered and Mike Wilson plated three runs in support of Ramon Ramirez, who started for Caribes and allowed a pair of runs on seven hits over six frames. Guillermo Rodriguez homered in the fifth inning for Aragua in support of starter Scot Drucker, who fell to 2-3 after walking six batters and allowing three runs on six hits over four innings.

Caracas 7, Lara 3 (11 innings)

Carlos Rivero drew a go-ahead bases-loaded walk in the 11th inning, setting up a three-run double by Jesus Aguilar as Caracas held on for the late win. Josh Wilkie (1-1) pitched two scoreless innings for the win while Cesar Jimenez (1-2) took the loss after allowing four runs on two hits in 1 2/3 innings.

Margarita 11, Magallanes 5

Jose Castillo doubled three times and knocked home two runs while Javier Brito and Frank Diaz plated three runs apiece in the victory. Starter Angel Marquez (1-1) picked up his first win despite allowing four runs on four hits in five innings. Navegantes starter Ronald Bay (1-1) was charged with six runs -- five earned -- on seven hits and a walk over 2 1/3 innings.

La Guaira 11, Zulia 3

Cesar Suarez smacked a two-run homer in the sixth innings and knocked home four runs in La Guaira's win. Gregor Blanco, Eduardo Escobar, Ray Olmedo, Ray Olmedo, Jose Martinez and Miguel Rojas all had RBIs in support of starter Shairon Martis (Nationals), who held Zulia to a pair of runs on six hits over 5 1/3 innings for his second win. Jesus Pirela suffered the loss after allowing four runs on three hits and a walk, retiring two batters. Henry Rodriguez and Colin Curtis (Yankees) went deep for Zulia.

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Venezuelan Winter League

•Ezequiel Carrera (CF, Navegantes del Magallanes): 2-for-4, R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, BB. One of Carrera’s best games in awhile as he reached base in 3 of his 5 plate appearances and pounded out 2 extra base hits. The homer was his 2nd this offseason.

•Rob Bryson (RP, Bravos de Margarita): 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 1 K. Only Bryson’s third outing in three weeks. His opportunities have been limited, but that is the life of a prospect in a place where winning is everything in Venezuela.

•Jesus Aguilar (PH-DH, Leones del Caracas): 1-for-2, 2B, 3 RBI, BB, K. It doesn’t matter where Aguilar has played this year, he just continues to hit and be a run producer. He came in late as a pinch hitter and got the deciding 3-run double in extra innings.

•Luis Valbuena (2B, Cardenales de Lara): 2-for-3, RBI, BB. Valbuena is on a mini hot streak as in his last two games he is now 6-for-8 at the plate with a homer and 4 RBI. He also has 21 walks and 21 strikeouts in 34 games.

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Veterans, prospects mix in Winter Leagues

Current big leaguers, players trying to re-emerge dot landscape

By Evan Drellich / MLB.com | 11/25/11 9:26 PM EST

Prospects may get the most attention in the Winter Leagues, but a look at a box score from the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico or Venezuela could reveal some names worthy of a double take.

Look: there's Geronimo Gil playing ball in Mexico, side-by-side with some of the game's top prospects. In the Dominican, sitting near the top of the rankings in ERA, that's 24-year-old Yankees' right-hander Hector Noesi, on the same leaderboard as 32-year-old Lenny Dinardo. Dinardo hasn't pitched in the Majors since 2009.

Brandon Belt, the Giants prospect, hit well in the Dominican, while Oscar Salazar and Edgardo Alfonzo carried respectable numbers in Venezuela. How time flies: Alfonzo has already been out of the Majors for half a decade.
Dmitri Young, who retired in 2010, has lost nearly 60 pounds and is playing in Venezuela. (Michael Zagaris/Getty Images)

The Winter Leagues, it appears, are the closest thing baseball has to a time warp outside of Cooperstown.

"When you learn to play, when you grow up, and you sign a professional contract, that's your dream, you come to love that," Alfonzo said by phone. "To play baseball, you love the game. That's what I'm doing -- I still love the game. A couple weeks ago I was playing, and I got a chance to go to Japan. I just turned 38. Let's see what happens. Right now, I'm here to play the game, I'm having a good time playing it, and that's my passion."

The Winter Leagues may actually be baseball's truest melting pot: Besides the prospects and the big leaguers past and present, you have guys with varying motives. Some play because they want to represent their country in the Caribbean Series. Some, like 38-year-old Dmitri Young, want to get back to the bigs. And some just want to break Spring Training on the 40-man roster for the first time.

It makes for a competitive environment for everybody involved.

"You have guys that are trying to impress somebody so they can get an offer to go somewhere, whether they're an older player like myself or younger players," said Young by phone from Venezuela, where he's on the comeback trail after dropping nearly 60 pounds. "And then you have the Venezuelan guys that are here. You have the younger guys that are in the Minor Leagues who start off the [winter] season, and then the guys that around this time and after Thanksgiving come down and start playing. The league is already highly competitive, but by the end of the month, it's going to be even more competitive, and that's what I want, the competition."

Going to play winter ball certainly can't hurt a comeback chance. Young's decision to give it a go came from a June conversation with former big-league reliever Mike Timlin, one that prompted Young to reshape his body. Battling diabetes, Young's weight had crept over 300 pounds, but he felt he always had a little left in the tank after announcing his retirement in the spring of 2010. The conversation with Timlin made him wonder just how much more he would have if he could get in shape.

Already, Young said his 50-pound weight-loss goal has been exceeded, and his T-shirt size is down to extra-large. His health will benefit mightily, and now he wants to make inroads on the field, re-learning his body at his new weight.

"I've been swinging it, but it's one of those things where I've been out of the game for two years, now it's just getting re-acclimated to playing, getting the rust off, just getting back to being a player again," Young said. "And that's the challenge right there in itself. Most people just go to Spring Training, say 'I'm making a comeback.' But you got to prove yourself to see exactly where you're at, and that's why I wanted to come play winter ball, for that reason."

To be sure, there's also a cultural element that continuously brings older players back to the game. They grow up with it.

Alfonzo, who is Venezuelan, relishes playing in front of his family. Although he said he could pursue the Japan opportunity, Alfonzo did not speak as adamantly about returning to pro ball as Young did. If he gets an offer, cool, he'll think about it. If not, well, he'll probably come back and play again sometime.

"You play in front of your fans, you play in your own country," Alfonzo said. "You want your family to see you, to come and watch you play, and the people who really back you up or help you to be somebody, now you got an opportunity to play in front of them. It's great, it's something that you always want to do. My family, they came to stay and watch me when I was playing with the Mets, but it's not like here."

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CARACAS .-

Caracas Lions won for the second straight time beating the Lara Cardinals at Antonio Herrera Gutiérrez stadium, this time by a score of 7-3 in a marathon match. The Sweet Rick team led by three runs produced between the 5th and 6th innings to tie the game and force extra innings. The Leones defense played an important role in making five double plays during the encounter, two of them when Lara threatened to break the game open. Cesar Jimenez surrendered a bases loaded walk to Carlos Rivero in the top of the eleventh inning to score Juan Carlos Torres taking a one run lead and then Jesus Aguilar double with the bases loaded to end the scoring. Josh Wilkie got the win by working 2.0 scoreless innings in relief, while Jimenez took the loss.

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Columbian Winter League

In that Columbian opener last night, the Toros defeated the Tigers 5-4. Giovanny Urshella was 1-3 with a double, a pair of walks, and a strikeout. Playing third base, Urshella had a putout, one assist, and was error free.

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Asian Series

Softbank makes winning start at Asia Series

TAICHUNG, Taiwan, Nov. 25 (00:37) Kyodo

Nagisa Arakaki pitched five shutout innings in relief as the
Japan Series champion Softbank Hawks edged the Uni-President Lions of
Taiwan 6-5 Friday on the opening day of the Asia Series.

Arakaki, who missed all of the past two seasons because of right
shoulder problems, took the mound in the third inning and allowed
just two hits, striking out six at Taichung Intercontinental Stadium.

The Hawks went ahead 4-2 in the third on a two-run single by
Seiichi Uchikawa and made it 6-2 in the fifth as Uni-President
relievers issued a walk and hit a batter with the bases loaded.

The Lions battled back to score three runs in the ninth and had
the potential tying run on third and winning run on first with two
outs.

But Takehito Kanazawa, Softbank's seventh pitcher, got Kuo
Tai-chi to ground out for the final out.

Earlier in the day, the Samsung Lions of South Korea routed the
Perth Heat of Australia 10-2.

The four teams play against each other in the first three days.
The top two will meet in Tuesday's final.

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Asian Series

Softbank romps past Samsung at Asia Series

TAICHUNG, Taiwan, Nov. 26 (17:33) Kyodo

Shuhei Fukuda sparked a five-run second inning with an RBI
double, Hiroki Yamada pitched seven shutout innings and the Japan
Series champion Softbank Hawks routed the Samsung Lions of South
Korea 9-0 on the second day of the Asia Series on Saturday.

Koji Akiyama's Hawks won their second game in a row after a 6-5
defeat over the Uni-President Lions of Taiwan on Friday.

Fukuda drove in the opening run after Kenji Akashi drew a
leadoff walk and stole second. Toru Hosokawa added an RBI double to
left-center while Nobuhiro Matsuda chipped in with a bases-loaded
infield single.

Two more runs scored in the frame on an error by shortstop Kim
Sang Su at Taichung Intercontinental Stadium.

Yuya Hasegawa made a perfect slide at home as the Hawks added
the sixth run on a double steal with runners at the corners in the
fifth, and Kenta Imamiya had a run-scoring single to make it 7-0.
Pacific League batting champion Seiichi Uchikawa tacked on a
sacrifice fly in the sixth and a run-scoring single in the eighth.
Softbank had a total of seven stolen bases.

Samsung had an opportunity to score when it loaded the bases
with one out in the bottom of the first, but Kang Bong Kyu struck out
swinging and Chae Tae In flied out to right to end the threat.

Uni-President takes on the Perth Heat of Australia later the
same evening. The four teams play against each other in the first
three days with the top two to meet in Tuesday's final.

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Asian Series

Softbank books place in Asia Series final

TAICHUNG, Taiwan, Nov. 26 (23:00) Kyodo

Shuhei Fukuda sparked a five-run second inning with an RBI
double, Hiroki Yamada pitched seven shutout innings and the Japan
Series champion Softbank Hawks routed the Samsung Lions of South
Korea 9-0 for their second win of the Asia Series on Saturday.

The Taiwanese Uni-President Lions' 3-2 win over the Perth Heat
of Australia later in the day guaranteed that Softbank will finish
the round-robin stage in first place under the tournament's
tiebreaker rule and play Tuesday's final against Samsung or
Uni-President.

Perth was eliminated after consecutive losses.

''We had to win this game, so I'm glad we could do it,''
Softbank manager Koji Akiyama said in a post-game interview. ''We
used our running capability and this led to us scoring. My players
have become good at figuring out the habits of catchers and pitchers
they face for the first time.''

Fukuda drove in the opening run after Kenji Akashi drew a
leadoff walk and stole second. Toru Hosokawa added an RBI double to
left-center while Nobuhiro Matsuda chipped in with a bases-loaded
infield single.

Two more runs scored in the frame on an error by shortstop Kim
Sang Su at Taichung Intercontinental Stadium.

Yuya Hasegawa made a perfect slide at home as the Hawks added
the sixth run on a double steal with runners at the corners in the
fifth, and Kenta Imamiya had a run-scoring single to make it 7-0.
Pacific League batting champion Seiichi Uchikawa tacked on a
sacrifice fly in the sixth and a run-scoring single in the eighth.
Softbank had a total of seven stolen bases.

Samsung had an opportunity to score when it loaded the bases
with one out in the bottom of the first, but Kang Bong Kyu struck out
swinging and Chae Tae In flied out to right to end the threat.

''We lost by a lot today but a loss is a loss, even if it's just
1-0. We are focused on our game against Uni-President tomorrow. Had
we scored in the first inning, things might have gone our way
later,'' said Samsung manager Ryu Joong Il.

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Asian Series

Taiwan’s Lions triumph in extra-inning thriller

By Paul Huang / Contributing Reporter
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks starting pitcher Hiroki Yamada delivers a pitch during their Asia Series game against the Samsung Lions at the Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium yesterday. Photo: Reuters


Chang “OEO” Tai-shan’s timely triple with a runner on first scored the tiebreaking run in the top of the 10th as the Uni-President Lions cooled off a surging Perth Heat club to escape with a 3-2 win in extra-innings during the second day of play of this year’s Asia Series at the Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium last night.

The veteran slugger, who owns the career record for most offensive categories in the Chinese Professional Baseball League, came through in a big way for his team with a two-out swing that scored the game-winner, giving him three RBIs in the two games that the Lions have played thus far.

Decent pitching by both starters kept the offenses off the board through the first four innings, even though both teams managed to place runners in scoring position at least once, with the Lions’ Dan Reichert and the Heat’s Ben Moore holding their ground.

However, the scoring drought ended for the Lions in the fifth with Kuo Chun-yo leading off the inning with a clean double and scoring two batters later on Tu Chung-hsun’s RBI double to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.

Chen Yung-chi’s sacrifice fly with the bags loaded in the same inning made it 2-0, which lasted until the eighth before the Heat answered with two runs of their own that sent the crowd into a sudden despair.

However, the victory ultimately went to the Cats as Pan Wu-hsiung slapped a single off Heat reliever Cameron Lamb to the opposite field with two outs to set up Chang’s game-clincher.

Pocketing the win was Wang Ching-ming, who entered in the eighth to bail out Reichert with 1-2/3 innings of one-hit ball, while the loss went to Lamb for giving up the decisive run.

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Wow! Jesus Aguilar gets a start today, playing first base, and batting cleanup. Aguilar is 0-2 after 2.5 innings of play. Caracas is ahead in the game though 3-0 over La Guaira. Aguilar has lined out to second and flied to the wall in center.

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Aguilas' Ciriaco enjoys perfect night

Tigers prospect goes 4-for-4, homers to cap decisive rally

Dominican Winter League

Aguilas 5, Toros 2

Tigers prospect Audy Ciriaco went 4-for-4 with a two-run homer and fell a triple shy of the cycle as the Aguilas grabbed sole possession of first place. Ciriaco's second homer of the season capped a four-run eighth inning, while Major League veteran Joaquin Arias was 3-for-4 with an RBI triple to raise his league-leading average to .393 for Cibaenas. Braves farmhand Diory Hernandez had two hits and two RBIs for the second-place Toros.

Estrellas 3, Escogido 2

Pirates newcomer Jake Fox doubled twice, drove in two runs and scored once to lead the Estrellas to their fourth straight win. Minor League veteran Argenis Reyes also had two hits for Oriente, while Cubs prospect Nelson Perez went 2-for-4 and scored a run for Escogido.
Audy Ciriaco hit .255 with five homers and 57 RBIs in 115 games across two Minor League levels this year. (Kevin Pataky/MiLB.com)

Gigantes 6, Licey 2

Mariners outfielder Carlos Peguero had two hits, two RBIs and scored a run to lead the Gigantes to their third straight victory. Twins infielder Alexi Casilla was 2-for-4 and scored twice for Cibao, which got five shutout innings from former Major Leaguer Aquilino Lopez. Nationals Minor Leaguer Jhonatan Solano singled in the lone run for Licey.

Puerto Rican Winter League

Caguas 3, Mayaguez 2

Twins farmhand Aaron Bates fell a triple shy of the cycle as the first-place Criollos rallied past the Indios. Bates tied the game with a leadoff homer in the eighth and former Major Leaguer Jorge Padilla delivered a walk-off single in the ninth. Giants outfielder Andres Torres singled, walked and scored a run for Mayaguez.

Ponce at Carolina (postponed)

Venezuelan Winter League

Magallanes 12, Lara 2

Nationals catcher Jesus Flores had two hits, including a three-run homer, as the Navegantes used a pair of six-run outbursts to snap a four-game losing streak. Rangers prospect Joey Butler and Rockies Minor Leaguer Jesus Merchan each chipped in two hits, two RBIs and two runs scored for Magallanes, while Royals infielder Alcides Escobar went 3-for-5 for Lara.

Aragua 7, Caribes 6 (1st game)

Former Major Leaguer Edgardo Alfonzo hit a three-run homer to spark a seven-run seventh inning as the Tigres snapped a five-game losing streak in the opener of a doubleheader. Giants prospect Hector Sanchez delivered a pinch RBI single, then scored the go-ahead run on Luis Maza's sacrifice fly. Angels prospect Alexi Amarista smacked a two-run homer and scored twice for the Caribes.

Aragua 4, Caribes 1 (2nd game)

Cardinals prospect Jose Rada allowed one hit over three shutout innings to help the Tigres complete a sweep of their doubleheader. Major League veteran Hector Gimenez slugged a three-run homer and walked twice for Aragua, while Angels outfielder Jeremy Moore hit a solo shot for the Caribes.

La Guaira 4, Caracas 3

Ray Olmedo doubled home the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, capping the Tiburones' comeback. Fellow former big leaguer Gregor chipped in two hits, including a two-run homer, for La Guaira, while Minor League veteran Corey Wimberly doubled, singled and drove in a pair of runs for Caracas.

Zulia 2, Margarita 0

Former Marlins farmhand Derek Blacksher allowed three hits over 4 2/3 innings as the Aguilas registered their league-leading seventh shutout. D-backs prospect Ender Inciarte delivered an RBI double and Yankees Minor Leaguer Jose Pirela lifted a sacrifice fly for Zulia. Dodgers farmhand Mike Parisi struck out eight over seven innings but took the loss after allowing two runs -- one earned -- on six hits.

Mexican Pacific League

Hermosillo 3, Guasave 0

Cardinals prospect Mark Hamilton went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer and a walk to power the Naranjeros to their third straight win. Juan Delgadillo improved to 3-1 after limiting the Algodoñeros to six hits over six innings and former big leaguer Erubiel Durazo also went deep for Hermosillo.

Navojoa 12, Mexicali 3

Former big leaguer Wes Bankston homered and drove in five runs to lead a 15-hit attack as the Mayos avoided a third straight loss. Steve Moss, an All-Star at two Minor League levels, went 1-for-1 with four walks and scored twice, while ex-Orioles prospect Kraig Binick had three hits, an RBI and three runs scored for Navojoa.

Culiacan 9, Obregon 0

Yankees Minor Leaguer Jorge Vazquez went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and six RBIs as the Tomateros snapped the Yaquis' six-game winning streak. Hector Rodriguez struck out 12 and limited Obregon to three hits over seven innings, while Giants prospect Tyler Graham scored twice and drove in a run for Culiacan.

Los Mochis 2, Mazatlan 1 (1st game)

Former Major Leaguer Dan Serafini allowed a run on one hit and struck out eight over six innings as the Cañeros kept the Venados winless in the second half. Cardinals prospect Jermaine Curtis singled and scored a run for Los Mochis, while Dodgers farmhand John Lindsey homered for Mazatlan.

Los Mochis 2, Mazatlan 1 (2nd game)

Major League veteran Justin Lehr gave up a run on two hits over five innings before the Cañeros completed a sweep of their doubleheader. Ramon Orantes and Jesus Arredondo both went 3-for-3 with an RBI for Los Mochis, while John Lindsey homered again for the Venados.

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Venezuelan Winter League

•Jesus Aguilar (1B, Leones del Caracas): 0-for-4, K. Aguilar proves to be human with an 0-fer in his fourth game of action out in Venezuela. His manager hitting him in the cleanup spot is a clear show of faith in his abilities to be a consistent run producer.

•Luis Valbuena (2B, Cardenales de Lara): 2-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI, K. Valbuena celebrated his new beginning in a new organization with a productive night at the plate. Good luck to Louie V. with the Blue Jays….it did not work out well for him in Cleveland but maybe it will in Toronto.

•Ezequiel Carrera (CF, Navegantes del Magallanes): 2-for-5, R, RBI. That is now two straight multi-hit games for Carrera and three in his last five games, so maybe his two week slump is coming to an end.

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Hawks soar over Heat in 4-0 shutout

OFF TO THE FINAL:

The two wins by the Japanese team earned them the chance to bid for tomorrow night’s NT$15 million purse in a title game against the Lions

By Paul Huang / Contributing Reporter
Seiichi Uchikawa of Japan’s Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks bats during the first inning of their Asia Series baseball game against Australia’s Perth Heat at Taoyuan International Baseball Stadium yesterday. Photo: Reuters

Clutch hitting by Seichi Uchikawa coupled with brilliant outings by four different hurlers lifted Japan’s Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks past Australia’s Perth Heat in a 4-0 shutout in this year’s Asia Series at the Taoyuan International Baseball Stadium yesterday afternoon.

The veteran slugger who led the Pacific League in hitting during the regular season was at his best when it counted most as he went a solid 2-for-4 with runners in scoring position and two outs, to drive in three of his team’s four runs in the game.

The two wins by the Hawks earned them a spot in tomorrow night’s title game, when the winners will go home with a hefty NT$15 million (US$495,000) check in prize money.

Starter Sho Iwasaki allowed lead-off singles to the Australians in the first and second innings, but managed to get out of trouble on both occasions before turning the game to his bullpen mates, who combined for seven innings of one-hit ball to keep the shutout intact.

The decision to go with a group effort on the mound proved wise for Hawks skipper Koji Akiyama, who should have all his pitchers available for tomorrow’s title game because the most that a single pitcher had pitched was reliever and game-winner Shingo Tatsumi’s four innings.

Miscues on the defensive side hurt the Heat as three of the four runs allowed by starter Trevor Caughey were unearned because of a pair of errors by his defense. They committed three errors to make it virtually impossible to win against any team, let alone the top club in Japan.

SAMSUNG LIONS 6,
UNI-PRESIDENT LIONS 3

Choi Hyung-woo’s two-run blast off reliever Ryan Glenn broke a 3-all tie in the eighth as South Korea’s Samsung Lions defeated Taiwan’s Uni-President Lions 6-3 in Taoyuan last night for a chance to take on the Hawks in tomorrow night’s title game.

Samsung took a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the third against Uni-President starter Seth Etherton and made it 3-0 an inning later before the hosts finally got on the board in the bottom of the four on the strength of Yang Song-hsuan’s RBI single off Samsung starter Bae Young-soo.

Trailing by two, Uni-President managed to tie the game at 3-all, with Kuo Chun-yo’s pinch-hit homer off Samsung reliever Kwon Oh-joon in the bottom of the sixth, setting the stage for Choi’s game-winning swing.

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I checked out all the box scores and Chun Chen did not play for the Uni President Lions.

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Caracas President Avila Blasts Chicago

Luis Avila, president of the Caracas Leones, warned that he will take the case to the fullest extent as a violation of the agreement between Major League Baseball and the winter leagues.


by JOSÉ MANUEL FERNANDEZ

Sunday November 27, 2011 1:57 PM

Caracas .-

President Luis Avila fired shots at the Chicago Cubs organization caused by the departure of Marwin Gonzalez from the Leones del Caracas baseball team. "It's a disrespect and a violation of the agreement between winter ball and the major leagues," said the president of the Leones team, minutes before the Cardinals game against Lara. "A player who is not protected on the roster of 40, that even can be removed in Rule 5 in the coming days and do this, "added the president. "Not only is a lack of respect for the team, but for the league and the fans." Avila defined as "arrogant" and "out of context," the response of the Chicago Cubs. "We were told it was scheduled for a long time and did not change." González went on Saturday to the United States to undergo a physical with the Cubs and is expected to be gon for at least two weeks. "If they respect the winter ball agreement, they have to send him back," Avila said. On offensive with the team having the lowest average in the league, Gonzalez was the great exception with an average of .333, ranking among the league's best . "It is not just a specific case, but a violation of the winter ball agreement, which is not bilateral but unilateral because it only favors one side." Avila said that the team will take this case up to where you have to take it. "We wait for Major League Baseball's response. The Venezuelan League and the Caribbean teams are supporting this claim," said the boss of the lions. "We will not sit idly by."

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Armando Galarraga was activated today and has been incorporated with the Leones del Caracas baseball team

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Columbian Winter League

The Tigers crushed the Toros 12-1. Giovanny Urshella was 0-5 with a run scored. Urshella played third, had 3 putouts, 4 assists, 0 errors. After two games, Giovanny is 1-8.