I wouldn't be opposed to see the Indians sign him as an insurance policy. Hafner could go against the right handers and Manny against the southpaws. I imagine since he's on suspension, we could sign him to a minor league contract ???

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Amarista plates six for unbeaten Caribes

Angels infield prospect goes 4-for-5, homers in playoff romp

Venezuelan Winter League

Caribes 15, Magallanes 3

Angels infielder Alexi Amarista went 4-for-5 with a homer and six RBIs to continue his torrid postseason as the Caribes improved to 5-0 in the round-robin playoffs. Yankees Minor Leaguer Gustavo Molina contributed three hits and drove in three runs for Anzoategui, while former Major Leaguer Jose Castillo doubled twice and scored three times. Orioles outfielder Endy Chavez went 2-for-3 and scored a run for Magallanes.

Aragua 5, La Guaira 0

Yusmeiro Petit allowed four singles and struck out two over six innings, helping the Tigres post their second straight playoff win. Fellow Major League veteran Edgardo Alfonzo went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs and a run scored, while Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos chipped in two hits and drove in a run for Aragua. Former Mets farmhand Junior Guerra tossed two innings of scoreless relief for La Guaira.
Alexi Amarista is hitting .476 with three homers and eight RBIs in five round-robin playoff games. (Chris Carlson/AP)

Dominican Winter League

Escogido 6, Gigantes 0

Astros right-hander Aneury Rodriguez struck out five and scattered five hits over five innings, helping the Leones improve to 8-1 in the round-robin playoffs. Minor League veteran Mauro Gomez was 3-for-5 with an RBI and Rangers outfielder Julio Borbon doubled, singled and scored twice for Escogido. Major League veteran Wilson Betemit had two of the six hits for the Gigantes, who fell to 3-5.

Puerto Rican Winter League

Mayaguez 5, Ponce 1

Former big leaguer Jon Huber allowed a run on two hits over five innings as the Indios shut down the Leones in Game 1 of their best-of-5 semifinal series. Ruben Gotay had two hits, including a three-run homer, and Randy Ruiz went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored for Mayaguez. Robinson Cancel drove in Ponce's lone run with a sixth-inning sacrifice fly.

Mexican Pacific League

No games scheduled.

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Australian Baseball League

•Andrew Campbell (LF, Brisbane Bandits): 2-for-3, BB, CS. Let’s get one thing straight, Campbell is not a high level prospect in the Indians organization. That said, it’s nice to see him playing well lately as that is 3 multi-hit games in his last 5 games and he has a 9 game hitting streak going. He is hitting .361/.452/.500 in his last 10 games.

•Mitch Nilsson (C, Brisbane Bandits): 0-for-2, BB, E. It looks like Brisbane is going with an Indians duo at catcher for the playoffs with Ryan Battaglia and Mitch Nilsson. Nilsson has not played much this offseason, and in 12 games has a .219/.342/.375 batting line.

Venezuela Winter League

•Jose Lopez (DH, Caribes de Anzoategui): 1-for-5. Lopez had not played since Tuesday night when he may have suffered a mild injury running from first to third on a single. He took a few days off and it looks like they tested things out by having him DH for the night, and all signs point to him being good to go from anything that may have been bothering him.

Alexis Amarista

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Niuman Romero scored despite the efforts of Henry White |




Magallanes shattered by the Caribbeans

CARACAS .-

Anzoategui Caribbeans remained unbeaten in the round robin and proved to be a serious candidate to get into the finals after demolishing the Magallanes Navigators by a score of 15 runs to 3 in Jose Bernardo Perez de Valencia. Alexis Amarosa led the Caribbean offense by going 4-5 with a homer and six RBIs. Amarosa singled to left that brought Gustavo Molina and Romero Niuman home in the second inning and capped his big day with a grand slam in the seventh off of Danny Hernandez. Gustavo Molina was also impressive with the bat going 3-4 and had three rbis. In total, Amara and Molina drove home 9 of the 15 runs to reach 13 as a combination during the round robin with 5 home runs. Renyel Pinto pitched 5.0 innings giving up two runs. The ace of Anzoategui got out of trouble in the first inning thanks to a double play by Endy Chavez. Thereafter, Pinto straightened out and took the victory in what might be his last start this season for the local team after signing a contract with the Falcons Sukuoka of the Pacific League in Japan. For Magallanes Matt Wright suffered the loss who spent 6.0 innings on the mound giving up six runs, all clean. Magallanes fell to one win with four defeats ranking fourth and four games off the lead. They have only made eight runs in their five games in this playoff. They also left six runners on base for a total of 27 in the Round Robin, 11 of them in scoring position. For their part, the Caribbeans collected their fifth win this game and remanin in the lead two games ahead of Tigers and Sharks.

Yusmeiro Petit with an excellent performance on the mound

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Edgardo Alfonzo was solid at the plate

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The Tigers loaded with everything to get this win

Yusmeiro Petit repeated the dose at Sharks

MARACAY .-

The Aragua Tigers continue to prove they are a tough team to beat in playoff games. At yesterday's meeting Yusmeiro Petit along with the rest of the bullpen blanked easily La Guaira Sharks 5-0, earning their third win of the round robin, tied for second place with sharks.

The righty was unbeatable in his presentation of six innings, showing a better start than his first outing at the University Stadium in Caracas on Monday. "For this second game he was better rested and able to turn in a good game." said Buddy Bailey. The manager showed confidence in Petit's game and let him throw more than five innings, which is not seen very often on this stage. "That's part of the game to be successful," he said. "I am here as a booster and I have to abide by the rules." During his career in the League, the Petit has never had access to a final series, so he hopes to get there this year with a team that has been used to reaching that final phase. "I would like to reach the finals," he said. "I want to win with the Tigres de Aragua I feel very comfortable here."

STILL FIGURE: Edgardo Alfonzo is on in this Round Robin, the experienced player, drove home two of the five runs for the cats who got back into the fight for access at the end. The slugger said the mood in the clubhouse has been key to the victories. "We must remain focused to fight for a spot in the final," said Alfonzo, who said it is important to be aggressive in the first innings. "Every time we score early we end things right. We did the first time in Caracas, where we maintained the advantage.

The Lions roar again, Fernando Tatis homered and the Lions blanked the Giants 6-0

Third baseman Fernando Tatis hit a two-run homer and Jose Yepez also dispatched a homer on Saturday and the Lions shutout the Giants 6-0 in a game held in the stadium Julian Javier de San Francisco de Macoris.

Leones achieved the victory with good pitching Aneury Rodriguez, who was the winning pitcher, Kris Johnson (6), Nelson Payano (8) and Jose Ceda (9).

The victory was number eight against a loss which is moving the team with a firm step towards qualification for the league championship series.

The team is managed by Ken Oberkfell and are now four games ahead of the Giants and the Cibao Eagles, who share second place with three wins against five defeats.

Escogido clinched victory in the very first inning, which produced its first two runs. Julio Borbon led off with an infield single, Pablo Ozuna sacrificed and Andy Dirks followed with an rbi double. With two outs, Julio Lugo singled driving in Dirks.

Leones extended their lead in the sixth inning with one out Julio Lugo singled. With two out, Tatis homered driving in two additional runs.

Escogido scored again in the seventh inning. Bourbon doubled and Mauro Gomez singled driving home Bourbon.

In the eighth inning after two outs, Yepez homered.

Starter Rodriguez (1-0) covered the first five innings, during which he allowed five hits and struck out five.

The defeat went to Aquilino Lopez, the first of six Giants pitchers paraded through the mound. The others were Erick Abreu (6), Pedro Viola (7), Rhiner De la Cruz (7), Julian Tavares (8) and Gerson Aguasvivias (9).

Jorge Campillo

Caribbean Baseball

Obregón, Culiacán, Guasave, and Mexicali qualify for the semi-finals in Mexico

Mexico .-

The Tomateros of Culiacan and Mexicali Eagles won their duel to qualify for the semifinals of the Mexican Baseball Leaguel in the Pacific as well as the Yaquis de Obregon the Guasave Cotton Growers.

As visitors, Culiacan defeated 4-1 the Mayos of Navojoa, while the Eagles overcame the Hermosillo Naranjeros 4-2. The American Jeff Frazier batted in two runs in the sixth inning and Ramiro Pena drove in two with a double in the eighth, to shape the victory for Culican. The American Matt Buschmman strung seven zeros allowed only four hits and took the victory, while Javier Martinez bore the defeat.

Also outside the stage in Hermosillo, northwest of the country, the Aguilas prevailed with a barrage of 13 hits and outstanding pitching by Jorge Campillo, with experience in the majors. An rbi single by Gil Velazquez in the first inning and another by Roman Pena in the fifth as well as a deciding homer in the seventh by American Chris Roberson sealed the win. Campillo allowed two hits and no runs in six innings and earned his second win of the series, while Marco Tovar took the loss.

The other two qualifiers to the semifinals were the Yaquis de Obregon and Guasave.

The Lottery

- Coming from Naranjeros and Mayos

Hermosillo, Son. January 7, 2011 (LMP / Alpha Communications) -

The Mexican Pacific League held Saturday the lottery and drafted player reinforcements, which the four teams that qualified for the semifinal stage chose players from the two teams that were eliminated during the first round of playoff games.

The draft lottery was held in the form of video-conferencing, linking the club managers and general managers with the league office located in this city.

In the first phase turns were raffled for order of choice by the teams resulting in the following order:

1 Obregon
2 Culiacan
3 Guasave
4 Mexicali

They then proceeded to the lottery of players and thus, the elections were as follows:

OBREGON: A Karim Garcia, outfielder Naranjeros of Hermosillo and as a second option to Jesse Gutierrez, 1B Naranjeros.

CULICAN outfielder Matt Esquivel, the Mayos of Navojoa and as a second option to the IF Wes Bankston, also of the Mayos.

GUASAVE: the right-hander Edgar Gonzalez, pitcher right Hermosillo Naranjeros and as second choice to Paul Ortega, right-hander from Mazatlan Deer.

MEXICALI: Humberto Cota, catcher Hernosillo Naranjeros and as second option Naranjeros OF Trent Oeltjen

Irving Falu opened the action with this hit in the first inning and scored later in the same inning to get the Indians rolling

Ponce -

Los Indios de Mayagüez signed up its first victory last night in the semifinals, defeating Ponce Lions 5-2 in a match held at Paquito Montaner Stadium.

Ruben Gotay homered with two runners on base against reliever Peter Andrelczyk expanded Mayagüez an early lead with three runs in the seventh inning.

Danny Gonzalez led off the inning with a. Rene Rivera singled and after eliminating Irving Falu with high to left came Gotay's homer over the fence to the right.

Jon Huber (1-0), who opened for the Indians, threw 5.1 innings allowing just one run to the Lions for the win.

Now the action moves to the home of the Indians at Isidoro Stadium 'Cholo' Garcia de Mayagüez, for the second game of the semifinal. The series is at a maximum of five games, or the first to win three.

The defending champions Caguas Creoles, who took a 'bye' dominating the regular season are waiting for the winner of this series.

The Indians last night opened the scoring early in the first inning with two runs. Irving Falu opened with 'infield hit' against starter for the Lions, the Cuban Yadel Marti (0-1), who took the loss. Ruben Gotay grounded out. Irving Falu to 2nd. Jeff Dominguez struckout. Randy Ruiz doubled. Irving Falu scores. Miguel Negron singled. Randy Ruiz to 3rd. Jesus Feliciano reached on a fielding error. Randy Ruiz scores.

Ponce scored a run in the sixth. Felix Perez walked against the starter Jon Huber. Perez advanced to second on a basehit by HIram Bocachica a lottery pick by Ponce chosen from the eliminated Giants of Carolina. Nelvin Fuentes replaceds Jon Huber. John Rodriguez singled. Felix Perez to 3rd. Hiram Bocachica to 2nd. Ryan Kussmaul replaced Nelvin Fuentes. Robinson Cancel flied into sacrifice double play. Felix Perez scored. Hiram Bocachica out at 3rd on the throw.

Manny is evaluated by Orioles and Blue Jays

Miami sends scouts to watch him play

Enrique Rojas ESPNDeportesLosAngeles

Orlando

The Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays have evaluated Manny Ramirez, who trains in Miami to seek a return to the majors, said a source connected to the player to ESPNdeportesLosAngeles.com.

The source reported that both Baltimore and Toronto sent scouts to watch Ramirez hit at an indoor cage in Miami. The 39-year player started hitting last week, but those sessions were not invited to any of the organizations.

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Keisler pitches Yaquis into semifinals

Former Major Leaguer allows one hit over seven innings

Mexican Pacific League

Obregon 6, Guasave 3

Former Major Leaguer Randy Keisler allowed one hit and struck out seven over seven shutout innings as the Yaquis advanced to the semifinals. The 35-year-old left-hander retired just one batter in his first start of the series, surrendering four runs on three hits and a walk. Batterymate Said Gutierrez had two hits and drove in four runs for Obregon, which won the best-of-7 series, 4-2. Jose Rodriguez hit a two-run single in the ninth for Guasave.
A veteran of 55 Major League appearances, Randy Keisler went 7-7 with a 4.67 ERA at Triple-A in 2011. (Jamie Harms/MiLB.com)

Venezuelan Winter League

La Guaira 9, Caribes 1

White Sox farmhand Jose Martinez homered and drove in four runs as the Tiburones handed the Caribes their first loss in six round-robin playoff games. Reds prospect Miguel Rojas went 3-for-4 with an RBI and former Rays Minor Leaguer Cesar Suarez chipped in three hits, an RBI and two runs scored to help La Guaira improve to 4-2. Former Major Leaguer Jose Castillo scored the lone run for Anzoategui.

Magallanes 5, Zulia 1

Nationals catcher Jesus Flores delivered a go-ahead RBI single and scored in a five-run ninth inning as the Navegantes stunned the winless Aguilas. Luis Landaeta went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored for Magallanes, which got 4 1/3 scoreless innings from five relievers. Minor League veteran Ernesto Mejia was 3-for-3 with a walk for Zulia.

Dominican Winter League

Licey 4, Escogido 3

Major League veteran Ronny Paulino homered and drove in two runs as the Tigres held on to hand the Leones their second loss in 10 round-robin playoff games. Royals infielder Yamaico Navarro added two hits, including a solo shot, as Licey improved to 4-6. Free agent Julio Lugo went deep and Minor League veteran Mauro Gomez doubled, singled and scored twice for Escogido.

Aguilas 3, Gigantes 2

Brandon Moss, who signed a Minor League contract with the A's last month, hit a solo homer, scored twice and fell a triple shy of the cycle as the Aguilas handed the Gigantes their third straight playoff loss. Major League veteran Hector Luna singled home the go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh for Cibaenas after Wilson Betemit delivered an RBI double in the top of the inning.

Puerto Rican Winter League

Ponce 6, Mayaguez 2

Former Major Leaguer Luis Matos hit a three-run homer and scored twice as the Leones evened their best-of-5 semifinal series at 1-1. Robinson Cancel also went deep and Onelkis Garcia tossed five scoreless innings for Ponce. Marlins farmhand Jeff Dominguez provided the Indios' offense with a two-run blast in the eighth.

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Australian Baseball League

•Andrew Campbell (2B, Brisbane Bandits): 1-for-3, BB, K, PO. You can’t stop Andrew Campbell…you can only hope to contain him. That’s how ABL pitchers have to feel of late as he now has a 10-game hitting streak and in those ten games has an impressive .359/.457/.487 with 5 RBI and a 7-6 walk to strikeout ratio.

•Mitch Nilsson (C, Brisbane Bandits): 0-for-3. Nilsson has had an opportunity to play more regularly of late starting 7 games since December 29th, but has not capitalized as he is only 5-for-22 in those 7 games.

•Ryan Battaglia (C, Brisbane Bandits): 0-for-1, K. Battaglia is the other half of the Indians’ catching duo playing on the Brisbane team in the ABL and is now just 2-for-13 at the plate with 4 strikeouts.

Venezuela Winter League

•Jose Lopez (DH, Caribes de Anzoategui): 1-for-3, K. Lopez is still nursing a minor injury and was limited to DH duties on Sunday. He got a hit in the 7th inning but was lifted for a pinch runner, likely to help preserve his health and not risk anything, especially considering his team was losing 9-1 at the time.

Robinson Cancel, Ponce, solo home run pust the score at 5-0 in the seventh inning of yesterday's game.

Mayagüez.

Luis Matos and Robinson Cancel punished Mayagüez Indians with homers, and the pitching of the Ponce Lions appeared indomitable on the mound as Ponce beat Indios, 6-2, in front of 3,500 faithful gathered at the stadium Isidoro "Cholo" Garcia.

With the win, the Lions tied the semifinals of the League of Professional Baseball Puerto Rico at a game apiece.

Matos was the first to connect a tremendous drive to left field against starter Hiram Burgos with Cancel and John Rodriguez on base during the top of the third inning to give Ponce the head start of 3-0.

On the other hand, the Cuban starter Onelkis García for Ponce and the defense held off the Indians' bats for the first five innings, in which they only gave up five hits with no runs.

A solo homer by Cancel and Matos scored later on a Felix Perez RBI single in the seventh inning to put the board at 5-0. And last but not least, at the top of the eighth, Matos returned to the plate and singled home Rodriguez for the 6-0 lead.

The Indian response came very late, with two runs in the bottom of the eighth, but reliever RJ Rodriguez was responsible for putting an end to the aspirations of Mayagüez with a solid performance in the ninth inning to sign a save and secure a Ponce victory.

Garcia got the win by striking out four batters in five innings, while the reverse bore Burgos after allowing three runs in five innings.

The third challenge of the series will be Tuesday, at the stadium Francisco "Paquito" Montaner Ponce

Sharks stopped Caribbeans in their tracks

CARACAS .-

The La Guaira Sharks won at home again and put an end to the unbeaten streak of the defending champions Caribbean Anzoategui by a score of 9-1 on 16 hits. The Sharks, who got their fourth win in the playoffs and they relied on an effective Jose Martinez who was 2-4 with a homer and four RBIs.
It was his second homer in Venezuela.

Meanwhile, the Caribbeans , who had achieved victories in each of their first five games in the Round Robin. The Caribe pitchers who have been the strong suit of the team, had allowed just 8 earned runs in the first 45 innings of work in the tournament. With the win, La Guaira (4-2) is just a game behind the Caribbeans in the standings, where the Ariel Prieto's team remains as the leaders with an excellent record of 5 wins and one loss.

Carlos Maldonado homers
Alcides Escobar

Navigators Administer acute crisis for the Eagles

Caracas .-

The Magallanes Navigators defeated the Eagles of Zulia 5-1, in Luis Aparicio park in Maracaibo. Trailing 1-0 in the ninth, Jesus Flores delivered a go-ahead RBI single with the bases loaded as the Navigators went on to score five runs in the inning. The Navigators received a strong performance from starter, Cesar Valdez, who pitched eight scoreless innings and gave up just five singles. Miguel Socolovich, the Dominican replaced Valdez to preserve the victory, but soon got into trouble by issuing a pair of walks. The manager of the Eagles, Lipso Nava, removed him from the mound and brought Marcos Tabata. However, the cure was worse than the disease, and the righty gave up an infield single to Mario Lisson loading the bases. Subsequently made ​​a wild pitch that tied the game. Jose Flores and Adonis Garcia had rbi singles and Erold Andrus walked forcing in the fifth run of the inning.Luis Ramirez was credited the win in relief working for one inning in which he gave up a hit and a walk. The loss went to Socolovich. Zulia remains without a win this postseason in five tries, so their chances of qualifying for the finals is not looking well.

Stevens Vs Carmona Clash

SANTO DOMINGO. -

Right MLB Fausto Carmona (0-1, 3.72) will go to the mound for the Cibao Eagles, while the imported Jake Stevens (0-0, 2.35) will do it for the Blues. The Eagles dominate the series in games 2-1 and runs 10-2. The first match between these teams in this playoffs happened on Thursday December 29 at Estadio Cibao, where the Eagles, came from behind to beat the Tigers 4-1. At this meeting, the Cuban starters Francisley Bueno (Licey) and Raul Valdes (Aguilas) engaged in a pitching duel in the first five innings of the game. The next day, Friday 30 at the Quisqueya Stadium, the Eagles, supported by an excellent job pitching of Shane Youman blanked the Tigers 6-0. Youman pitched six solid innings and did not give up a run. In the third game, on Friday January 6 at Estadio Cibao, the Blues blanked the Eagles 1-0 thanks to a pitching gem of righty Esmila Rogers, who limited the offensive of the Eagles to just two hits in five innings with six strikeouts. It should be noted that the game was played under protest by the manager of the Eagles, arguing that the contract of outfielder Christian Marrero is wrongly enrolled in Professional Baseball League.