Winter Leagues Report: Week 4
Good morning, and welcome to Week 4! In today’s addition we learn that the Cubs’ organization has some additions to the winter leagues. Iowa Cubs pitcher has Williams Perez has joined Cardenales de Lara, while Tennessee Smokies Gioskar Amaya and Yasiel Balaguert are with Navagantes de Magallanes and Tiburones de La Guaira in the Venezuelan Winter League. Meanwhile, the Cubs have claimed pitcher off of waivers from the Minnesota Twins.
Mexican Pacific League
Caneros de los Mochis
Consistency continues to evade Los Mochis, as a five game win streak ended on Wednesday with a 3-2 loss to Mexicali. Manuel Rodriguez did his part to help the Caneros get back into the game, tossing a scoreless seventh and eighth inning, giving up a walk and a hit while striking out a batter. Mexicali 3 - Los Mochis 2
The Sugarcane-men clawed their way back to .500 on Saturday by sweeping a doubleheader from Mazatlan. In Game 2, Los Mochis answered a run in the top of the fifth inning with three of their own to edge past the Venados 5-4. Helping nail down the victory was Manuel Rodriguez, who struck out the only man he faced with two outs in the sixth inning. Los Mochis 5 - Mazatlan 4
Tomateros de Culiacan
Culiacan maintained their thin hold on first place on Wednesday with a five run rally in the top of the ninth to defeat Mazatlan 7-2. Iowa catcher Ali Solis was part of the twelve hit attack as he went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. Culiacan 7 - Mazatlan 2
The Tomateros were able to keep up their pace on Friday as they edged Obregon 3-2 despite giving up two runs in the bottom of the eighth. Ali Solis doubled to lead off the eighth inning, but was thrown out at home on a bunt attempt, going 1-for-4 in the game. Culiacan 3 - Obregon 2
On Saturday, Culiacan upheld their one game lead despite dropping a 5-3 decision to Obregon. Catcher Ali Solis doubled and was 1-for-3 in the loss. Obregon 5 - Culiacan 3
Venezuelan Winter League
Cardenales de Lara
On Wednesday, Lara continued to battle to remain competitive in the first half of the season by beating Magallanes 4-3. Yapson Gomez was part of a seven pitcher effort, striking out the only batter he faced in the seventh inning. Lara 4 - Magallanes 3
Despite jumping ahead 2-0 in the game, the Cardenales succumbed to first place Aragua 8-3 on Thursday. In his first start of the season, Iowa right-hander Williams Perez scattered two hits and two walks, as he struck out two in four scoreless innings. Aragua 8 - Lara 3
Caribes de Anzoategui
It was another disappointing effort for Anzoategui on Friday, as the Caribes fell 14-4 to La Guaira. Erick Castillo entered the game in the fourth inning and was 1-for-2 in the loss. La Guaira 14 - Anzoategui 4
Navegantes del Magallanes
A traditional power struggling for consistency this season, Magallanes was humbled on Tuesday 12-6 by La Guaira. Coming back from a serious knee injury, utility man Gioskar Amaya made his winter debut at designated hitter and was 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. La Guaira 12 - Magallanes 6
In one of the biggest offensive explosions of the winter, the Navegantes walloped Lara 19-2 on Friday. Returning at DH, Gioskar Amaya drove in four and was 1-for-4 with a double, a hit by a pitch, and a run scored in the romp. Magallanes 19 - Lara 2
Bravos de Margarita
The Margarita was unable to produce any more runs after the first inning on Friday in a 3-1 loss to Caracas. Eugenio Palma came in with one out in the fifth inning and walked the only batter he was allowed to face. Caracas 3 - Margarita 1
Tiburones de La Guaira
One game out of last place in the VWL, La Guaira got a big boost in confidence on Friday with a 14-4 victory over Anzoategui. Tennessee 1B/OF Yasiel Balaguert made his Venezuelan debut at an unusual position, third base. Balaguert entered in the sixth inning and tripled in his first at bat, going in for 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored in the game. Tiburones 14 - Caribes 4
The Hammerheads got behind the eight ball early on Saturday against Magallanes, but made a game of it late in an 8-5 loss. Yasiel Balaguert moved to DH and did what he does best, drive in runs. For the game, Balaguert was 1-for-4 with two RBI. Magallanes 8 - La Guaira 5
Tigres de Aragua
On Sunday, Aragua maintained their wide lead in the VWL by outgunning Margarita 4-3. Stephen Perakslis was better than his previous two starts, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits and two walks, going five innings and striking out three. Carlos Penalver moved to the number two slot in the order and was 1-for-5 with a run scored. Aragua 4 - Margarita 3
In Monday’s spotlight game, the Tigers saved all their runs for the sixth inning in defeating Margarita 3-2. Moving back to the lead-off spot, Carlos Penalver went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. Aragua 3 - Margarita 2
The Tigres once again capitalized on a big sixth inning to extend their record to 15-4 on Wednesday with a 7-6 victory over Anzoategui. James Pugliese inherited a two on-one out situation in the top of the sixth and allowed a two-run double. For the game, Pugliese allowed two earned runs in 0.1 innings. Carlos Penalver remained the catalyst, going 3-for-5 with a double, a triple, a run scored, two RBI, and a stolen base. Aragua 7 - Anzoategui 6
Aragua hung a four-spot up in the fifth and eighth innings as they beat Lara 8-3 on Thursday. Carlos Penalver moved down to the eighth slot in the order and was 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. Tigers 8 - Cardinals 3
Friday was an oddity for Aragua this season, as they were taken down by Zulia 8-4. Batting seventh, Carlos Penalver was 2-for-4 with a double for the Cats. Zulia 8 - Aragua 4
News and Notes
The Chicago Cubs claimed LHP Randy Rosario off of waivers from the Minnesota Twins. Rosario is currently playing for Gigantes de Cibao in the Dominican Winter League.