Tigres lock up winter league championship

Photo courtesy of los Tigres de Aragua

Aragua 9 at Lara 2

W: J. Silva (1-2, 3.18); L: G. Gonzalez (2-3, 4.19)
HR: None.

Boosted by late player additions, los Tigres de Aragua wrapped up their second straight Venezuelan Winter League Championship with a 9-2 trouncing of los Cardenales de Lara. It was the Tigres fourth championship in the last five years.

With one out in the top of the second inning, Hector Gimenez (Tampa Bay) and former Miracle Alex Romero (Arizona) hit back-to-back singles to get onto base. A Luis Maza (LA Dodgers) ground out and a Ronny Cedeno (Chicago Cubs) single plated the pair giving Aragua its first two runs.

In the top of the sixth, an Edgardo Alfonzo (Texas) double lead to another run. Alfonzo moved to 3rd on a Miguel Cabrera (Detroit) ground out. Following a pair of walks to Romero and Maza, Cedeno singled to drive him in, making it 3-0, Tigres.

Jesus Silva (Florida) kept Lara off the board through five innings. Cesar Izturis (St Louis) doubled in the bottom of the inning, moved to 3rd on a Luis Ugueto (F/A) ground out, and scored on a Marco Scutaro ground out. A walk to Jose Lopez (Seattle) would bring Yohan Pino (Minnesota) up to the mound. Pino, who is recovering from bronchitis, did not appear to be on his game. He'd walk Robert Perez (F/A) to load the bags and allow a single to Selwyn Langaigne (F/A), however, Lopez would be taken out at home for the 3rd out.

Alberto Callaspo (Kansas City) singled in the top of the 7th, then moved to second on a Luis Rodriguez (San Diego) sac bunt. Following a ground out to Alfonzo, Cabrera would be intentionally walked by Lara's Ivan Blanco (Seattle). A pitching change to Roger Luque (F/A) also saw Gimenez draw a walk, loading the bases. Martin Prado (Atlanta) would come into the game to pinch hit for Romero, and yet another pitching change saw Marcos Carvajal (Florida) take over the mound for Lara. Prada would triple to clear the bags, making it 6-1 Tigres.

Pino would stay in the game to start the bottom of the 7th, allowing a walk to Guillermo Rodriguez (San Francisco) before being removed in favor of Kevin Tolar (F/A). Tolar would put up two outs before allowing a double to Isturis what plated G-Rod, giving Lara their second run of the game.

An Alex Delgado (F/A) single and a walk to L-Rod paid dividends when Alfonzo doubled the pair in to tack two more runs onto the Cat's total.

Delgado would bring in Prado with a line drive in the top of the 9th to finish off the Tigre's scoring.

Cabrera was 0-for-3 with 2 walks and a run for the Cats. L-Rod was 0-for-4 with a walk and a run, Romero was 1-for-2 with a walk and a run, and Maza was 0-for-4. The last three were all former Twin prospects. Victor Moreno, currently with Baltimore, was also in the Twins system at one time, throwing 1.2 innings for Aragua and allowing a single during that period. Only Ugueto, 0-for-4 for Lara, represented a former Twin prospect on the Lara team.

The game finishes off the Caribbean Winter League season. I have received the minor league spring training schedule from Brad Steil in the Twins office, and will get that posted in the next day or so.

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The Twins traded lefty Johan Santana to the Mets for outfielding prospect Carlos Gomez and pitchers Philip Humber, Deolis Guerra and Kevin Mulvey. Minnesota will receive New York's Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 7 prospects, according to Baseball America's ranking.

Humber, a 25-year-old right-hander, has made one start and four relief appearances for the Mets during the past two years, and went 11-9 with a 4.27 ERA last season for Triple-A New Orleans. The 22-year-old Gomez batted .232 in 125 at-bats with New York last year and .275 with 19 steals in the minors.

Guerra, who turns 19 in April, was 2-6 with a 4.01 ERA at Class A St. Lucie, and Mulvey, who will be 23 in May, was 12-10 with a 3.20 ERA in 26 starts at Double-A Binghamton and one at New Orleans.

New York and Santana have until 5 p.m. EST Friday to reach an agreement. If the Mets and Santana strike a deal, the players would have to pass physicals and the pitcher would have to formally waive his no-trade clause in order for the deal to be finalized.

Tigres sniff Venezuelan Championship

Photo courtesy of los Tigres de Aragua

Lara 1 at Aragua 3

W: J. Santiago (5-1, 2.45); L: G. Carrara (1-3, 5.33); SV: F. Butto (6)
HR: None.

Los Tigres de Aragua moved to within 1 game of winning the Venezuelan League Championship Monday, defeating Lara, 3-1. The series now reverts to Antonio Herrera Gutiérrez de Barquisimeto Stadium in Lara for Tuesday's 7:30 PM AST match.

Both starters worked four scoreless innings. The Tigres would get on the board first in the bottom of the fifth when Alex Romero (Arizona) singled and Ronny Cedeno (Chicago Cubs) drew a walk. With two outs, Alberto Callaspo (Kansas City) hit a deep line drive to right to score the pair. A fielding error by Lara's Robert Perez (F/A) allowed Callaspo onto 2nd base. He'd try to come home on a Luis Rodriguez (San Diego) line drive, but would be tagged out at the plate.

Los Cardenales opened the top of the 7th with Jose Lopez (Seattle) doubling to left field. With one out, pinch hitter Guillero Rodriguez (San Francisco) moved Lopez to 3rd with a line drive to right. After a walk to Tomas Perez (Houston), a pitching change to bring in Victor Moreno (Baltimore), and a coaching visit to the mound, a wild pitch would allow Lopez to score for the only Red Bird run.

The Cats answered back in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Cedeno singled his way onto base, and moved to second on Raul Chavez's (Pittsburgh) ground out. Callaspo singled out to left to bring in Cedeno, making it 3-1.

Moreno and Frank Butto (F/A) would hold the Cardenales for the remainder of the game to give the victory to the home town team.

Miguel Cabrera (Detroit) in the designated hitter roll was 2-for-3 with a walk but did not figure into the scoring. Romero was 1-for-3 with a run, Rodriguez was also 1-for-3.

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Tigers de Aragua

Cardenales tie up series again

Photo courtesy of los Tigres de Aragua

Lara 5 at Aragua 3

W: R. Dorman (4-0, 1.65); L: H. Estrada (0-2, 5.40)
HR: LAR: L. Ugueto (1). ARA: H. Gimenez (3).

Los Cardenals de Lara tied up the series for a second time, taking a 5-3 win over los Tigres de Aragua at Jose Perez Colmenarez Stadium. It's the first time in Venezulan Winter League playoff history that Lara has won a game on Aragua's home turf.

Horacios Estrada (F/A) would suffer the loss for the Cats, giving up 3 runs on 4 hits and 1 walk over 5 innings worth of work.

Lara took the lead in the top of the 4th inning. Marco Scutaro (Toronto) walked with one out, then moved to second on a Jose Lopez (Seattle) single. Robert Perez (F/A) plated Scutaro with a fly ball to center, and Lopez scored on a similar hit by Selwyn Langaigne (F/A).

The Red Birds padded their lead in the top of the 5th when former Miracle Luis Ugueto went yard over the left field wall.

The Tigres took one back in the bottom of the inning, with Luis Maza (LA Dodgers) drawing a walk with two outs, then moving to 3rd on a Ronny Cedeno (Chicago Cubs) single. Raul Chevez (Pittsburgh) plated Maza with a fly ball to left.

Lara added one in the top of the 8th, with Lopez singling, then moving to second on a wild pitch by Jason Karnuth (Detroit) and to 3rd on a single by Perez. Following a fly out to Langaigne, Guillermo Rodriguez (San Francisco) ground out at first, but it was enough for Lopez to cross the plate.

Wilki Gonzalez (Chicgo White Sox) would reach first on a wild pitch by Karnuth, and Cesar Izturis (St Louis) would single to move him to 3rd. Izturis then stole 2nd base. Ugueto would be walked to load the bases, before Scutaro ground into a force out that allowed Gonzalez to score. A fly out and a pop out ended los Cardenales threat, but they already had a 5-1 lead.

The Tigers would attempt a rally in the bottom of the ninth, when Miguel Cabrera (Detroit) singled his way onto base. He'd be replaced by Ramon Castro (F/A) as a pinch runner, but the change in legs was meaningless as Hector Gimenez (Tampa Bay) homered over the center field wall. The Cats could not find two more runs in their bag of tricks however, so the contest when to the Cardenales.

Ugueto was 1-for-3 in the contest with 2 walks, a run and an RBI. Juan Rincon (Minnesota) pitched one inning of relief for Lara, allowing 1 hit and striking out 1.

Cabrera was 1-for-4 in the designed hitter role, Luis Rodriguez (San Diego) was 0-for-4, Alex Romero (Arizona) as 0-for-2 and Maza as 0-for-3 with a walk and a run.

The teams play one more in Maracay before returning to Lara for the remainder of the series.

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Tigres de Aragua

Tigres regain control of series

Photo courtesy of los Tigres de Aragua

Lara 4 at Aragua 5 (13 innings)

W: R. Garcia (2-0, 2.12); L: R. Luque (0-1, 1.42)
HR: None.

It took 13 innings, but los Tigres de Aragua managed to take back the lead in the best-of-seven Championship series with a 5-4 win over los Cardenales de Lara Friday at Jose Perez Colmenarez Stadium.

The Cats opened up the scoring in the bottom of the first inning. Back-to-back singles by Alberto Callaspo (Kansas City) and Luis Rodriguez (San Diego) got things rolling. A fly ball single to right by Edgardo Alfonzo (Texas) plated Callaspo, while Rodriguez came home during Miguel Cabrera's (Detroit) double play ground out.

Lara took one back in the top of the 4th when Robert Perez (F/A) and Selwyn Langaigne (F/A) both doubled. Perez would only go to 3rd on Langaigne's fly ball, but would score when Jose Lopez (Seattle) reached on a fielder's choice.

Aragua would add to their lead in the bottom of the sixth when Cabrera lead off with a walk, then moved to second on a wild pitch by Marcos Carvajal (Florida). Martin Prado (Altanta) would also walk before Lara brought Ivan Blanco (Seattle) onto the mound. Willie Romero (F/A) would ground into a double play which took Cabrera out at 3rd, but a Luis Maza (LA Dodgers) single would bring in Prado.

The top of the 8th proved big for Lara, as Guillermo Rodriguez (San Francisco) singled and Cesar Izturis (St Louis) reached on a force attempt when Cabrera miss-threw the ball. Luis Ugueto hit into a sac bunt that brought in G-Rod, but a second throwing error by Cabrera saw Ugueto safe at first. Frank Butto (F/A) would come onto the mound for the Cats to replace Yohan Pino (Minnesota) who would end up being charged for 3 runs on 1 hit while striking out 1 in .2 innings worth of work. Marco Scutaro (Toronto) would be walked, and Adam Jones (Seattle) would be hit by a pitch to force in Izturis. After Perez struck out swinging, Langaigne was walked to bring in Ugueto. Victor Moreno (Baltimore) would be called to the mound to get the final to outs in the inning, but the Cardenales had taken the lead.

Los Tigres answered back though in the bottom of the ninth when Maza singled, moved to 2nd on a sac-bunt by Ronny Cedeno (Chicago Cubs), and scored on Hector Gimenez's (Tampa Bay) fly ball single to right, tying the game and forcing the contest into extra innings.

In the bottom of the 13th, with one out, Cedeno would double, and Gimenez would be intentionally walked. Callaspo would single to center to score Cedeno, breaking the deadlock and handing the victory to the Cats.

Juan Rincon (Minnesota) pitched one inning for the Red Birds, allowing 1 hit and striking out 1.

The series rests on Saturday and the two teams will play Sunday and Monday in Aragua before the series reverts back to Lara (if necessary).

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Pino developed a case of acute bronchitis and was removed from the roster following the game. Reports say he should be available to the team on Tuesday again.

The Twins locked up Justin Morneau with a six-year, $80 million deal Friday, the longest and richest contract in franchise history. The Twins also signed right fielder Michael Cuddyer to a 3-year, $24 million deal with a club option for 2011. Meanwhile, the Pioneer Press is reporting that the trade involving Johan Santana is likely to occur within the next 10 days. Right now it appears the Mets are the fore-runners in the Santana sweepstakes.

Lara evens series

Photo courtesy of los Tigres de Aragua

Aragua 2 at Lara 5

W: G. Gonzalez (2-2), L: Silva (0-1) S: F. Rodriguez (1)
Hr: None

Los Cardenales de Lara tied up the series at 1 game each on Thursday. Jesus Silva (Florida) making his first start for Aragua did not work out as well as expected. The former Bravos starter gave up 5 runs (earned) on 7 hits and 2 walks while striking out 3 over 4.2 innings.

Lara lost no time getting on the board with Luis Ugueto (F/A) leading off with a single to right field. Marco Scutaro would be hit by a pitch for a walk before Adam Jones (Seattle) hit a sac-bunt to move to the pair. Silva then issued a walk to to Robert Perez (F/A) to fill the bases before a double by Selwyn Langaigne (F/A) scored the first 2 runners. Perez would be taken out at the plate for the second out of the inning, and Jose Lopez (Seattle) would ground out to end the first stanza.

Back-to-back singles in the top of the third by Ronny Cedeno (Chicago Cubs) and Alex Delgado (F/A) put runners on base. Alberto Callaspo (Kansas City) hit into a double play that nabbed Delgado at second, but saw Cedeno safe at 3rd. Luis Rodriguez (San Diego) hit into the outfield and took an extra base on a fielding error by Langaigne as Cedeno scored to make it 2-1 Lara. Edgar Afonzo (Texas) hit to left to bring in Rodriguez for the only two Aragua runs.

With one out Cesar Izturis (St Louis) found his way onto base with an infield hit and took second when Cedeno threw the ball into the dugout. Following a strike out to Ugueto, Scutaro walked. Jones' outfield hit scored Izturis and a double to right brought in Scutaro and Jones to make it 5-2 Lara.

Miguel Cabrera (Detroit) was 4-for-4 for the Cats but did not figure into the scoring, Rodriguez was 1-for-4, Luis Maza (LA Dodgers) as 0-for-3 while Alex Romero (Arizona) as 0-for2.

Ugueto was 1-for-4 with 1 run for the Cardenales. Juan Rincon (Minnesota) worked one inning for the home team getting 1 ground out and 2 fly outs.

The series returns to Jose Perez Colmenarez Stadium for three games on Friday and Sunday before returning to Lara for the final two games in the best-of-seven series (if necessary).

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Tigres de Aragua

Tigres take Game 1 of final series

Photo courtesy of los Tigres de Aragua

Aragua 4 at Lara 3

W: J. Santiago (4-1, 2.70); L: G. Carrara (1-2, 5.75); SV: F. Butto (5)
HR: ARA: A. Romero (2).

Los Tigres de Aragua took a 4-3 win Wednesday in game one of the best-of-seven Venezuelan Winter League final series at Antonio Herrera Gutierrez of Barquisimeto Stadium. Jose Santiago (NY Mets) took the start, limiting los Cardenales de Lara to 1 run on 4 hits over 5.2 innings while striking out 3.

The Cats took a 2 run lead in the second inning when Martin Prado (Atlanta) and Alex Romero (Arizona) hit back-to-back fly ball singles with one out. Following a fly out to Ronny Cedeno (Chicago Cubs), Raul Chavez (Pittsburgh) doubled in the pair with a line drive out to left field.

Lara got on the board in the bottom of the 4th, when Robert Perez (F/A) singled his way onto base, then moved to 2nd on a wild pitch. A ground out by Selwyn Langaigne (F/A) saw him to 3rd, while a fly ball single to center off the stick of Jose Lopez (Seattle) served to plate him.

Aragua added two more runs in the top of the 6th when Prado singled, then came home when Romero, a former Fort Myers Miracle, went yard over the right field fence.

The Red Birds would add a second run in the bottom of the seventh when Lopez doubled off Victor Moreno (Baltimore), moved to 3rd on a Tomas Perez (Houston) fly ball single, then came home when Wiki Gonzalez (Chicago White Sox) ground into a double play.

They would stage a late rally in the 9th with Lopez again doubling with one out. Following a strike out by Perez, he then scored on a Gonzalez single. Despite a double by Guillermo Rodriguez (San Francisco) and a walk to Luis Ugueto (F/A) that loaded the bases, Marco Scutaro (Toronto) ground into a force out that ended the game with the Cats on top.

The two teams rematch tonight, at 7:30 PM AST.

Detroit's Miguel Cabrera was 2-for-4 for the Cats with a walk, but did not figure into the scoring, Romero was 2-for-4 with 2 runs and 2 RBI's. Luis Rodriguez (San Diego), who played last season in AAA Rochester, was 0-for-4 with a walk. Ugueto, who split time between Fort Myers and Rochester in 2007, was 1-for-4 with a walk for the Cardenales.

Juan Rincon (Minnesota) pitched .2 innings in the ninth for Lara, striking out 2.

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Tigres de Aragua

Tigres blank Cardenales, 6-0

Photo courtesy of los Tigres de Aragua

Lara 0 at Aragua 6

W: C. Bailey (1-0, 0.87); L: G. Gonzalez (1-1, 6.00)
HR: None.

Los Tigres de Aragua took a measure of revenge for Monday's loss to Lara by blanking the Cardenales 6-0 in the Wednesday night rematch.

Cory Bailey (Chicago Cubs) pitched 5.2 innings for the Tigres, limiting Lara to 4 hits and striking out 4.

Meanwhile the Tigres wasted little time getting on the scoreboard.

Alberto Callaspo (Kansas City) lead off with a single for the Cats, and Louis Rodriguez (San Diego) followed him onto base with a double. An Edgardo Alfonzo (Texas) ground out served to plate Callaspo for the Tigres first run.

The Cats held on to the one run lead until the bottom of the 6th when Rodriguez and Alfonzo hit back-to-back singles to lead off. Following a fly out of Miguel Cabrera (Detroit), Hector Giminez (Tampa Bay) singled in L-Rod. Former Miracle Alex Romero (Arizona) then ripped a triple to right to score the other 2 runners. Ronny Cedeno (Chicago Cubs) walked to first after he was hit by a pitch, then stole 2nd base. Lara's Geremi Gonzalez (F/A) then issued an intentional walk to Luis Maza (LA Dodgers) to load the bases. Following an Alex Delgado (F/A) strike out, Callaspo singled to bring in Romero and Cedeno. Maza however, would be taken out at 3rd base on the play, ending the inning.

Cabrera was 0-for-4 at the plate in the designed hitter roll. L-Rod went 3-for-3 with a run, Romero was 2-for-4 with a run and 2 RBIs and Maza went 0-for-2 with a pair of walks.

Minnesota's Bobby Korecky worked 1 inning, allowing 1 hit and striking out 1. Victor Moreno (Baltimore) pitched 1.1 innings, striking out 2.

Los Tigres take Thursday off. They will face La Guaria on the road Friday for a 7:30 PM AST game.

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Tigres de Aragua

The Twins Winter Caravan makes a 10 Am stop on Thursday at Lee Cancer Care at the Lee Memorial Hospital, 2776 Cleveland Ave. in Fort Myers. At 1:30, they will be at the Health Park Medical Center at 9981 Health Park Drive in Fort Myers, visiting the children there.

Pitchers Jesse Crain and Carmen Cali, infielder Tommy Watkins and Twins radio play-by-play announcer John Gordon are scheduled to participate in the Southwest Florida leg of the Caravan.

The Winter Caravan begins its Minnesota tour on Monday, January 14th with stops in Hutchinson, St. Peter, Makato, Detroit Lakes, Crookston, Fergus Falls and Grand Forks, North Dakota.

The Southwest Florida Youth Clinics schedule begins Saturday, January 12 at Lee County Sports Complex. You can find a complete schedule of the clinics HERE.

Tickets for individual Minnesota Twins Grapefruit League games also go on sale Saturday morning at Hammond Stadium, online at twinsbaseball.com, or by calling 1-800-33-TWINS. The Twins' 2008 Spring Training home opener will take place at Hammond Stadium on Friday, February 29 (7:05 p.m. EST) against the 2007 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox.

Throwing error costs Tigres

Photo courtesy of los Tigres de Aragua

Aragua 9 at Lara 10

W: J. Rincon (1-0, 0.00); L: V. Moreno (1-1, 2.45)
HR: LAR: G. Rodriguez (1).

Minnesota's Juan Rincon picked up his first playoff win as the Cardenales de Lara picked up a late inning win over the Tigres de Aragua.

The Tigers got on the board first in the top of the 2nd when Miguel Cabrera (Detroit), Hector Gimenez (Tampa Bay) and Alex Romero (Arizona) all singled off Cardenales starter Giovanni Carrera (LA Dodgers). Romero's single plated Cabrera, and following a strike out to Luis Maza (LA Dodgers), Gimenez would score on a sac-fly off the bat of Ronny Cedeno (Chicago Cubs).

They added to that lead in the top of the 3rd when Luis Rodriguez (San Diego) doubled and then crossed the plate on a Cabera single.

Rosman Garcia (Baltimore) took the start for the Tigres and walked Tomas Perez (F/A) to start off the bottom of the 3rd inning. He'd then allow singled to Luis Ugueto (F/A) and Marco Scutaro (Toronto), with Perez crossing the plate on Scutaro's grounder. Yohan Pino (Minnesota) would come into the game to pitch at that point. Ugueto would steal 3rd base, and an Adam Jones (Seattle) single pushed him over the plate. Scutaro moved to 3rd on Robert Perez's (F/A) ground out, and was plated by a Jose Lopez (Seattle) single to right, tying up the score.

It would stay that way until the top of the 6th. Julio Pinto (Cleveland) came in to replace Carrara, and allowed a Edgardo Alfonzo (Texas) single to lead off. Following a line out by Cabrera, Gimenez walked and Romero singled to load the bases. Lara would bring Cesar Jimenez (Seattle) into the game to replace Pinto. Maza greeted him with a deep single that brought in 2 runners. Cedeno then hit a sac fly to score Romero. A double by Alex Delgado (F/A) brought in Maza, giving the Cats a 4 run lead.

With Jason Karnuth (Detroit) on the mound for Aragua, Guillero Rodriguez (San Francisco) would homer. Wiki Gonzalez (Chicago White Sox) then reached on a fielding error which also moved him to second. A Tomas Perez (Houston) single and an Ugueto sac fly scored Gonzalez, cutting the los Tigres lead to 2.

Back-to-back singles to Lopez and Selwyn Langaigne (F/A) set the stage for a 3 run 7th inning. Rodriguez would ground out to score Lopez. A double by Perez brought in Langaigne and following a pitching change that put Jose Mijares (Minnesota) on the mound for los Tigers, Ugueto would single in Perez.

Scott Patterson (Seattle) would take over the pitching duties in the top of the 8th for Lara allowing a single to Martin Prada (Atlanta). Following a strike out by Maza, Cendeno's single moved Prado to 3rd. Rincon then took over the mound for the Red Birds. A single to Alex Nunez (F/A) brought in Prado, and a fielder's choice by Lara's Rodriguez allowed Cedeno to score, putting the Tigres up by one.

But the lead would be short lived. With Victor Moreno (Baltimore) pitching for Aragua, Jones singled them moved to 2nd on a wild pitch. Perez singled, moving Jones to 3rd. He'd come home on a second wild pitch to tie the game. Lopez bunt put Perez on 3rd. Rodriguez then reached on a fielder's choice that took Perez down at 3rd, but a throwing error by Cabrera allowed Lopez to score, giving the lead, and the win to Lara.

Rincon pitched 1.2 innings allowing 1 hit and striking out 2. He is sporting a 0.00 ERA in the playoffs. Pino pitched 2 innings for Aragua, allowing 3 hits and 1 walk while striking out 1. Oswaldo Sosa (Minnesota) pitched 1 inning, allowing 1 hit and striking out 1. Mijares allowed 1 hit and struck out 1 in .1 inning, the run was charged to Ivan Maldonado (NY Mets) as inherited.

Ugueto, a former Miracle, was 2-for-3 with a walk, a run and 2 RBIs to the home team. Cabrera was 2-for-5 with 1 run and 1 RBI for the visiting Tigres. L-Rod was 2-for-5 with a run, Romero was 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI, and Maza was 1-for-4 with 1 run and 2 RBIs.

The two teams rematch Wednesday night in Aragua at 7:30 PM AST. Aragua faces los Tiburones de La Guaira on the road for 7:30 PM AST game on Tuesday.

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Tigres de Aragua

The Twins signed right handed pitcher Jerome Williams to a minor league contract on Friday. He is expected to join the Red Wings for the 2008 season. Williams started the 2007 with the Washington Nationals, going 0-5 with a 7.20 ERA in six starts. Williams also spent time with Washington's Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Columbus clubs before being released this past week.

Giminez Double leads to Tigers victory

Photo courtesy of los Tigres de Aragua

Lara 2 at Aragua 3

W: V. Moreno (1-0, 0.00); L: M. Carvajal (0-1, 7.71); SV: F. Butto (1)
HR: LAR: R. Perez (1).

Los Tigres de Aragua managed to get themselves back into the playoff race on Sunday, defeating the previously unbeaten Cardenales de Lara 3-2.

Horacio Estrada (F/A) took the starter for Aragua working 5 innings and holding Lara to 4 hits while striking out 4. Despite that, Lara did pick up a run in the 4th, when Adam Jones (Seattle) singled with one out, then moved to second on a Robert Perez (F/A) double. Jose Lopez (Seattle) would bring Perez in on a sac fly.

The Tigres would not answer back until the bottom of the 6th. Alberto Callaspo (Kansas City) drew a walk off Lara's Ivan Blanco (Seattle) to start off. Luis Rodriguez (San Diego) moved him around on a sac bunt. Following a fly out to left by Edgardo Alfonzo (Texas), Miguel Cabrera (Detroit) doubled Callaspo in, to tie up the game.

A single by Alfonza and a walk by Cabrera would turn into 2 more Tigres runs in the bottom of the 8th when Hector Gimenez (Houston) doubled in the pair to give Aragua a 3-1 lead.

Robert Perez (F/A) would homer off Frank Butto (F/A) in the 9th with 2 outs, but Butto got Lopez out on strikes to end the game and preserve the win.

Cabrera would finish up 1-for-3 with a walk, a run and one RBI. L-Rod was 0-for-3, as was Fort Myers alumni Luis Maza (LA Dodgers).

Bobby Korecky (Minnesota) worked 1.2 innings, striking out 1, Jose Mijares (Minnesota) picked up the other .1 of the inning. Victor Moreno (Baltimore) earned the win, allowing 1 hit and striking out 1.

The two teams rematch Monday night in Lara at 7:30 PM AST. Aragua then faces La Guaira on Tuesday.

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Tigres de Aragua

Errors costly in Aragua loss

Photo courtesy of los Tigres de Aragua

Aragua 3 at Lara 5

W: G. Carrara (1-0, 0.00); L: H. Bonilla (0-1, 7.20); SV: J. Rincon (1)
HR: ARA: A. Romero (1).

Los Tigers de Aragau did not fair so well in the opening game of the round robin playoffs, finding little offense against los Cardenales de Lara and getting a less then adequate outing from former Miracle pitcher Henry Bonilla (LA Angels).

Luis Ugueto (F/A) walked to start out the bottom of the first for the home town Cardenales. Marco Scutaro (Toronto) singled him to 2nd, and he moved to 3rd on a throwing error by Tigres 3rd baseman Miguel Cabrera (Detroit). Adam Jones (Seattle) singled to plate Ugueto, while Scutaro came home on a Robert Perez (F/A) ground out. Following a Selwyn Langaigne (F/A) fly out, Guilder Rodriguez (Milwaukee) singled in Jones.

A Scutaro double in the 3rd proved costly as singles by Perez and Rodriguez added two more runs to the board. A throwing error by Ronny Cedeno (Chicago Cubs) contributed to Perez crossing the plate giving the Cardinels a 5-0 advance.

Lara starter Giovanni Carrera (LA Dodgers) allowed only 2 hits and 1 walk to the Tigres over 6 innings. The Cats would not get onto the board until the top of the 7th inning.

With Ivan Blanco (Seattle) on the mound in relief of Carrera, back-to-back singles by Edgardo Alfonzo (Texas) and Hector Gimenez (Houston) put runners on board. Luis Maza (LA Dodgers) would reach on a fielder's choice that nabbed Alfonzo, but it mattered little as Alex Romero (Arizona) went yard over the right field fence to give the Cats 3.

The only other hit Aragua would manage after that came off Juan Rincon (Minnesota) in the 9th inning, sounding doom for the Tigers.

Bonilla allowed 5 runs (4 earned) on 8 hits and 1 walk while striking out 3 in 5 innings. Jose Mijares and Yohan Pino (both Minnesota) combined for 1 inning, striking out at total of 3.

Luis Rodriguez (San Diego) was 2-for-4 at the plate, Maza was 0-for-4 with a run and Romero was 1-for-3 with a run and 3 RBIs. Cabrera was 0-for-4, batting 3rd in the line up. Ugueto was 0-for-3 with Lara, with 1 run.

Los Tigres take on los Tiburones de La Guaira Thursday and Friday at 7:30 PM AST for the next two games in round robin playoffs.

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Tigres de Aragua

Tigres scratch out 6th straight win

Photo courtesy of los Tigres de Aragua

Aragua 4 at Lara 1 (15 innings)

W: R. Garcia (3-2, 2.27); L: R. Duarte (0-5, 5.66); SV: K. Tolar (6)
HR: None.

Los Tigers de Aragua pulled out a lengthy game against los Cardenales de Lara, having to go 15 innings before they could find the game winning run.

Lara took a 1 run lead in the 4th inning when Adam Jones (Seattle) doubled, moved to 3rd on a Robert Perez (F/A) ground out and came home on a Jose Lopez (Seattle) single to left.

It appeared the the Tigres win streak would come to end, as Aragua was blanked by Lara starter Rich Dorman (Florida), who allowed only 1 hit and 2 walks while striking out 7 over 5 innings. Relievers Moises Hernandez (Atlanta), Jesse Carlson (Toronto), Marcos Carvajal (Florida) and Cesar Jimenez (Seattle) all combined to baffle the Cats.

Not until the 9th inning, with Minnesota's Juan Rincon on the mound for the Cardenales did the Cats find some offense. Miguel Cabrera (Detroit) lead off with walk. A single to right by Hector Gimenez (Houston) moved Cabrera to 3rd. Alex Nunez (F/A), entering the game as a pinch hitter, ground out, but Cabrera crossed the plate on the play, tying up the game.

Chicago's Cory Bailey took the start, working 5.1 innings and allowing the only Lara run on 7 hits and 1 walk while striking out 3. Jose Mijares and Bobby Korecky, both from the Minnesota farm system) combined for 2.2 innings with Korecky allowing 1 hit and Mijares 1 walk.

Jason Karnuth (Detroit), Jose Guanchez (F/A), Rosman Garcia (Baltimore) and Kevin Tolar (F/A) all kept Lara off the board as the game stretched into extra innings.

Ronny Cedeno (Chicago Cubs) would single off righthander Renny Duarte (F/A) to lead off the top of the 15th. Cabrera would follow that up with a double. 2 outs later, Duarte would intentionally walk Alex Romero (Arizona) to lead the bases. Luis Maza (LA Dodgers) singled to bring in Cedeno and Cabrera, and a wild pitch by Duarte saw Romero across the plate.

The Tigres win streak now stands at 6.

Cabrera finished up the game 2-for-6 with a walk and 2 runs in the designated hitter position, Romero was 0-for-5 with a walk and a run, Maza was 1-for-7 with 2 RBIs. Luis Rodriguez (San Diego) returned to the line up finishing up 0-for-6 with a walk.

The Tigers will play their next 3 against los Tiburones de La Gauaira and will finish up after a break for the holidays with 2 games against Magallanes and one against league leading Caribes.

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The Twins have anounced the dates and times for their annual free youth clinics in Southwest Florida. The clinics are open to children ages 5 to 16. Please click here for details on times and locations.

Tigres double up Cardenales

Photo courtesy of los Tigres de Aragua

Lara 3 at Aragua 6

W: F. Mata (3-1, 3.07); L: S. Kahn (0-2, 6.48); SV: B. Korecky (1)
HR: LAR: S. Langaigne (5), J. Lopez (4). ARA: H. Gimenez 2 (2).

Los Tigres de Aragua stayed in the win column Monday, taking a 6-3 victory over los Cardenales de Lara. Minnesota's Frank Mata picked up his 3rd win of the season, while Bobby Korecky (Minnesota) recorded his first save.

Former Miracle Luis Ugueto (F/A) started out with a double for the Red Birds and moved to 3rd on Asdrubal Cabrera's (Cleveland) ground out. Adam Jones (Seattle) plated him with sac-fly to right field.

Lara extended their lead in fourth on a pair of solo home runs, one by Jose Celestiano Lopez (Seattle) and the other by Selwyn Langiagne (F/A). The Cats though coughed up one of their own when Hector Gimenez (Houston) when yard in the bottom of the inning.

Cardenales starter Giovanni Carrera (LA Dodgers) worked 5.1 innings, allowing 6 hits and 1 walk while striking out 2. It would be the sixth inning that caused him problems.

Gimenez would connect for his second home run of the night with one out, and Martin Prado (Atlanta) would get on base with an infield single before Carrera was taken from the mound. Alex Romero (Arizona) would record the second out off reliever Roger Luque (F/A), who was then replaced with righty Stephen Kahn (Seattle). Luis Maza (LA Dodgers) drew a walk, followed with a single to center by Raul Chavez (Pittsburgh) to bring in Prado. Alex Nunez (F/A) connected to bring in Maza, and Chavez scored off a Luis Figueroa (San Francisco) single to left. Ivan Blanco (Seattle) would finally come into the game for the Red Birds, and issued a walk to Ronny Cedeno (Chicago Cubs) before he could get to Mike Aviles (Kansas City) for the 3rd out.

Chavez would drive Gimenez in during the 7th inning for the final run.

Maza would strike out 1 over 1.1 innings, Jose Mijares (Minnesota) allowed a walk before issuing a strike out for .1 inning, and Korecky struck out 1 and walked 1 in the final 1.2 innings.

Hector Estrada (F/A) worked 5.2 innings for the Cats allowing 3 runs on 5 hits and 1 walk while striking out 4.

Ugueto was 1-for-3 with a walk and a run for the Red Birds, while Romero went 1-for-3 with a walk and Maza was 2-for-3 with a walk and a run for the Tigres.

The Cats play host los Tiburones de La Guaira on Tuesday before heading over to Lara to face the Cardenales again on Wednesday.

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Tigres take pair from Lara

Photo courtesy of los Tigres de Aragua

Aragua 6 at Lara 4

W: J. Guanchez (1-1, 2.08); L: S. Kahn (0-1, 4.32); SV: F. Butto (12)
HR: None.

Los Tigres de Aragua swept a double header Saturday against los Cardenales de Lara, pounding out 11 hits in each game against Red Bird pitching.

In the first game, los Cardenales jumped out to an early lead with former Miracle Luis Ugueto (F/A) drawing a walk off Tigres starter Kyle Middleton (Houston) to open the game. After striking out Asbrudal Cabrera (Cleveland), Adam Jones (Seattle) was also walked. Robert Perez's (F/A) line drive to center plated Ugueto. Bryan LaHair (F/A) drove in Jones with a hit to left field.

The game was suspended by rain at that point. When it resumed, Wilfredo Romero (F/A) and Alex Romero (Arizona) got on base with back-to-back hits. Luis Maza (LA Dodgers) then sent Wilfredo home with a hit out to left field.

The Tigres would tie the game up in the 3rd. Ronny Cedeno (Chicago Cubs) walked with one out, then stoled 2nd base. Following a Mike Aviles (Kansas City) strike out Lara's Marcos Carvajal (Florida) unleashed a pair of wild pitches that brought Cedeno home.

Perez doubled in the bottom of the inning, then moved to 3rd on a LaHair single. A fielding error by Cedeno led to Perez crossing the plate, and put Lahair at 3rd. A Jose Lopez (Seattle) double brought in the runner to make it 4-2 Lara.

Alex Romero walked in the 4th, then moved to 2nd on a Jose Martinez (St Louis) hit out to center. A double by Alex Delgado (F/A) served to score the pair, tying up the game again.

Hector Gimenez (Houston) doubled out to left, but Wilfredo hit into a force out which took Gimenez down at 3rd. Alex Romero singled his way onto the bags and a double by Maza brought the pair home.

Minnesota's Bobby Korecky and Jose Mijares each worked 1 inning in relief, with Korecky allowing 1 hit, and Maza striking out 2.

Romero was 2-for-3 with a walk and 2 runs, and Maza as 2-for-3 with 3 RBIs. Ugueto was 0-for-3 with a walk and a run for los Cardenales.

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Aragua 6 at Lara 1

W: R. Garcia (2-2, 2.41); L: R. Duarte (0-4, 5.45)
HR: LAR: J. Lopez (3).

In the nightcap, los Tigres took a 3 run lead in the 3rd and never looked back, burying los Cardenales 6-1.

Luis Maza (LA Dodgers) started off with a hit off to left. Raul Chevez (Pittsburgh) moved him around with a single. Jose Martinez (St Louis) connected for a single, but Maza was called out a home. The play however put runners at 2nd and 3rd, and a hit by Luis Figuroa (San Francisco) loaded the bases. Following a Ronny Cedeno (Chicago Cubs) strike out, Mike Aviles (Kansas City) drove in a run. Hector Gimenez's (Houston) single to right served to plate Martinez and Figueroa.

Gimenez tripled in the 6th inning, and was brought home by a Martin Prado (Atlanta) single. Gimenez then connected for a double in the 7th inning with brought in Figueroa and Aviles who had singled their way onto base.

The Red Bird's only run came on a last chance home run by Jose Celestino Lopez (Seattle).

Rosman Garcia (Baltimore) earned the win, allowing 3 hits in 5 innings while striking out 2. Kevin Tolar (F/A) and former Miracle Victor Moreno (Baltimore) closed out the game.

Luis Ugueto (F/A) was 1-for-3 in the second game for Lara, while Maza was 1-for-3 for the Tigres. Alex Romero (Arizona) hit 1 for-2 in the 2nd game of the Twin bill.

These two teams rematch on Monday for an 8:30 PM AST game. The Lions and Tigers battle on Sunday night at 6:00 PM AST.

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Lara drops Aragua, 7-1

Photo courtesy of los Tigres de Aragua

Aragua 1 at Lara 7

W: S. White (2-1, 2.45); L: R. Garcia (1-2, 1.69)
HR: None.

Some days, I feel like I'm back to writing Miracle game reports.

Los Cardenales de Lara clobbered los Tigres de Aragua 7-1 Thursday, with the Cats only managing 6 hits in the contest.

Seattle's Sean White worked through 7 innings, walking one and striking out three. Aragua's lone run came in the 4th inning when Hector Gimenez (Houston) doubled, moved to 3rd on a Mike Rivera (Milwaukee) single and came home on a sac-fly by Willie Romero (F/A).

It was a day of rest for the Twins as not of their current prospects participated in the game, although several former Miracle players were in uniform for both teams.

Lara was quick to get on the board, taking three runs in the first inning off Tigre's starter Rosman Garcia (Baltimore). Hernan Iribarren (Milwaukee) walked to start the inning. Luis Ugueto (F/A) then tripled him in. Ugueto was plated by Robert Perez's (F/A) ground out. Following a fly out by Jose Lopez (Seattle), Adam Jones (Seattle) singled, then stole 2nd. Selwyn Langaigne (F/A) walked before Wladimir Balentien's (Seattle) single brought in Jones.

Former Miracle Josmir Romero (F/A) replaced Garcia for the top of the 5th. He'd allow a single to Iribarren to start out. Following a pop out by Ugueto, Perez and Lopez hit back-to-back singles to bring in Iribarren, giving them a 4-1 lead.

In the bottom of the 7th, Ugueto singled. Following a fly out by Perez, Lopez moved Ugueto over to 2nd on a gorund ball. Jesus Delgado (Florida) replaced J. Romero on the mound and issued a walk to Jones to load the bases. Langaigne's single to right brought in two, and a wild pitch served to plate Jones before Delgado could find the final two outs to retire the side.

Ugueto was 3-for-5 with 2 runs and 1 RBI for the Cardenales. Luis Rodriguez (San Diego) was 0-for-4 for the Cats, Luis Maza (LA Dodgers) was 0-for-3 and Alex Romero (Arizona) was 1-for-3. Josmir Romero worked 2.1 innings for Aragua, giving up 3 runs on six hits while striking out 2.

Los Tigres play a home-and-home pair against los Navegantes del Magallenes Friday and Saturday. Friday's contest beings at 7:30 PM AST. They are scheduled to take on the Red Birds again on Sunday but all of Sunday's games are showing as postponed by the league. This has something to do with a referendum on Constitutional Reform by the National Electoral Council. Make up dates are yet to be announced.

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Tigres de Aragua

Tigres rally past Lara for win

Photo courtesy of los Tigres de Aragua

Lara 3 at Aragua 5

W: F. Mata (2-0, 2.88); L: S. Patterson (1-2, 1.40); SV: F. Butto (8)
HR: ARA: R. Chavez (1).

Minnesota's Frank Mata picked up his 2nd win of the season pitching in relief of former Miracle Henry Bonilla (LA Angels) as the Tigres de Aragua downed the Cardenales de Lara, 5-3.

Lara got on the board early when Hernan Iribarren (Milwaukee) doubled, moved to 3rd on a sac-bunt, then came home on a Robert Perez (F/A) single.

Cardenales starter Giovani Carrera (LA Dodgers) kept the Tigres off the board until the fifth. Raul Chavez (NY Yankees) and Ronny Cedeno (Chicago Cubs) both singled. Chevez came home on a Luis Rodriguez (San Diego) sac fly.

Lara answered back in the top of the 6th with former Miracle Luis Ugueto (F/A) singling, then moving to 3rd on Jose Lopez's (Seattle) double. Bonilla was taken from the mound at that point, being replaced by Jose Guanchez (F/A). Selwyn Langaigne (F/A) reached on a fielder's choice, while Ugueto made it safety across the plate for the run.

The visitors kept rolling in the top of the 7th, with Jairo Ramos (F/A) singling. Milwaukee's Alcides Escobar replaced him a pinch runner and moved to 2nd on a sac-bunt by Carlos Mendoza (NY Mets). Irbarren's ground out pushed him to 3rd, while was plated by Ugueto's ground ball single to right.

Aragua roared back in the bottom of the inning with Chavez going yard off Cesar Jimenez (Seattle). With 2 outs, Rodriguez singled, then crossed the plate on a Mike Aviles (Kansas City) triple to tie up the score. Hector Gimenez (Houston) reached on a throwing error by Ugueto, which brought Aviles home, giving the Tigres the lead.

Bobby Korecky (Minnesota) replaced Mata for the 8th inning, getting 1 out and allowing a runner on base. Field manager Buddy Bailey sent Jose Mijares (Minnesota) to the mound, and he induced Langaigne to hit into a double play to retire the side.

Back-too-back doubles by Alex Romero (Arizona) and Luis Maza (LA Dodgers) added an insurance marker to the Tigres total, while Frank Butto (F/A) shut down Lara in the 9th for the win.

Bonilla finished up allowing 2 runs on 5 hits and 1 walk while striking out 5 in 5.1 innings. Mata worked 1.2 innings, allowing 1 run on 2 hits and striking out 1.

L-Rod went 2-for-4 at the plate with a 1 run and an RBI, Romero was 2-for-4 with a run, and Maza was 2-for-4 with an RBI.

The two teams rematch today at 7:30 PM AST with Lara hosting the game. The Tigres then take on los Navegantes del Magallanes on Friday and Saturday to finish off the week feline.

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Tigres de Aragua

The big news today was the trade between the Twins and the Rays, with Minnesota recieving 22-year old Rookie of the Year Delmon Young, short stop Brendan Harris and outfielder Jason Pridie in exchange for pitchers Matt Garza and Eduardo Morlan and short stop Jason Bartlett. The Twins also came to terms on a one year contract for righthander Brian Bass, and minor league contracts for pitchers R.A. Dickey and Mariano Gomez.

Garza posted a 5-7 record with the Twins in 2007, with a 3.69 ERA, 67 strikes and 32 walks over 83 innings. Barlett hit .265 with 75 runs, 4 home runs, 43 RBIs and stolen bases in 140 games. Morlan, who pitched the 2007 season for the Fort Myers Miracle, finished up with a 4-3 record and a 3.15 ERA and 18 saves in 65.2 innings. He's expected to start in the Devil Rays minor league system next year, most likely for AA Montgomery.

Young hit .288 with 65 runs, 13 home runs, 93 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. Harris hit .286 with 72 runs, 12 home runs and 59 RBIs in 137 games for the Devil Rays last season.

Pride, who the Twins tried to take a couple of years ago in the Rule V draft, spent the 2007 season spliting time between AA Montgomery and AAA Durham, hitting .303 with 89 runs, and 14 home runs in 134 games with 66 RBIs. He will have a chance to make the big league club out of spring training, but will likely start the season in Rochester. Dickey played the 2007 season with the AAA Nashville Sounds in the Milwaukee system, posting a 13-6 record with a 3.72 era in 169.1 innings pitched. He struck out 119 and walked 60.

Bass, who is 3-3 in the Venezuelan Winter League with the Tigres, finished up 7-3 with a 3.48 ERA for the AAA Red Wings in 103.1 innings pitched. Gomez, played last year in AA Akron for Cleveland, putting together a 3-3 record with a 4.05 ERA in 66.2 innings with 2 saves. He struck out 53 and walked 24. Gomez is currently pitching for the los Aguilas del Zulia in the Venezeluan Winter League.

Tigres slip by Cardenales, 7-6

Raul Chavez/photo courtesy of los Tigres de Aragua

Lara 6 at Aragua 7

W: V. Moreno (2-0, 2.30); L: R. Rowland-Smith (2-2, 4.30); SV: K. Tolar (1)
HR: LAR: C. Jimerson (2).

Los Tigres de Aragua started out its fourth "week feline" with a win over the los Cardenales de Lara at home.

Former Miracle righty Victor Moreno (Baltimore) picked up the win for the Cats, who improve to 10-11 in the 2007 Venezeulan Winter League season.

Lara got on the board first when Luis Ugueto (F/A) took a triple off Aragua starter Kyle Middleton (Houston) with one out. Robert Perez (F/A) doubled him in, then came home on Selwyn Langaigne's (F/A) grounder to right field. Middleton would hit Wiki Gonzalez (Chicago White Sox) with a pitch, but got Carlton Jimerson (Seattle) to strike out to retire the side.

Aragua took the runs back though off Ryan Rowland-Smith (Seattle) in the bottom of the inning. Luis Rodriguez (San Diego) drew a walk with 1 out, followed by a Luis Maza (LA Dodgers) single to center. A fielding error by Wladimir Balentien (Seattle) gave them extra bases. Mike Aviles (Kansas City) would strike out and Hector Gimenez (Houston) would walk to load the bases. A pick off attempt went awry when Rowland-Smith overthrew the base, allowing Rodriguez and Maza to score, tying up the game. Raul Chavez's (NY Yankees) single brought in Gimenez, who'd gone to second on the pickoff attempt. Willie Romero (F/A) would hit into a force out to end the inning.

Things kept hopping for the Cats in the 4th, when Jose Martinez (St Louis) got hit by a pitch to start off the inning. Cedeno ground into a force out, but then stole 2nd base. A fielding error by Carlos Mendoza (NY Yankees) allowed Rodriguez onto base and a single by Maza loaded the bags. Aviles singled to bring in Cedeno; Rodriguez didn't quite make it however, and was taken out at the plate. Giminez would single to again load the bags, and the Cardenales called for a pitching change bringing in Yovany D'Amico (Kansas City). Chavez's single scored Maza and Aviles before Gimenez would be taken out at 3rd on the throw.

Ugueto singled for Lara to start out the fifth. Perez would strike out, but Balentien doubled, moving Ugueto to 3d. Jose Mijares (Minnesota) would be brought in to replace Middleton. The lefty, who is being used as a specialist by the Tigres, threw to only one batter, hitting Selwyn Langaigne (F/A) with a pitch. Moreno would take over the mound, allowing a singled to Gonzalez that brought in Ugueto and Balentien. He'd get Jimerson to hit into a double play though to end the inning.

Romero would cross the plate for the Cats' 7th run of the game, scoring on a Rodriguez single. Los Tigres would get nothing further off D'Amico however, and a pair of Seattle prospects, Renee Cortez and Scott Patterson, would combine to keep the Cats' bats silent for the rest of the game.

The Cardenales made a bid to tie up the game in the top of the 8th. With Jose Guanchez (F/A) on the mound, Langaigne singled out to right. Bobby Korecky (Minnesota) would be brought into the game to replace Guanchez, and get Gonzalez to hit into a force out. He would then give up a home run to Jimerson, giving Lara 2 more, but a line out by Eduardo Rios (F/A) and a ground out by Mendoza stopped the red birds' rally.

Kevin Tolar (F/A) would pitch the 9th for the Tigres, giving up a single to Ugueto, but getting pinch hitter Edwar Gonzalez (NY Yankees) out on strikes and Perez and Balentien to hit into force outs to end the game.

Korecky would be charged for 1 run on 1 hit in 1 innings worth of work. Moreno, who allowed inherited runners to score, showed 1 hit and 3 strike outs over 2.2 innings worth of work.

The Tigres take on Zulia during a pair of road games Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 PM AST.

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Former Miracle outfield Torii Hunter was awarded his 7th straight Rawlings Golden Glove by Major League Baseball Tuesday. Pitcher Johan Santana also earned the award for the Twins. He is only the second Twins pitcher to have ever won the ward. Jim Kaat won 11 Golden Gloves in 11 season, from 1962 to 1972.

Hunter is seeking to test the free agent market this winter, some rumors have circulated that the Chicago White Sox are showing an interest in the 32-year-old outfielder. Rumors are also swirling regarding Santana, although Twins General Manager Bill Smith as indicaeed he'd like to retain the services of the 28-year old lefty for the upcoming season.

Miracle Alumni abound in Aragua's 10-3 win over Lara

Aragua 10 at Lara 3

W: K. Middleton (1-0, 0.93); L: R. Rowland-Smith (0-1, 4.32)
HR: ARA: M. Aviles (2), R. Salazar (2).

A big sixth inning by the Tigers de Arauga put Saturday's Venezuelan League Game way out of recach for the Cardenales de Lara who managed a 3 run 8th, but nothing more.

Mike Aviles (Kansas City) homered in the top of the 2nd to get things rolling for the Tigres. They added on another run in the 5th when former Miracle outfield Alex Rodriguez (Arizona) drew a walk, and moved to 2nd off Raul Chavez's (NY Yankees) sac-bunt. Jesus Feliciano (NY Mets) singled Romero in. Ryan Rowland-Smith (Seattle), an Aussie pitcher the Twins had taken in the Rule V Draft several years ago but did not keep, suffered the loss in that inning.

Ivan Blanco (Seattle) would replace him. He'd find trouble in the 6th when Ruben Salazar (F/A) started off with a yard ball to left. Aviles singled his way onto base and moved to second on Brian Buscher's (Minnesota) ground out. Alex Nunez (F/A) and Romero followed that up with singles of their, scoring Aviles before Javier Nieves (Toronto) was brought into replace Blanco. Chavez would fly out, but Luis Maza (LA Dodgers), another Miracle alumni, would draw a walk to load the bases. A wild pitch saw Nunes across the plate and Feleciano walked them full again. Ronny Cendro's (Chicago Cubs) line drive would score Romero and Maza before Lino Urdaneta (F/A) was brought in to get the final out.

Pinch hitter Edwar Gonzalez (NY Yankees) singled in Carlos Mendoza (NY Yankees), who'd singled his way onto base, for Lara in the 8th. Throwing error by Salazar and Cedno would lead to a run for Wiki Gonzalez (Chicago White Sox) and Luis Ugueto (F/A) would double in Jesus Guzman (Seattle) for Lara. Jose Mijares (Minnesota) would be brought in to get the final out and retire the side.

The Tigres made it back up in the 9th though, with Ailves taking a walk and Buscher singling his way onto the bags. Ramon Castro's (F/A) double brought Aviles in, while Romero's single out to right served to plate Buscher. Chavez would single to bring in Castro, but Yovany D'Amico (Kansas City) would get Maza to line out and Feliciano to ground out to end the inning.

Frank Mata (Minnesota) closed the game in the 9th, allowing 1 hit, but using a pair of ground outs and a fly outs to salt the Cardenales away.

Buscher would finish up 1-for-5 at the plate with 1 run. Ugueto was 1-for-4 with 1 RBI.

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