Caribes' Smith blanks Tigres

Photo courtesy of los Tigres de Aragua

Aragua 0 at Caribes 4

W: M. Smith (3-2, 2.90); L: B. Bass (3-2, 2.77)
HR: ORI: R. Washington (5).

Sunday, Twins pitching didn't help much as Minnesota's Brian Bass gave up 4 runs (3 earned) on 5 hits and 1 walk while striking out 4 over 5.2 innings. Caribes starter Mike Smith (St Louis) would limit Aragua to just 4 hits over 8 innings. Smith's perforance would earn him the League's Player of the Week Award.

With one out, Jonathan Herrera (Colorado) and Andrews Torres (Detroit) hit back-to-back doubles for Caribes to start off their scoring in the 3rd. After Omar Infante (Detroit) ground out, Jody Gerut (F/A) would reach on a fielding error by Tigres 3rd baseman Mike Aviles (Kansas City) which allowed Torres to score. Gerut would then be picked off at 1st to end the inning.

It didn't end the scoring through, as the Anzoategui squad came back in the fifth. Eliezer Alfonzo (San Francisco) singled, followed by Rico Washington's (St Louis) fifth home run of the season to make it 4-0 Caribes.

The Tigres never mounted a scoring threat though, or got a runner past 2nd base. Boston's Travis Hughes finished off the game for Caribes, striking out 1.

Aragua's Ronny Cedeno (Chicago Cubs) was 2-for-4 in the game, Alex Nunez (F/A) and Martin Prada (Atlanta) had the other two Tigres hits.

Oswaldo Sosa (Minnesota) pitched .1 innings worth of work, getting Herrera to ground out to end the 7th inning.

Closers Frank Butto and Kevin Tolar, both free agents, earned the Tigres Player of Week honors.

Aragua rests on Monday, and begin a new week feline at home against Caracas on Tuesday. Cory Bailey (Chicago Cubs) is expected to make the start for los Tigres.

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Over in the Dominican League, Alexi Casilla is hitting .295, with 14 runs on 23 hits in 19 games (78 at bats) and contributing 3 RBIs to the Aguilas Cibaenas. Pitcher Julio DePaula is 0-1 with a 5.63 ERA, allowing 5 runs, all earned on 12 hits in 8 innings pitched (7 games).

Hawaiin Winter Baseball finished up this week on a soggy note. Rain washed out the championship game, and the title was awarded to the North Shore Honu based on a their regular season record. SaraReds pitcher Logan Ondrusek and Jupiter's Brett Sinkbeil were both members of the championship team as were Lakeland's Danny Worth, Cincinnati's Chris Valaika, and Brevard County's Mat Gamel.