Tigres fall to hot Leones bats

Photo courtesy of los Tigres de Aragua

Caracas 4 at Aragua 1

W: E. Cyr (1-2, 5.31); L: R. Garcia (1-1, 0.87)
HR: CAR: H. Blanco (1), C. Mendez (1).

Lack of hitting has plagued los Tigres de Aragua since the start of the season, so it wasn't surprising to find the week feline starting out Tuesday with the same deficit. Los Tigres only put six hits on the board compaired to los Leones del Caracas' 15.

Cory Bailey (Chicago Cubs) worked three scoreless innings for Aragua, being replaced in the top of the 4th by Rosman Garcia (Baltimore). With one out Jose Castillo (Pittsburgh) singled, Carlos Maldonado (Atlanta) and Franklin Gutierrez (Cleveland) all singled to load the bases. Garcia then issued a walk to Mario Lisson (Kansas City) to force in a run for los Leones. He would get former Minnesota Twins catcher Henry Blanco to strike out and Drew Macias (San Diego) to ground out to end the inning without further damage.

Frank Mata (Minnesota) took the mound for the top of the 5th walking Omar Vizquel (San Francisco) and allowing a single to Marco Scutaro (Toronto). A wild pitch would move the pair around. After taking Alex Cabrera (F/A) out on strikes, Castillo would hit a sac fly to make it 2-0, Leones.

Blanco would homer off Mata in the 6th, for Caracas' 3rd run of the evening.

Jose Mijares (Minnesota) worked one out, allowing a single in the 7th before being replaced by Oswaldo Sosa (Minnesota). The southpaw from Tovar would work 1.1 innings before giving way to Jose Guanchez (F/A), who finished off the top of the 8th for Aragua.

Despite several pinch hitting substitutions in the 8th, it appeared that Aragua was looking to be shut out by Caracas. Bobby Korecky (Minnesota) would take to the mound for the top of the 9th, giving up a home run with 1 out to Mendez. After allowing a single to Castillo, he'd issued two straight strike outs to retire the side.

With free agent Jorge Julio on the mound for los Leones in the bottom of the 9th, Ronney Cedeno (Chicago Cubs) would single, but would be taken out at 2nd when Luis Rodriguez (San Diego) hit into a force out. Martin Prado (Atlanta) singled, and the pair was moved when Julio, who played in the 2007 season for the Jupiter Hammerheads, unleashed a wild pitch. Ruben Salazar (F/A) would hit a sac-fly to right to bring in Rodriguez, ending Caracas shut out aspirations. Hector Gimenez (Houston) would strike out swinging however, to end the contest.

Cedeno would be the only Tigre with multiple hits, going 3-for-4 at the plate. Prada, Gimenez and former Miracle Alex Romero (Arizona) had the other hits for Aragua.

Caribes de Anzoategui visits Aragua on Wednesday, while los Aguilas de Zulia visit on Thursday. Los Tigres sleep on Friday, which is good since I really want to hit up the Target 2-day Sale-a-thon.

Former Miracle Victor Moreno (Baltimore) has been placed on the DL and will be out for at least one week following a bout of Mononucleosis. He is resting at home, and will be re-evaluated next week to determine when he may be available to the Tigres again.

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