Cleveland Sports Forum

Eagles Bleach Lions And Protect Nest against Lions

Las Aguilas del Zulia took advantage of the Caracas Lion pitching staff to win 5-0 after scoring four runs in the eighth to stay on top of the leader board.

Both teams started evenly matched during the encounter with solid pitching performances from their starting pitching staffs as the game was scoreless until the bottom of the seventh when the Eagles scored a run to take a 1 run advantage.

Luke Irvine tamed the offense Eagles offense for 6.0 innings where he allowed just four hits and had three strikeouts.

The Eagles reacted in the seventh inning after Jesus Flores tripled and Wilson García drove him home by firing a double to left then they added to their lead in the eighth with a four runs.

Ali Castro lead off the home half of the eighth with a walk. Castillo moved to second of an error by the pitcher on a failed pick off attempt. Jose Pirela singled driving in Ali Castillo. Giovanny Urshela stepped up to the plate and singled to left fielder Yandy Diaz, Pirela to third. Reynaldo Rodriguez picked up an rbi with a fly ball to Yandy Diaz in left batting in Jose Pirela. Francisco Arcia singled to right as Urshela advanced to second. Trayyon Robinson walked and Urshela moved to third. Wilson Garcia drove in Urshela on a sacrifice fly to right Arcia to third. Bryant Flete single and Arcia put the finishing touches on a 5-0 win.

Leonel Campos was the winning pitcher (3-0) and Jose Ascanio took the loss (1-1).

Septuagenarian Marines batting practice pitcher to hang up glove

Seventy-year-old right-hander Shigeki Ikeda will draw the curtain on his career as batting practice pitcher for the Chiba Lotte Marines, the Pacific League club said Friday.

Ikeda had served a dual role as batting practice pitcher and dormitory supervisor for the Chiba-based club since 2012, and has gained attention for throwing to hitters as young as his grandchildren from behind the protective screen.

“It’s been 49 years since I joined Japan pro baseball, and 44 years since I joined Lotte. I only have words of gratitude after being allowed to have baseball in my life for so long,” said Ikeda in a statement released through the club.

“I’d like to experience coaching young kids. You’ll probably continue to see me pitching somewhere.”

Born in Usuki, Oita Prefecture, Ikeda was a fourth-round draft pick for the Taiyo Whales (now Yokohama BayStars) in 1968, before moving to the Marines for whom he played from 1971 to 1977.

After retiring in 1997 and enjoying coaching stints for his current team, he wound up as the team dorm supervisor in 2000 where he was responsible for overseeing operations at the facility where most unmarried players reside.

12/2/16

VENEZUELAN WINTER LEAGUE (LVBP)

Alex Monsalve (Bravos de Margarita, starting C) - 3-3, 1 BB - Monsalve reached base all four times he came to the plate on Friday, but was replaced by pinch runner Angelo Castellano in the top of the ninth. Monsalve was the only Bravo to actually catch as Margarita failed to come back and thus did not take the field in the bottom of the inning.

Nick Pasquale (Bravos de Margarita, RP) - 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 K, 1 HBP - Pasquale rebounds nicely following a disastrous start on November 26 (5 ER on 10 H and 1 BB with only 1 K in 4.0 IP).

Yandy Diaz (Leones del Caracas, LF) - 2-3, 1 2B, 1 BB (intentional), 1 SB - Diaz drew an intentional walk and stole his first base of the season on a night that saw his slash line increase to .359/.433/.522 with 13 RBI in 24 games.

Jesus Aguilar (Leones del Caracas, 1B) - 1-4 - Aguilar picks up a hit in his first appearance in five days.

Giovanny Urshela (Aguilas del Zulia, 3B) - 2-4, 1 R - Gio makes it three multi-hit efforts in his last five and is now batting .366/.373/.545 with 28 RBI in 34 games and .400/.410/.514 in his last ten contests.

DOMINICAN WINTER LEAGUE (LIDOM)

Erik Gonzalez (Leones del Escogido, SS) - 1-4, 1 2B, 2 K - Gonzalez had a one-hit night for the second time in as many games this season and got his first extra-base hit of the campaign last night.

Ronny Rodriguez (Aguilas Cibaenas, starting 2B) - 3-4, 2 R - Ronny-Rod, who is batting .347, accounted for half of the Aguilas' scoring on Friday night in a game which he did not finish as he was one of four Aguilas pulled from the game to give some of the bench players playing time in the 16-4 blowout loss to the Gigantes del Cibao.

Abraham Almonte (Toros del Este, CF) - 3-5, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 K, 1 SB - Almonte's huge night at the plate increased his batting average 70 points (from .238 to .308). Admittedly, this dramatic increase was possible only because yesterday was his sixth game this season.

Jordan Smith (Toros del Este, starting LF) - 1-3, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 CS - Other than the baserunning miscue, this was a solid season debut for Smith.

Michael Martinez (Estrellas Orientales, 3B) - 0-4, 1 K,1 Sac Bunt - Martinez, who was given an invite to Major League Spring Training on Thursday, continued his pattern of alternating good and bad outings through his first four games of the LIDOM season.

Winter leagues roundup: Crew's Lopez back on track

Jorge Lopez reached the big leagues as a 22-year-old in 2015 but struggled mightily last season, receiving a midseason demotion to Double-A Biloxi after going 1-7 with a 6.81 ERA and a 66-to-55 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 16 starts for Triple-A Colorado Springs. However, the Brewers' No. 13 prospect managed to end his campaign on a high note, posting a 2.49 ERA with 24 strikeouts and five walks over his final four starts in the Southern League. That success has followed Lopez into winter-ball action in Puerto Rico, where he's allowed just three earned runs on nine hits, with 20 strikeouts and eight walks, in five starts (23 2/3 innings) for Indios de Mayaguez. His latest turn was his best of the offseason, as he yielded just two hits with five strikeouts in five scoreless innings on Monday. Overall, Lopez, Milwaukee's second-round Draft pick in 2011, ranks second in the circuit in both ERA (1.14) and WHIP (0.72).

Here's a look at some of the top prospects currently making waves in the offseason leagues:

Australia

• Kevin Padlo, 3B, Rays -- The Rays' No. 20 prospect posted a .771 OPS thanks to a Midwest League-leading 79 walks and finished tied for third with 16 home runs last season at Class A Bowling Green. Now playing in the ABL for a second straight offseason, Padlo, 20, owns a .273/.368/.515 battling line, with five extra-base hits and seven RBIs, in his first nine games for the Brisbane Bandits.

• Stone Garrett, OF, Marlins -- Garrett, Miami's No. 7 prospect, appeared in only 35 games for Class A Greensboro before a practical joke by then-teammate Josh Naylor resulted in right thumb laceration and subsequent surgery that kept the 21-year-old outfielder out of action until mid-August. Hoping to make up for the lost time in the ABL, Garrett has hit .324/.368/.500 with one home run in nine contests for the Sydney Blue Sox.

Dominican Republic

• Rafael Bautista, OF, Nationals -- The Nationals' No. 17 prospect has produced at a solid .287/.327/.330 clip in 27 games for Leones del Esocgido after hitting .282 with 77 runs scored and 56 stolen bases in 136 Double-A contests during the regular season. On top of that, Bautista, 23, is tied for second in the circuit in runs scored (16) and ranks third in steals (eight).

• Matt Koch, RHP, D-backs -- Acquired from the Mets in the August 2015 trade that sent Addison Reed to New York, Koch went 1-1 with one save across seven appearances (two starts) for Arizona as a September callup. More significantly, the D-backs' No. 16 prospect allowed nine hits in 18 innings in that span (.145 BAA) en route to a 2.00 ERA. Koch has been even tougher on opposing hitters this offseason with Tigres del Licey, for whom he's yielded just five hits in 16 2/3 innings (.091 BAA) to go along with a stellar 0.54 ERA in four outings (three starts).
Puerto Rico

• Corey Black, RHP, Cubs -- Control problems plagued Black, the Cubs' No. 27 prospect, once again in 2016 as the hard-throwing righty issued 36 free passes against 62 strikeouts in 53 innings (48 appearances) between Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa. The Cubs are hopeful that Black can get back on track this offseason in Puerto Rico, and, so far, the 25 year old has responded to the challenge by posting a 0.60 ERA with nine saves and a 13-to-6 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 15 innings (14 appearances) for Cangrejeros de Santurce.

Venezuela

• Carlos Tocci, OF, Phillies -- The Venezuela native received his first taste of winter ball last offseason, when he hit .333 in 11 games for Tigres de Aragua. After a full season in the Class A Advanced Florida State League (.284/.331/.362) in 2016, the Phillies' No. 22 prospect has hit .455/.561/.455 over his last 10 games to lift his overall average to .338 through 38 games.

• Yandy Diaz, 3B/OF, Indians -- The Indians' No. 10 prospect turned in another strong campaign in the high Minors in 2016, hitting .318/.408/.446 with 35 extra-base hits and a 71-to-86 walk-to-strikeout rate in 121 games between Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus. The 25-year-old third baseman/outfielder has continued to produce this offseason in Venezuela, where he owns a .348/.420/.506 batting line with nine extra-base hits in 23 games for Leones del Caracas.

• Renato Nunez, 3B/1B, Athletics -- After getting his first taste of the big leagues in September, the A's No. 5 prospect is currently tied for the league lead with nine home runs -- a total he amassed in just 23 games for Tigres de Aragua. Six of the 22-year-old's homers have come in his past 10 games, during which he owns a robust .300/.391/.775 slash line with 12 RBIs and 9 runs scored. Overall, Nunez is hitting .326/.406/.652 with 17 runs scored, 22 RBIs and a 11-20 walk-to-strikeout ratio.

Toros Hire Receiver Austin Wynns and outfielder Jordan Smith

Los Toros del Este announced the hiring of imported Austin Wynns, receiver and Jordan Smith, gardener players.

Both players, as well as new pitchers Matt Zielinski and Michael Dimock, were included Monday on the weekly roster of 45 men.

Wynns, a receiver of 25 years and a right - handed hitter who belongs to the organization of the Baltimore Orioles this summer saw action at Class A Advanced, double A and triple A.

In Class A, he advanced to the Carolina League with the Frederick team and finished with a .303 average, connecting for 57 hits in 188 innings, including 10 doubles and 5 triples.

In the Eastern League, Double A with Bowie, he hit .247 in 73 innings and triple A, in the International League, wearing the uniform of Norfork, had an average of .278 in 18 trips to the plate.

Overall, including the 3 circuits, the Wynns was .287, 80 hits in 279 innings, including 18 doubles and 6 homers, drove in 34 runs, scored 36, received 20 walks, struck out 46 times and the OBP was .336.

Jordan Smith, outfielder of 26 years, is a left - handed hitter, played this year in double - A and triple A, in the organization of the Cleveland Indians.

In triple A, in the International League, with the club Columbus, he batted .189 in 53 offensive opportunities and double A, with all Akron, recorded .271 average in 350 innings.

His overall average was .261, with 105 hits in 403 trips to the plate, counting among his hits, 29 doubles, 3 triples and 8 home runs, produced 52 runs, scored 59, struck out 88 times, negotiated 43 walks and his on base percentage was .333.

LATEST MOVES

DECEMBER 1, 2016

The Baseball Club Charros de Jalisco reports the following moves:

With this date, inactivated the outfield Michael Choice, who may be re-activated if requiredby December 11. Takes his place on the roster is the infielder Eric Aguilera.

12/3/16
2B: Almonte (1, Colome)
RBI: Almonte (3); Gonzalez, E 2 (2); Urshela 2 (30)
2-out RBI: Urshela 2
E: Almonte (1, fielding); Martinez, M (1, fielding); Gonzalez, E (1, throw)
CS: Diaz, Y (2, 2nd base by Teller/Arcia, F)
PO: Diaz, Y (1st base by Teller)

The Eagles beat Lions 6-2

SANTIAGO

The Cibao Eagles capitalized on five errors by the Lions and last night defeated them 6-2 in the game held at Cibao stadium.

Lions Starting pitcher Nick Addition contributed to his own defeat when he made a wild throw to home in the first for the first run of the game allowing for the disadvantage that they could not overcome.

The victory went to starter Roenis Elias (2-1), who pitched 5.0 innings, giving up four hits, one run, walked two and struck out 8. Nick Addition (1-2), who started for the Lions, lost after pitching 5.2 innings, six hits and four unearned runs, he walked one and struck out four.

In addition, the Eagles used Roenis Elias Samuel Deduno (6), Alberto Alburquerque (8), Michael Inoa (8), Josh Judy (8), who scored the save closing the ninth with three strikeouts.

After Nick Addition parading to the mound were Ben Rowen (6), Edward Paredes (7), Johan Yan (7), Enny Romero (7), Corsino Daniel (8)

The Eagles offense was led by Ronny Rodriguez and Johan Camargo, triple and two hits, Ronny Rodriguez two hits and two walks; Boog Powell, Zoilo Almonte, Rafael Inoa and Francisco Peña, one hit

The Lions were lead by Ruben Sosa, double and single; Pedro Ciriaco, with a double; Chesny Young, Jorge Polanco and Erick Gonzalez singled.

12/3/16

VENEZUELAN WINTER LEAGUE (LVBP)

Alex Monsalve (Bravos de Margarita, starting DH) - 1-4, 1 K - The good news: Monsalve has back-to-back games with a hit for the first time this offseason. The bad news: His batting average dropped below .300 (.294). Admittedly, wild swings in averages are to be expected due to the small sample size (seven games).

Yandy Diaz (Leones del Caracas, LF) - 3-5, 1 R, 1 CS, Picked Off 1 time - While Diaz extended his hit streak to eight games and has multiple hits in back-to-back games, he did not perform nearly as well on the basepaths on Saturday.

Jesus Aguilar (Leones del Caracas, 1B) - 1-3, 1 BB, 1 K - Aguilar extended his hit streak to three games and continued his climb to a .300 batting average (now at .288).

Yhoxian Medina (Leones del Caracas, backup 3B) - 0-1 - Medina, who continues to see sporadic playing time, had an atbat for the first time in almost a month (November 8).

Giovanny Urshela (Aguilas del Zulia, 3B) - 1-5, 2 RBI, 1 K - Urshela has a three-game hitting streak and hits in five of his last six and eight of his ten most recent contests. He is now batting .360/.367/.532 with 30 RBI in 35 games.

DOMINICAN WINTER LEAGUE (LIDOM)

Michael Martinez (Estrellas Orientales, 3B) - 1-5, 1 R, 1 K, 1 E - Martinez continues to alternate games with and without a hit through five games this season.

Abraham Almonte (Toros del Este, RF) - 4-6, 3 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 E - Almonte follows up Friday's three-hit game with this four-hit effort in which he quadrupled his season run total (from 1 to 4). While seven games is a small sample size, Abe's consistent improvement suggests that he is shaking off the rust from his postseason suspension rather quickly.

Jordan Smith (Toros del Este, LF) - 0-3, 1 B, 1 K, 1 SB, 2 HBP - Smith did get on base more on Saturday than he did in his season debut on Friday, albeit mostly via being hit by the ball rather than by hitting the ball.

Erik Gonzalez (Leones del Escogido, SS) - 1-4, 2 RBI, 1 K, 1 E - Gonzalez has exactly one hit in each of his three games played so far and drove in his first two runs of the season on Saturday night.

Ronny Rodriguez (Aguilas Cibaenas, starting 2B) - 2-2, 2 BB (1 intentional) - Ronny-Rod extended his hit streak to six games and his multi-hit streak to four. he has multiple hits in five games during his hit streak and is batting .347/.368/.564 in 27 games this season.

PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE (LBPRC)

Alexis Pantoja (Tiburones de Aguadilla, starting SS) - 0-2 - Pantoja sees a two-game hitting streak come to an end and now has three hitless games in his last five.

Toros del Este exploit and beat the Giants 14-6

LA ROMANA

Los Toros del Este exploded offensively and defeated the Gigantes del Cibao 14-6 held at the stadium Francisco A. Micheli , here.

Abraham Almonte was responsible for 4-6, a double, an RBI and three runs scored. Also contributing to the winning cause was Carlos Franco 2-5, three RBIs, a run scored. Cristhian Adames 2-4, two runs scored, an RBI; Manuel Margot 2-5, an RBI, three runs scored; Deibinson Romero 1-3, a run scored, Miguel Olivo 1-3, a run scored, and Eugenio Velez 1-33, a run scored.

For the Gigantes del Cibao excelling on offense were Ramon Torres 2-5, two RBIs; Rob Brantly 3-4 an RBI, two runs scored; Sierra Moses 1-44 a run scored, Josh Bell 1-2, a run scored.

The victory went to reliever Michael Dimock, who entered in the fifth, throwing 1-1 innings, one hit, no runs. The starter of the game Gonzalez Germen , covered 3-2 innings, 4 hits, 5 runs, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts.

Also going to the mound for the Bulls Edwar Cabrera (4), Fabio Castillo (7), Francisco Cruceta (8) and Rafael de Paula (9).

The loss went to the opener for the Giants Adrian Salcedo. He threw two innings, one hit, 4 runs, 3 walks, 2 strikeouts. In relief Sandy Rosario (3), Ian Thomas (4), Maximo Nelson (4), Carlos Rosa (5), Juan Perez (5), Johan Gregorio (6), Reynin Guduan (7), Jesus Colome (8), and Juan Minaya (8).

THE RUNS

Cibao Giants scored three times in the top of the third inning scoring were Josh Bell, Eric Wood and Rob Brantly. They were batted in by Moses Sierra, Rossel Herrera and Ramon Torres.

In the third inning the Bulls took advantage of the erratic play of the Giants defense and scored seven times. Miguel Olivo, Eugenio Velez, Abraham Almonte, Cristhian Adames, Manuel Margot, Carlos Franco and Deibinson Romero were responsible for the punishing by the Toros.

The Giants scored twice in the fourth when Ramon Torres hit single that scored Rob Brantly and Moses Sierra.

At the conclusion of the fourth inning the Toros produced two more runs as Adames and Almonte batted in by Margot and Franco.

In the fifth Toros scored three runs scored by Eugenio Velez, Adames and Margot, driven in by Adames and two by Franco.

Almonte and Margot scored in the eighth to increase the advantage of La Romana.

Is that Almonte?

Nice gut.

Loves the beans and rice.

12/4/16
2B: Martinez, M (2, Castro, A); Aguilar (5, Alfaro, G)
SB: Smith, J (2, 2nd base off Shirley/Solano, J)
SAC: Quiroz.
PO: Smith, J (1st base by Cleto)
GIDP: Diaz, Y

Jesus Aguilar #75

Caracas Sweeps Three Game Series From Zulia
Caracas Remains In Basement;
Zulia Drops To Second In Standings

Caracas Lions managed to defeat the Aguilas del Zulia for the second consecutive day and the three game series that began last Friday and thus lremain in the basement.

Caracas coached by Alfredo Pedrique won 2-1 thanks to a production of two runs in the top of the eighth inning thanks to a pair of doubles by Henry Rodriguez and Felix Perez.

The Eagles took the lead on a homer in the 4th inning by Reynaldo Rodriguez.

Henry Rodriguez , who batted 2-4, tied the game with his 12th double of the season. Felix Perez doubled batting in Rodriguez with the go ahead run and as it turned out, the winning run.

12/4/16

VENEZUELAN WINTER LEAGUE (LVBP)

Guillermo Quiroz (Tigres de Aragua, starting C) - 1-2, 1 K,1 Sac Bunt - Quiroz performed respectably in his first game in a week before being pinch-hit for by Alberto Callaspo in the seventh inning.

Nick Pasquale (Bravos de Margarita, RP) - H (1), 1 IP, 1 H - Pasquale made it back-to-back solid relief outings following his five-run, ten-hit disaster in his most recent start. At least in Caribbean ball, the bullpen seems to be where he performs the best. Maybe this is something for the Indians to consider as Pasquale progresses to higher levels of competition.

Yonathan Mendoza (Cardenales de Lara, SS) - 1-3, 1 R, 1 K - Mendoza played a full game for the first time in over a month (Nov. 3) and got his first hit since that last full game.

Yandy Diaz (Leones del Caracas, DH) - 0-4, 1 BB, 1 K - Diaz's eight-game hitting streak came to an end.

Jesus Aguilar (Leones del Caracas, 1B) - 1-4, 1 2B, 1 K - Aguilar extended his hitting streak to four games but saw his batting average drop to .286.

Giovanny Urshela (Aguilas del Zulia, 3B) - 1-4, 1 K - Urshela now has a four-game hitting streak and a .357/.364/.524 slash line in 36 games.

DOMINICAN WINTER LEAGUE (LIDOM)

Ronny Rodriguez (Aguilas Cibaenas, starting 2B) - 1-4 - Ronny-Rod extended his hitting streak to seven games but saw his streak of four consecutive games with multiple hits come to an end.

Michael Martinez (Estrellas Orientales, starting 2B) - 1-3, 1 2B, 1 K, 1 HBP - Martinez has hits in back-to-back games for the first time this season (six games played so far).

Abraham Almonte (Toros del Este, LF) - 1-3, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 K - Almonte cooled off considerably from the first two days of the weekend, when he had seven hits between the two games on Friday and Saturday, but he still extended his hitting streak to four games, scored, and reached base three times.

Jordan Smith (Toros del Este, DH) - 1-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 SB, Picked Off 1 time - Smith doubled his season base hit total in his third game of the Dominican campaign, but continued to be inconsistent on the basepaths.

Star power: 30 players confirmed for Classic

With the World Baseball Classic just a few months away, the rosters are beginning to take shape. More names surfaced Monday as the World Baseball Classic released an initial list of 30 players who are confirmed to be participating in the 2017 tournament.

Spanning 16 countries, the players include 24 Major League All-Stars, but the upcoming WBC, which will take place in March, provides a global stage for veterans and rising stars alike.

n addition to a number of MLB mainstays with well-decorated resumes -- stars such as Andrew McCutchen, Miguel Cabrera and Max Scherzer -- some of the game's promising young talent will be on display as several big leaguers age 25 or younger will represent their countries, including Puerto Rico's Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa and Javier Baez; the Dominican Republic's Manny Machado; Mexico's Roberto Osuna; the United States' Nolan Arenado; and the Netherlands' Xander Bogaerts.

Other confirmed players are Canada's Russell Martin; Colombia's Jose Quintana and Julio Teheran; the Dominican Republic's Adrian Beltre, Dellin Betances, Robinson Cano and Nelson Cruz; Mexico's Adrian Gonzalez and Oliver Perez; the Netherlands' Jonathan Schoop and Andrelton Simmons; Puerto Rico's Carlos Beltran and Yadier Molina; the United States' Chris Archer, Adam Jones and Buster Posey; and Venezuela's Jose Altuve, Carlos Gonzalez, Felix Hernandez and Salvador Perez.

his year's WBC begins March 6, and games will be played in Guadalajara, Mexico; Tokyo, Japan; Seoul, South Korea; Miami; and San Diego, with the championship round taking place at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles from March 20-22.

This will be the fourth installment of the international tournament, which was first played in 2006. Japan won the first two iterations in '06 and '09, while the Dominican Republic won most recently in '13. The U.S. hasn't finished better than fourth ('09).