Eagles soar over Tigres, 7-6

Photo courtesy of los Tigres de Aragua

Zulia 7 at Aragua 6

W: H. Totten (4-0, 3.03); L: K. Tolar (0-1, 1.86); SV: R. Garces (11)
HR: None.

Los Tigres de Aragua managed run on 6 hits, but couldn't rally past the Aguilas de Zulia, falling 7-6 Thursday at Jose Perez Stadium in Maracay.

Aragua did get onto the board first, Michael Rivera (Milwaukee) took a walk, then moved to second on a wild pitch from Zulia starter Henry Rodriguez (Oakland). Jesus Feliciano (NY Yankees) would double him in.

Gerardo Avila (Seattle) doubled in the top of the third inning for Zulia, then moved to 3rd base when former Miracle Henry Bonilla (LA Angels), who was making his second start of the season, unleased a wild pitch. Rodney Medina (F/A) then doubled up the middle to plate the runner.

Consecutive hits by Luis Figueroa (F/A), Yurendell DeCaster (Pittsburgh) and Randy Ruiz (San Francisco) filed the bags in the 4th. Bonilla then walked Carlos Gonzalez (Arizona) to force in a run, while Medina's single scored DeCaster. A double play by Luis Oliveros (Seattle) ended the Eagles' threat.

Los Tigers roared in the bottom of the fouth. With one out, Luis Rodriguez (San Diego) walked. After Alex Delgado (F/A) stuck out and was then ejected for arguing the same, Ronney Cedeno (Chicago Cubs) hit to right field. Luis Maza (LA Dodgers) then walked to fill the bases. Moses Melendez (Philadelphia) was called up to the mound for Zulia, but Ruben Salazar (F/A) put a 2-2 pitch into center field to bring in two runners, with Maza making it to 3rd. Rivera then walked to fill the bases again before Hector Gimenez (Houston) went deep out to right to bring in 2 more, but Rivera would be tagged out at 3rd to the inning.

Bonilla would work 5.1 innings, giving up 3 runs on 7 hits and 1 walk while striking out 3. Jose Guanchez (F/A) would relieve him for only one out before being replaced by Oswaldo Sosa (Minnesota).

With one out, Sosa allowed consecutive hits to Figueroa and DeCaster. Ruiz would hit to center to drive in Figueroa. Kevin Tolar (F/A) would enter the game for the Tigres and Gonzalez singled to bring in DeCaster, tying up the game again.

Medina got on base for Zulia in the 8th with a single and moved to second on a pop out. Alberto Callaspo (Arizona) hit out to right, putting Medina on 3rd, and a misplay by Martin Prado (Atlanda) moved Callaspo to 2nd. Medina would come home on a wild pitch, and Carlos Leon (Philadelphia) plated Callaspo for the game winning run.

Rodriguez would come home on a Cedeno hit in the 9th, but it was all the Tigres could manage against Aguilas closer Rich Garces (F/A).

Former Miracle (and SaraReds) Jan Grandado (F/A) worked 1 inning for Zulia, striking out 1. Maza would finish up 0-for-3 with a walk and a run for the Tigres, Rodriguez was 1-for-3 with a walk and 2 runs, and Alex Romero (Arizona) as 0-for-2.

Obviously, this corrects Wednesday's recap as the Tigres played Zulia, not Lara on Thursday. Hey, you know, they were both birds. After taking Friday off, the Tigres rematch against Zulia ot 6:00 PM AST Saturday and 4:00 PM AST Sunday to finish off the week feline.

Boxscore
Log
Tigres