Tigres out hit Caribes to continue winning ways

Photo courtesy of los Tigres de Aragua

Caribes 7 at Aragua 10

W: K. Tolar (1-0, 0.00); L: M. Palmer (2-1, 0.87); SV: F. Butto (3)
HR: ORI: E. Alfonzo (7). ARA: E. Alfonzo 2 (3).

Despite a rough outing by starter Cory Bailey (Chicago Cubs), los Tigres de Aragua managed to out-slug los Caribes de Anzoategui at Jose Perez Colmenares Stadium of Maracay on Monday.

Bailey never made it out of the first inning, giving up 5 runs on 6 hits. Andres Torres (Detroit), Juan Francia (F/A), Eliezar Alfonzo (San Francisco), Jose Castillo (Florida), Rico Washington (St. Louis) and Javier Brito (Arizona) all recorded singles off Bailey before Yohan Pino (Minnesota) was brought into the game. Pino got designed hitter Lino Connell (F/A) to ground out and Richard Paz (F/A) to pop out before Jonathan Herrera (Colorado) doubled to finish off make it 5-0 Caribes.

But Aragua was quick to record at least 1 run, with Edgardo Alfonzo (Texas) going yard in the bottom of the inning.

Ivan Maldonado (NY Mets) replaced Pino for top of the 3rd, allowing a double to Brito to start. A ground out by Connell moved Brito to 3rd, and he'd come home on a wild pitch. to make it 6-1 Caribes.

Aragua's Alfonzo swung for the walls to start out the bottom of the second, giving los Tigres another run. This was followed up by a Miguel Cabrera (Detroit) double. Cabrera would move to 3rd on a Willie Romero (F/A) single, but would be taken out on home when Luis Maza (LA Dodgers) hit into a fielder's choice.

With one out in the bottom of the 5th, Alberto Callaspo (Kansas City) singled his way onto base. Alex Romero (Arizona) followed him and a walk to Alfonzo would load the bases. A Cabrera double brought in two of the runners, and following a pitching change that saw Carlos Vasquez (Chicago White Sox) take over the Caribes mound, Hector Gimenez (Tampa Bay) hit a sac fly to bring in Alfonzo.

The Caribes' Alfonzo hit went yard out to center off Jason Karnuth (Detroit) in the top of the 6th. Former Miracle Victor Moreno (Baltimore) would take over the pitching chores for the Cats at that point.

With Romulo Sanchez (Pittsburgh) on the hill for Caribes, Maza singled, moved to 2nd on an Alex Delgado (F/A) ground out and came home on A. Romero's ground ball single to left.

The Cats were still trailing by one however, and it was not until Matt Palmer (San Franciso) got onto the mound that they'd find a rally to pick up the win. Maza led off with a single and Ronny Cedeno (Chicago Cubs) found himself safe on a force attempt then Caribes catcher Alfanzo mis-threw the ball. A sac bunt by Delgado moved the pair and then Palmer intentionally walked Callaspo. Wullys Bravos (Washington) was brought into the game by Caribes at this point and Martin Prado (Atlanta) replaced A. Romero as a pinch hitter. Prado walked forcing in Maza to tie the game. Rich Garces (F/A) was brought up to the mound, and got Alfonzo to strike out before Cabrera singled to drive in Cedeno for the go ahead run and Callaspo for the insurance marker. Gimenez walked and W. Romero was hit by a pitch to force in Pardo for the final run of the game.

Cabrera finished up 4-for-5 with a pair of doubles, and 4 RBIs for his first game back. Alex Romero, a former Miracle, was 2-for-4 with 1 run and 1 RBI, and Maza was 2-for-5 with 2 runs. Pino allowed 2 hits and struck out 2 in 2 innings worth of work, he still has a 0.00 ERA in the playoffs.

Aragua takes Tuesday off before traveling to Margarita to take on the Bravos on Wednesday and Thursday for a pair of 7:30 PM EST games.

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Tigres de Aragua

The Twin release a pair of GCL catchers on Monday. Both Miguel Barrientos and Gilbert Buenrostro missed all of last season with injuries. The Twins also signed right-hander Zach Day to a minor league contract. Day had a 3.93 ERA and a 1-1 record with Omaha of the AAA Pacific Coast League in 2007, pitching only 36.2 innings. He'll likely fill a bullpen roll in AAA Rochester.