Zulia shuts out Aragua in 10 inning contest

Photo courtesy of los Tigres de Aragua

Zulia 2 at Aragua 0

W: N. Darley (1-0, 0.84); L: J. Karnuth (1-1, 1.59); SV: R. Garces (17)
HR: None.

Cory Bailey (Chicago Cubs) and three relievers, including Minnesota's Jose Mijares and Yohan Pino would hold los Aguiles de Zulia scoreless through nine innings Friday, but los Tigres de Aragaua still fell, 2-0.

Francisisco Plasencia (Washington) drew a walk off Jason Karnuth (Detroit) in the top of the 10th, and moved to second on a Luis Oliveros' (Seattle) sac bunt. Gerardo Perra's (Arizona) single plated Plasencia to break the 9 inning deadlock for the game winning Zulia run. The Aguiles were then helped when Karnuth mis-threw a pick off attempt that put Parra on 2rd. Parra would then steal home, and the Tigres would turn to former Miracle Victor Moreno (Baltimore) to get the last two outs, which he did by getting Juan Diaz (F/A) to hit into a double play.

Four Zulia pitcher held the Tigres to only 5 hits and 2 walks in the game. Luis Maza (LA Dodgers) had one of those hits, going 1-for-4 at the plate.

Mijares pitched .1 inning, issuing a strike out, and Pino allowed 2 hits in .0 innings.

Aragua travels to Lara on Saturday, looking for a turn of fortune on the road. The Tigres play Sunday against los Leones del Caracas, and Monday against los Cardenales de Lara for the make up of the rained out game earlier in the season.

Aragua is in 4th place, 7 games behind the league leading Caribes. It seems unlikely that they will be repeating as Venezuelan Winter League Champions at this point.

Boxscore
Log
Tigres de Aragua

Former Twins prospect Luis Rodriguez (San Diego) left the team to travel to the United States to be with his wife for the birth of their child. He is expected to return after the happy event.

The Pittsburgh Pirates signed former Twins prospect Luis Rivas (Cleveland) to a one-year contract. He was one of four Venezuelans added to the Pirates system this week. Tigres catcher Raul Chavez, formerly of the NY Yankees organization, was also inked by the Pennsylvania team.

The Twins signed former Houston Astro Mike Lamb to a 2-year, 6.6 million dollar deal with an option for 2010. Lamb is expected to fill the hole at 3rd, a problem since Corey Koskie left in the 2004 season. The 32-year-old Lamb batted .289 with 11 homes and 40 RBIs in 311 at bats for the Astros last season. Lamb has played both third base and first base in four seasons with the Astros. He was entrenched behind Morgan Ensberg at third for much of that time and never really had a chance for a full-time role. Lamb is expected to compete against minor league slugger Brian Buscher for the position in Spring Training, but there's a good chance that Lamb will lock up the job quickly.