Venezuelan View: Games of 12/27

A big game for Eduardo Escobar.

ZULIA 9, LARA 7 IN LARA

Twins: Darin Mastroianni (Zulia) was 1-for-4 with a walk and an RBI.

Game summary: Zulia led 5-2 after three. Lara tied it in the fifth, but Zulia went up 8-5 after six. Lara cut it to 8-7 in the seventh. Zulia got an insurance run in the ninth.

Zulia: Jose Flores was 5-for-5 with a walk, scoring three times and driving in one. Gerardo Parra (Arizona) was 4-for-5 with a double and a walk, scoring twice and driving in two.

Lara: Luis Jimenez (Toronto) was 2-for-3 with a two-run homer and two walks, scoring three times. Luis Valbuena (Cubs) was 2-for-5 with a home run and four RBIs.

ANZOATEGUI 9, LA GUAIRA 5 IN LA GUAIRA

Twins: Eduardo Escobar (Anzoategui) was 3-for-4 with a double and a triple, scoring twice. Bruce Pugh (Anzoategui) gave up one run on two hits and no walks in 1.1 innings.

Game summary: Anzoategui took a 4-0 lead after three. La Guaira tied it 4-4 after six, but Anzoategui scored seven in the eighth to take control.

Anzoategui: Niuman Romero was 3-for-5 with two runs and three RBIs. Jose Castillo was 3-for-5 with a double, scoring once and driving in two.

La Guaira: Alex Cabrera was 3-for-4 with a double, a walk, and two RBIs. Cesar Suarez was 3-for-5 with a double and scored once.

ARAGUA 2, CARACAS 1 IN ARAGUA

Twins: Oswaldo Arcia (Aragua) was 2-for-4 and scored once. Dakota Watts (Aragua) retired all five men he faced, striking out one.

Game summary: Aragua scored single runs in the third and fourth. The lone Caracas run scored in the fifth.

Caracas: Jose Duarte was 2-for-3 with a walk and scored once.

Aragua: Joucer Martinez (Texas) started and allowed an unearned run on three hits and two walks in 4.1 innings. Jonel Pacheco was 1-for-4 with a home run.

MAGALLANES 3, MARGARITA 1 IN MARGARITA

Game summary: Magallanes took the lead with two in the second. Margarita got one in the fifth, but Magallanes scored an insurance run in the ninth.

Magallanes: Carlos Zambrano struck out five in five innings, giving up one run on five hits and four walks. Eliezer Alfonzo was 2-for-4 with a two-run homer.

Margarita: Max Ramirez (Kansas City) was 2-for-3 with a walk. Luis Chirinos struck out six in six innings, giving up two runs on seven hits and a walk.