MVN: Most Valuable Network

Checking in on Pirates farmhands and friends in Wednesday's winter league games...

Pitchers dominated as the Cane Fires and the Sharks played 9 innings of scoreless baseball last night.  The Sharks had the first baserunner, in the 3rd inning, when Cane Fires' starter Fumikazu Kimura (Saitama Seibu Lions) hit a batter with a pitch -- and immediately erased him with a double play.  Cane Fires' DH Cyle Hankerd (Diamondbacks) had the first hit of the game when he led off the bottom of the 3rd with a single.  CF Kyle Peter (Tigers) followed with another single, and SS Haruki Kurose (SS Lions) moved them to second and third base with a sacrifice bunt.  But two strikeouts ended the inning withoug a run scoring.  The Cane Fires threatened again in the 7th inning, when 3B Tyler Henson (Orioles) walked, went to second on a sacrifice bunt, and advanced to third base on Hankerd's single.  Miles Durham pinch hit for Kurose, but flied out to end the inning.  Brian Friday took over the shortstop position on the field for the last two innings, but did not get an at-bat.  Hankerd singled one more time for the Cane Fires, and RF Caleb Gindl (Brewers) also had a single.  

Kimura allowed only one hit and no walks over 5 innings, striking out 4 batters.  Brian Parker (Orioles) came on in relief in the 6th, and loaded the bases with a single and two walks, but ended the inning with a double play to prevent a run from scoring.  Parker started the 7th inning by giving up a single and a sacrifice bunt, and he was relieved by Harrison Bishop.  Bishop got two quick outs to end the 7th, and retired the side in order in the 8th.  He allowed a single in the 9th, but that base runner was thrown out trying to steal second base.

SS Kevin Frandsen (Giants) and LF Chris Pettit (Angels) led the Scorpions with 2 hits each, including a 2-RBI triple for Frandsen in the 4th inning, and a 2-run homer for DH Mark Ori (Astros) in the 5th inning.  Starter Sergio Perez (Astros) held the Saguaros to one run on 3 hits with 3 strikeouts over 5 innings of work, to earn his first AFL win.  None of the Pirates' farmhands saw action in the game.  

SS Luis Cruz walked 3 times in 5 trips to the plate for Obregon.  In the 4th inning, his walk was followed by a 3-run homer by 3B Agustin Murillo,  In the 5th inning, Murillo hit his second homer of the game, again after Cruz had led off with a walk.  Cruz also was involved in turning two double plays for Obregon.  

Steve Pearce hasn't played in the past week... not sure if he's still there in Mazatlan, or if he's come back to the US, been injured.. ??

Reliever  Juan Perez pitched a perfect 6th inning for Los Gigantes, including one strikeout.  Jesse Chavez did not do as well, though.  He began the 8th inning by hitting a batter, then gave up back-to-back doubles (2 runs in), then got two outs, then gave up an RBI single.  He was relieved, but the next batter homered, and Chavez was responsible for the runner still on base -- 4 runs on 3 hits in 0.2 innings.

C Ronny Paulino and Indianapolis area native 1B Jake Fox (Cubs) each had 3 hits, including two doubles and an RBI for Fox and a double, and an RBI for Paulino, as they led Licey to victory.  Paulino also walked and stole second base.  Fox had an RBI single in the 1st inning for Licey.  Los Tigres scored 4 runs in the 4th inning, when Fox led off with a double, followed by another double, a single by Toledo Mud Hen Timo Perez, and a double by Paulino.  Another single brought Paulino in to score.  Paulino started a 6th-inning rally with a single, then another single and an intentional walk loaded the bases.  Paulino was forced in on an unintentional walk.  Paulino, Perez, and Felix Pie (Cubs) all singled for another run in the 7th.  

Los Caribes scored 5 runs in the 5th inning and 4 runs in the 6th inning, leaving Los Tiburones swimming in circles.  LF Jose Tabata went 0-for-4 with a walk.

 Tigres de Aragua 11, Cardinales de Lara 2

Los Tigres ate up Los Cardinales, putting up 19 hits and 11 runs, while holding Lara to only 5 hits.  Twelve batters came to the plate for Aragua in the 8-run 4th inning, and all but the first single happened with two outs.  C Raul Chavez hit an RBI single, to bring in the first run of the inning, and he scored on DH Prentice Redman's (Mariners) 3-run homer.  

LF Jorge Cortes had 2 of Magallanes 8 hits, including a triple, though he was not able to come around and score.  Former Pirate 1B Brad Eldred made his Venezuelan League debut for Zulia, going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.  

Los Leones also had a 8-run inning, in the 2nd.  C Carlos Maldonado's RBI single brought in the second run.  Maldonado stole second base, and went to third on a walk.  That walk forced on one run, and Maldonado was forced in by another walk.  A grand slam by Jesus Guzman brought the total up to 8.  Romulo Sanchez pitched a perfect 7th inning for Caracas.  

The Puerto Rican League begins play with one game tonight.  Last year, the league went under due to financial issues.  This season, the league has been reworked a bit and teams reorganized.  Two Pirates' farmhands, RHP Jorge Charry and INF Greg Picart  are on the roster for Los Leones de Ponce.  Other former Pirates/Indy Indians' players on rosters:

SS Cesar Crespo (Indy 2005) -- Gigantes de Carolina

SS/2B Luis R. Figueroa (Indy 2004) -- Indios de Mayaguez

P Alay Solar (Altoona 2007), P Shane Youman (Pirates), and 1B Simon Pond (Altoona 2007) -- Cangrejeros de Santurce.