MAZATLAN

Saturday

HERMOSILLO 1, MAZATLAN 0 IN HERMOSILLO (GAME 6)

The game's lone run scored in the second on two singles, a bunt, and a ground out.  Mazatlan had seven hits and five walks but stranded nine and hit into two double plays.  Ramon Rios was 2-for-4.  Francisco Rios pitched seven innings, giving up four hits and two walks and striking out five.

Record:  Mazatlan loses the best-of-seven series four games to two.  Our reporting from the Mexican League is therefore at an end for this season.

GIGANTES

No games scheduled.  The Gigantes will play Aguilas in a best-of-seven series for the Dominican League Championship starting Monday night.

LARA, GAME 38, 39, and 40

Saturday

LARA 4, MAGALLANES 2 IN MAGALLANES

Lara scored two in the seventh to take a 3-2 lead.  Yojhan Quevedo was 2-for-2.  Cesar Puello was 2-for-3 with two walks.  Ex-Twin Rene Reyes was 2-for-4 with a home run, his second.  Angelo Palumbo started and pitched three innings, giving up two runs on four hits and two walks and striking out one.  Five relievers took it from there, pitching six shutout innings.

Sunday

LARA 11, ARAGUA 4 IN LARA (GAME 1--7 INNINGS)

Leading 4-2, Lara scored seven runs in the third to put the game out of reach.  Ex-Twin Rene Reyes was 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, and three RBIs.  Yonathan Mendoza was 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, and two runs.  Raul Rivero pitched three innings, giving up two runs on four hits and no walks and striking out one.

ARAGUA 9, LARA 4 IN LARA (GAME 2--7 INNINGS)

Each team scored four in the third, but Aragua got two more in the fourth and three in the seventh.  Jecksson Flores was 2-for-3 with a double and a walk to lead Lara.  Francisco Arcia was 2-for-3 and Cesar Puello was 2-for-4.  Josmar Cordero was 1-for-3 with a grand slam, his second homer.  Leonel Aponte pitched 2.1 innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits and no walks and striking out one.

Stats:  Ex-Twin Jermaine Palacios was 1-for-3 and is batting .500.  Puello is batting .429.  Cordero is batting .311.  Ildemaro Vargas was 0-for-4 and is batting .308.  Vicente Campos gave up three runs (one earned) in one inning and has an ERA of 2.00.  Yapson Gomez gave up no runs in a third of an inning and has an ERA of 1.33.

Record:  Lara is 25-15, in first place in the Venezuelan League West, 2.5 games ahead of Magallanes.

Next game:  The mlb winter league website does not indicate when Lara's next game is.  I suspect it will be a playoff game, but I don't know when it will start or who they will play.

MAYAGUEZ

Their series against Manati remains in limbo due to COVID concerns.  If the series cannot be continued, Caguas will be the Puerto Rican League champions.

MELBOURNE

Saturday

CANBERRA 2, MELBOURNE 1 AT CANBERRA (GAME 1--7 INNINGS)

Canberra scored single runs in the second and third.  Melbourne scored in the seventh and had the bases loaded with one out, but could not tie it up.  Gift Ngoepe was 2-for-2.  Tyler Beardsley pitched a six-inning complete game, giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits and no walks and striking out three.

MELBOURNE 3, CANBERRA 2 AT CANBERRA (GAME 2--7 INNINGS)

Melbourne scored two in the sixth to break a 1-1 tie.  Canberra scored one in the seventh and had the tying run on third base with the game ended.  Darryl George was 3-for-4 with a double.  Chris Burke (not the guy from "Life Goes On") was 2-for-2 with a walk.  Ex-Twin Delmon Young was 2-for-4 with a double.  Gunnar Kines pitched 4.1 innings, giving up one run on four hits and a walk and striking out two.

Stats:  Young is batting .395.  George is batting .360.  Damek Tomscha was 0-for-3 and is batting .317.

Record:  Melbourne is 7-5, in second place in the Australian League behind Adelaide, which is 3-1.  COVID concerns have played havoc with the Australian League schedule.

Next game:  Melbourne's next scheduled game is Wednesday when they host Sydney.

MAZATLAN

MAZATLAN 7, HERMOSILLO 2 IN MAZATLAN

Mazatlan scored three in the first and three in the third to take a 6-1 lead.  Edson Garcia was 2-for-3 with a walk and four RBIs.  Anthony Giansanti was 2-for-4 with two runs.  Edgar Torres pitched five innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on two hits and a walk and striking out three.

Record:  Mazatlan trails the best-of-seven series 2-3.

Next game:  Mazatlan is at Hermosillo tonight.

GIGANTES

GIGANTES 5, ESTRELLAS 3 AT ESTRELLAS

Kelvin Gutierrez hit a two-run homer in the first and the Gigantes led all the way.  Abiatal Avelino was 2-for-3 with a double and a walk.  Gutierrez was 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs.  Chris Ellis struck out seven in six innings, giving up one run on four hits and two walks.

Record:  The Gigantes won the best-of-seven series 4-2.

Next game:  The Gigantes will play the winner of the Aguilas/Toros series in the finals.  The first game of the series will be Tuesday.

LARA, GAMES 36 AND 37

MAGALLANES 7, LARA 2 IN LARA (GAME 1--7 INNINGS)

Magallanes scored three in the fourth to break a 2-2 tie.  Osman Marval was 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs.  Yojhan Quevedo was 2-for-3 with a double.  Nestor Molina started and pitched 3.1 innings, allowing five runs (two earned) on six hits and a walk and striking out two.

LARA 5, MAGALLANES 4 IN LARA (GAME 2--7 INNINGS)

Yordanys Linares RBI single in the sixth tied it 4-4 and Josmar Cordero's RBI single in the seventh won it for Lara.  Cesar Puello was 2-for-4 with a walk.  Linares was 2-for-4 with two RBIs.  Ex-Twin Logan Darnell pitched four innings, giving up two runs on six hits and no walks and striking out two.

Record:  Lara is 23-14, in first place in the Venezuelan League West, 1.5 games ahead of Magallanes.

Next game:  Lara is at Magallanes tonight.

MAYAGUEZ

Mayaguez' series with Manati remains in limbo due to COVID concerns.  The last I knew, a decision would be made Sunday or Monday in regard to whether the series would be continued.  If it is not, Caguas, which won the other semi-final series, will be declared the champion.

MELBOURNE

MELBOURNE 4, CANBERRA 3 AT CANBERRA (10 INNINGS)

Damek Tomscha hit a three-run homer in the ninth to tie it 3-3.  Blake Gailen then singled in the tenth to bring home the go-ahead run.  Tomscha was 2-for-3 with a walk in addition to the home run, which was his fifth.  Jake Romanski was 2-for-4.  Brian Flynn struck out eight in 6.1 scoreless innings, giving up four hits and no walks.

Record:  Melbourne is 6-4, in second place in the Australian League, no "games back", but in second by winning percentage behind Adelaide.

MAZATLAN

Mazatlan's game at Hermosillo was suspended after four and a half innings with Mazaltan leading 6-2.  Mazatlan trails in the best-of-seven series 3-1.  They are scheduled to complete the game today.

GIGANTES

ESTRELLAS 5, GIGANTES 3 AT GIGANTES

The Estrellas scored all five of their runs in the third, and it was enough.  Jeremy Pena hit a two-run homer in the inning.  Carlos Paulino was 2-for-3 with a home run and a walk for the Gigantes.  Richelson Pena started but lasted just 2.2 innings, allowing five runs on seven hits and no walks and striking out one.

Record:  The Gigantes lead the best-of-seven series 3-2.

Next game:  The Gigantes are at the Estrellas again tonight.

LARA

Lara did not play yesterday.  Lara is 22-13, in first place in the Venezuelan League West, a game and a half ahead of Magallanes.  Lara hosts Magallanes for a doubleheader tonight.

MAYAGUEZ

Mayaguez' series against Manati appears to still be in limbo.  Mayaguez leads the series 1-0, but no other games have been played due to COVID concerns.  If the series cannot be continued, Caguas, which had the best regular-season record and won their playoff series, will be declared the champion.

MELBOURNE

CANBERRA 4, MELBOURNE 2 AT CANBERRA

Canberra scored two in the fourth to take a 2-1 lead and led the rest of the way.  Jarryd Dale was 2-for-4.  Blake Gailen was 2-for-5.  Derek Tomscha hit a home run, his fourth.  Daniel McGrath pitched 3.1 innings, giving up two runs on three hits and four walks and striking out three.

Stats:  Ex-Twin Delmon Young was 0-for-3 and is batting .393.  Darryl George was 1-for-5 and is batting .378.  Gailen is batting .333.  Tomscha is batting .313.  Jon Kennedy gave up one run in two innings and has an ERA of 2.57.  Ex-Twin Sam Gibbons pitched two-thirds of an inning without giving up a run and has an ERA of zero.

Record:  Melbourne is 5-4, in second place in the Australian League, a half game behind Adelaide.

MAZATLAN

MAZATLAN 7, HERMOSILLO 6 IN MAZATLAN (GAME 4)

Ricardo Valenzuela hit a two-run homer in the fourth to give Mazatlan a 4-2 lead.  They built the lead to 7-3, then held on as Hermosillo scored three in the ninth and had the tying run on third when the game ended.  Irwin Delgado struck out six in six innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits and one walk.  Hermosillo out-hit Mazatlan 10-6.

Record:  Mazatlan stayed alive, but still trails the best-of-seven series 1-3.

Next game:  Mazatlan again hosts Hermosillo tonight.

GIGANTES

ESTRELLAS 7, GIGANTES 6 AT ESTRELLAS (GAME 4)

Fernando Tatis had a two-run triple in a four-run seventh that put the Estrellas up 7-4.  The Gigantes scored two in the ninth and had the tying run on first when the game ended.  The Gigantes stranded 13 and went 2-for-15 with men in scoring position.  Oneil Cruz was 3-for-4 with a double, a walk, and three runs.  Jose Siri was 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBIs.  Kelvin Gutierrez was 3-for-5.  Moises Sierra was 2-for-4 with a double.

Record:  The Gigantes missed a chance for a sweep, but they still lead the best-of-seven series 3-1.

Next game:  The Gigantes host the Estrellas tonight.

LARA, GAME 35

LARA 2, MARGARITA 0 IN LARA

Lara scored both their runs in the second inning.  Osman Marval was 2-for-3.  It was a bullpen game for Lara.  The starter, Leonel Aponte, pitched 2.2 innings, giving up three hits and two walks and striking out three.

Stats:  Ex-Twin Jermaine Palacios was 1-for-3 and is batting .600.  Cesar Puello was 1-for-4 and is batting .357.  Carlos Rivero was 0-for-4 and is batting .340.  Yordanys Linares was 1-for-4 and is batting .325.  Vicente Campos pitched a scoreless inning and has an ERA of 1.84.  Pedro Rodriguez pitched a scoreless inning and has an ERA of 2.57.

Record:  Lara is 22-13, in first place in the Venezuelan League West, two games ahead of Magallanes.

Next game:  Lara hosts Magallanes for a doubleheader Friday.

MAYAGUEZ

No game scheduled.  Mayaguez leads Manati in the best-of-seven series 1-0.  However, playing the rest of the series is uncertain due to COVID concerns.  If the series is not completed, Caguas, which had the best record during the regular season, will be declared the champion.

MELBOURNE

Melbourne did not play on January 6.  They are at Canberra on January 7.  They are in second place with a record of 5-3.

MAZATLAN

HERMOSILLO 1, MAZATLAN 0 (GAME 3)

The game's lone run came in the eighth, when Alex Robles singled, went to second on a ground out, and scored on a two-out single by Luis Alfonso Cruz.  Mazatlan had just four hits, all singles, but drew five walks.  They stranded nine and were 0-for-7 with men in scoring position.  Carlos Munoz was 1-for-2 with two walks.  Matt Gage pitched six shutout innings, giving up no hits and three walks and striking out two.  He threw 97 pitches.

Record:  Mazatlan is 0-3 in the best-of-seven series.

Next game:  Mazatlan hosts Hermosillo tonight.

GIGANTES

The Gigantes did not play.  They lead their best-of-seven series with the Estrellas 3-0.  They are at the Estrellas tonight.

LARA, GAME 34

LARA 6, MARGARITA 3 IN MARGARITA

Osman Marval's three-run homer in the seventh gave Lara a 3-1 lead.  They added two in the eighth and were not threatened.  Yordanys Linares was 3-for-5 with a double.  Ex-Twin Rene Reyes was 2-for-3.  Marval was 2-for-5 with a double in addition to the home run, which was his second.  Carlos Rivero was 2-for-5.  Raul Rivero struck out five in five innings, giving up one run on four hits and three walks.

Stats:  Cesar Puello was 1-for-5 and is batting .400.  Rivero is batting .352.  Linares is batting .327.  Gorkys Hernandez was 0-for-2 and is batting .324.  Ildemaro Vargas was 0-for-3 and is batting .320.  Jose Tabata was 1-for-3 and is batting .308.  Vicente Campos pitched 1.2 scoreless innings and has an ERA of 1.98.  Yapson Gomez pitched a third of an inning and did not give up a run, so his ERA is 1.47.  Pedro Rodriguez gave up a run in an inning and has an ERA of 2.77.

Record:  Lara is 21-13, in first place in the Venezuelan League West, 2.5 games ahead of Magallanes.

Next game:  Lara hosts Margarita tonight.

MAYAGUEZ

Their game with Manati last night was postponed.  In fact, the rest of the series is listed as "postponed".  This is apparently COVID-related.  I don't know what's going to happen with the rest of this best-of-seven series.  Mayaguez won the only game that's been played so far.

MELBOURNE

They did not play yesterday.  They are scheduled to play Canberra this afternoon.  They are 5-3, in third place behind Adelaide and Perth, but are in fact a half game ahead of them, as those teams have played just three games and are 2-1.

 

MAZATLAN

Did not play.  They host Hermosillo tonight.  They trail their best-of-seven playoff series 0-2.

GIGANTES

GIGANTES 3, ESTRELLAS 2 AT GIGANTES (GAME 3--10 INNINGS)

Jose Siri homered in the eighth to tie it 2-2.  In the tenth, Abiatal Avelino walked, stole second, and scored on a Siri single to win it for the Gigantes.  Siri was 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs.  Oneil Cruz also homered for the Gigantes.  Cesar Valdez pitched five shutout innings, giving up four hits and a walk and striking out three.  Ex-Twin Ervin Santana started for the Estrellas, striking out six in five innings and giving up one run on four hits and two walks.

Record:  The Gigantes lead the best-of-seven series 3-0.

Next game:  The Gigantes are at the Estrellas Wednesday night.

LARA, GAME 33

LARA 22, CARACAS 10 IN LARA

Lara scored five in the first, six in the second, two in the third, and five in the fourth to build an 18-0 lead.  Caracas never got closer than eleven runs.  It's quite a deal to score ten runs and not even be in the game.  Yordanys Linares was 4-for-5 with a double and four runs.  Carlos Rivero was 3-for-4 with three runs and five RBIs.  Cesar Puello was 3-for-5 with a walk and four RBIs.  Jose Tabata was 2-for-3 with a double, two walks, two runs, and three RBIs.  Jecksson Flores was 2-for-5 with two walks and three runs.  Osman Marval was 2-for-5 with three runs.  Ex-Twin Jermaine Palacios was 1-for-1 with a three-run homer.  Ex-Twin Williams Perez started and pitched 4.2 innings, allowing six runs (two earned) on ten hits and a walk and striking out three.

Stats:  Palacios is batting 1.000.  Puello is batting .600.  Brhayan Campos is batting .500.  Rivero is batting .349.  Ildemaro Vargas was 2-for-4 and is batting .330.  Gorkys Hernandez was 0-for-1 and is batting .330.  Linares is batting .315.  Josmar Cordero was 0-for-1 and is batting .313.  Tabata is batting .306.

Record:  Lara is 20-13, in first place in the Venezuelan League West, 1.5 games ahead of Magallanes.

Next game:  Lara is at Margarita tonight.

MAYAGUEZ

Did not play.  They host Manati tonight.  They lead their best-of-seven series 1-0.

MELBOURNE

Did not play.  Their next game is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon at Canberra.  They are in second place in the Australian League, but are actually a half game ahead of first-place Adelaide.  As we've said before COVID concerns have played havoc with the league schedule.  Melbourne is 5-3, while Adelaide is 1-0.

MAZATLAN

We are in the first round of the playoffs.  Mazatlan plays Hermosillo.  It appears to be a best-of-seven series.

Saturday

HERMOSILLO 2, MAZATLAN 1 IN HERMOSILLO (GAME 1--12 INNINGS)

Hermosillo scored in the fifth on a walk, an error, and a Norberto Obeso single.  Anthony Giansanti homered in the seventh to tie it 1-1.  It stayed 1-1 until the twelfth (no "start with a man on second" rule here).  Alex Robles singled, stole second, and scored on a Yadiel Hernandez single for the deciding run.  For Mazatlan, Isaac Paredes was 2-for-4.  Edgar Torres pitched six innings, giving up an unearned run on five hits and three walks and striking out three.

Sunday

HERMOSILLO 3, MAZATLAN 1 IN HERMOSILLO (GAME 2)

Hermosillo scored single runs in the first, second, and eighth.  The lone Mazatlan run came in the first.  Mazatlan had just four hits.  Francisco Rios pitched 6.1 innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks and striking out four.  One run per game in the playoffs is not likely to get it done.

Record:  Mazatlan is 0-2 in the best-of-seven series.

Next game:  Mazatlan comes home for game three tomorrow night.

GIGANTES

The Gigantes are also in the playoffs.  They are playing the Estrellas.  This appears to be a best-of-seven series.

Saturday

GIGANTES 1, ESTRELLAS 0 AT GIGANTES (GAME 1)

The game's lone run scored in the seventh.  Abiatal Avelino walked, went to third on a Jose Siri double, and scored on a foul sacrifice fly.  Moises Sierra was 2-for-3 and had the RBI.  Richelson Pena pitched 5.1 scoreless innings, giving up four hits and two walks and striking out three.

Sunday

GIGANTES 4, ESTRELLAS 3 AT ESTRELLAS (GAME 2)

Jose Siri homered in the seventh to break a 2-2 tie and a sacrifice fly  brought in an insurance run.  The Gigantes needed it, because the Estrellas scored in the ninth and had the tying run on third when the game ended.  Ronald Guzman was 2-for-3 with a triple, a double, and a walk.  Moises Sierra was 2-for-4 with a double.  Siri was 2-for-5 with two home runs.  Chris Ellis pitched 4.1 innings, giving up two runs on five hits and three walks and striking out four.

Record:  The Gigantes are 2-0 in the best-of-seven series.

Next game:  The Gigantes host the Estrellas this evening.

LARA, GAMES 31 AND 32

Saturday

LARA 6, MARGARITA 4 IN LARA

Lara led 5-0 through five, then held on.  Gorkys Hernandez was 2-for-4 with a double and two runs.  Nestor Molina pitched 5.2 innings, giving up two runs on three hits and no walks and striking out four.

Sunday

LARA 5, CARACAS 3 IN CARACAS

Yojhan Quevedo's pinch-hit three-run homer in the eighth turned a 3-2 deficit into a 5-3 victory.  Carlos Rivero was 2-for-4 with a walk and two runs.  Gorkys Hernandez was 2-for-5 with a double.  Ex-Twin Logan Darnell pitched six innings, giving up two runs on six his and a walk and striking out one.

Stats:  Hernandez is batting .333.  Rivero is batting .329.  Ildemaro Vargas was 1-for-5 and is batting .323.  Josmar Cordero was 0-for-2 and is batting .318.  Pedro Rodriguez pitched a perfect inning and has an ERA of 2.25.

Record:  Lara is 19-13, in first place in the Venezuelan League West, one game ahead of Magallanes.

Next game:  Lara hosts Caracas this evening.

MAYAGUEZ

All four Puerto Rican League teams are in the playoffs.  Mayaguez is playing Manati.  It appears to be a best-of-seven series.

Saturday

MAYAGUEZ 12, MANATI 2 IN MAYAGUEZ (GAME 1)

Mayaguez led 5-0 after two and 10-2 after five.  Emmanuel Rivera was 2-for-3 with a walk.  Christian Colon was 2-for-4 with two doubles, two runs, and three RBIs.  Jeremy Rivera was 2-for-4 with a double.  Luis Medina pitched five innings, giving up two runs on two hits and three walks and striking out four.

Sunday

Sunday's game was postponed.  It does not appear that it will be made up today.  The next game is scheduled for Tuesday evening in Mayaguez.  Mayaguez leads the series 1-0.

MELBOURNE, GAMES 6, 7, AND 8

Saturday

MELBOURNE 5, CANBERRA 3 IN MELBOURNE (GAME 1--7 INNINGS)

Ex-Twin Delmon Young's two-run double in the fifth gave Melbourne a 4-3 lead.  A sacrifice fly provided an insurance run.  Darryl George was 3-for-3 with a home run and two runs.  Brian Flynn pitched four innings, giving up three unearned runs on two hits and two walks and striking out three.

CANBERRA 7, MELBOURNE 0 IN MELBOURNE (GAME 2--7 INNINGS)

Canberra scored two in the first and led all the way.  Blake Gailen was 2-for-3 for Melbourne.  Tyler Beardsley pitched four innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on four hits and two walks and striking out four.

Sunday

MELBOURNE 11, CANBERRA 4 IN MELBOURNE (7 1/2 INNINGS--RAIN)

Melbourne scored four in the first and three in the third to build a 7-0 lead.  Damek Tomscha was 3-for-4 with two runs and three RBIs.  Ex-Twin Delmon Young was 2-for-2 with a walk and three runs.  Kyle Perkins was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.  Darryl George was 2-for-5 with a double.  Gunnar Kines struck out seven in five innings, giving up three runs on five hits and a walk.

Stats:  Young is batting .440.  George is batting .406.  Gailen is batting .321.  Tomscha is batting .321.  Perkins is batting .304.  Mitch Ellis and Scott Mitchinson each have an ERA of zero.  Cameron Gibbens has an ERA of 2.70.

Record:  Melbourne is 5-3, in first place in the Australian League, one game ahead of Sydney, Adelaide, and Brisbane.  COVID concerns have played havoc with the Australian League schedule.  Melbourne has played the most games, with eight.  Canberra is second with five.  Sydney has played two games, Perth one, and Adelaide and Brisbane have not played at all.

Next game:  Melbourne is scheduled to play at Canberra Wednesday afternoon.