Minnesota pitching does in Tigres

Aragua 4 at Magallenes 5

W: C. Baker (2-0, 2.30); L: B. Korecky (0-3, 3.00); SV: I. Maldonado (11)
HR: ARA: R. Cedeno 2 (3). MAG: R. Paz (2).

Los Tigres de Aragua finished off a weak week Saturday with a 4-5 loss to los Navegantes del Magallanes which saw them drop to 4.0 games behind the division leading Caribes despite hanging on to 3rd place overall.

The Cats actually got on the scoreboard first for once, taking an early lead in the second on a Ronny Cedeno (Chicago Cubs) homer. Cedeno went yard in the top of the 4th as well, making it 2-0 Cats.

Cedeno wasn't finished though, singling in the top of the fifth, then moving to second on an Alex Delgado (F/A) sac-bunt and scored on a Luis Rodriguez (San Diego) single. Aragua looked to be rolling, with Horacio Estrada (F/A) keeping the Navegantes off the board for 3 innings, and limiting them to 3 hits while strike out 2. Henry Bonilla (LA Angels) worked a scoreless 4th inning, giving way to Jose Mijares (Minnesota) in the 5th.

Mijares allowed a single to Luis Orndaz (Pittsburgh), then got Ruben Gotay (NY Mets) to pop out. Endy Chevez (NY Mets) laid down a nice bunt to move Ordaz to second, and he proceeded to 3rd on a throwing error by Mija. Yohan Pino (Minnesota) was brought into the game at that point, and following a delay for a coaching visit the mound and an injury check on a player, allowed a double to Richard Paz (F/A) a that brought in Ordaz. He'd get the next two outs however, holding the Tigre's lead.

After Kevin Tolar (F/A) replaced Pino with one out in the 7th, and following an ejection to Magallanes coach Clemente Alvarez, got former Miracle Jesus Merchan (Philadelphia) to ground out. Chavez would single however and Paz blasted a ball over the center field fence to tie up the game.

Minnesota's Bobby Korecky pitched the 8th inning, allowing a single to Juan Rivera (LA Angels). A sac-bunt by Thomas Perez (Chicago White Sox) moved Rivara to 2nd, while Korecky chose to intentionally walk Jorge Cortes (Chicago Cubs). That move backfired when Ordez doubled, driving in both runner to give the Navegantes a 2 run lead.

Aragua got one back in the 9th, when Mike Aviles (Kansas City) doubled then came home on a Mike Rivera (Milwaukee) single, but it was all the Cats could managed as Rodriguez was called out on strikes to end the game.

Korecky picked up his 3rd loss of the year, allowing 2 runs on 2 hits and 2 walks while striking out 2 in 1 inning. Mijares was taged for 1 run on 2 hits in .1 inning, while Pino gave up 1 hit and struck out 2 in 2 innings worth of work.

Rodriguez finished up 1-for-4 with 1 walk and 1 RBI, Luis Maza (LA Dodgers) was also 1-for-4 but with a double. Merchan was 0-for-1 after going into the game late as pinch runner for Magallanes.

Following a short break for elections and the League All-star showcase, the regular season resumes on Wednesday with Aragua still on the road against Magallanes for a 7:30 PM game.

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Tigres de Aragua