MVN: Most Valuable Network

LF Jorge Cortes went 2-for-2 with a 2-run homer in the 4th inning for Magellanes, and Los Navegantes scored 4 runs in that inning.  They caught up to Lara and were leading 7-6 in the middle of the 8th, but Los Cardinales scored two in the bottom of the 8th for the win.

Former Pirate CF Rajai Davis led off the first inning for Los Caribes with a single, then he stole second base and third base, and scored on an RBI single.  Los Caribes scored 2 more in the 4th inning, when C Eliezer Alfonzo singled and RF Jose Tabata walked, and both scored on SS Carlos Rojas' single and a fielding error.  C Carlos Maldonado had two RBI singles for Caracas, one in their 4-run 3rd inning and one in their 5-run 5th inning.

Things were booming in Margarita last night -- a total of 46 hits and 38 runs.  There were 6 homers, including one by former Pirate Ray Olmedo.  Olmedo went 2-for-5 with a walk, 2 RBI, and 2 runs scored.  Another former Pirate, Yurendell de Caster, went 3-for-5, with a double, a walk, and 4 RBI.  Not a good night for ERA's.

Ronald Belisario entered the game in the bottom of the 7th for La Guaira, after Aragua had one run in, one out, and runners on first and second bases. He got Aragua's Ronny Cedeno to ground into a double play to end the inning, and then pitched a scoreless 8th inning, allowing only a lone walk.  

Ronny Paulino made his winter league debut, with 4 at-bats as DH.  He singled in the 3rd inning, but was out on a subsequent double play.  Indy area native 1B Jake Fox singled twice and had an RBI for Licey.

SS Luis Cruz went 0-for-4 as Obregon was held to only 3 hits in the first game of a double header.  LF Jacque Jones' homer was the only run for Obregon.  

Cruz had a much better nightcap.  He went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI, plus a walk.  Navojoa broke a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the 8th with a double, two intentional walks, and then a walk-off RBI single.

John Van Benschoten pitched 4 innings and gave up 3 runs on 8 hits and one walk, without any strikeouts, taking the loss for Culiacan.  His first two innings went just fine:  3 up and 3 down in the 1st, a single and then a double play in the 2nd.  But a double and three singles gave Mazatlan 3 runs in the third inning, and three more singles added another run in the 4th.  Culiacan scored their only run in the top of the 3rd, on a double, a single, and a ground out.  Evan Meek earned his 6th save, pitching a perfect 9th inning, including a strikeout.  

The Beach Boys took an early 4-run lead, but the Cane Fires came back, scoring 1 run in the 4th inning and 2 runs in both the 6th and 7th innings.  RF Caleb Gindl (Brewers) had a single, a double, and an RBI.  LF Logan Schafer (Brewers) also had two singles.  The Cane Fires were leading 5-4 going into the top of the 9th, but the Beach Boys scored two runs, on a homer and two singles and a wild pitch.  None of the Pirates' players got into the game.  

The AFL had Sunday off, as usual.

The Puerto Rican Winter League begins play on Thursday.