Collazo, Sharks dominate Cats

Photo courtesy of los Tigres de Aragua

Aragua 1 at La Guaira 4

W: W. Collazo (3-2, 3.02); L: H. Estrada (3-3, 2.45); SV: F. Rodriguez (6)
HR: LAG: O. Salazar (7).

Having made it into the playoffs, the Cats fell back to their old ways Sunday, managing only 5 hits off los Tiburones de La Guaira. Sharks starter Willie Collazo (NY Mets) worked 8 innings, allowing 1 earned run on 4 hits while striking out 3.

Los Tigres lone run came in the top of the second when Ruben Salazar (F/A) singled, then made his way over to 3rd on a Raul Chavez (Pittsburgh) single. Luis Maza (LA Dodgers) hit a sac fly to bring him in.

Hector Estrada (F/A) pitched the first 3 innings for Aragua in fine form, but fell apart in the 4th, pitching to 7 batters and not managing to get an out.

Los Tiburones started out that inning with a home run by Oscar Salazar (Baltimore). Ruben Mateo (Milwaukee) and Ron Acuna (F/A) both singled before Jorge Velandia (Pittsburgh) reached on a force attempt. A throwing error by Estrada saw Mateo and Acuna across the plate on the play, making it 3-1 Sharks. Edwin Bellorin (Colorado) then singled in Velandia to make it 4-1.

The bleeding may have continued as Liu Rodriguez (F/A) and Gregor Blanco (Atlanta) hit back-to-back singles before field manager Buddy Bailey called for a pitching change, bringing in Minnesota's Yohan Pino, who got Danny Sandoval (Philadelphia) to fly out and Alex Sanchez (Chicago White Sox) to double out at first.

Miguel Cabrera (Detroit) was 0-for-2 working as designed hitter in the clean up spot. Former Rochester Red Wing Luis Rodriguez (San Diego) was 2-for-4, while Maza finished up 0-for-2.

Pino would work 2 innings, striking out 1. Jose Mijares (Minnesota) worked 1 in and also struck out one.

The league now takes a 2-day break for the holidays. Los Tigres de Aragua do not play again until Thursday when they host los Navegantes del Magallanes for a 7:30 PM AST game.

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Tigres de Aragua

Tigres back in win column, and in playoffs

Photo courtesy of los Tigres de Aragua

La Guaira 4 at Aragua 6

W: H. Bonilla (1-1, 2.54); L: N. Acosta (0-1, 3.12); SV: F. Butto (15)
HR: ARA: M. Aviles (6).

Los Tigres de Aragua bounced back in front of a home town crowd Saturday, taking a 6-4 win over the visiting Tiburones de La Guaira.

Aragua opened the scoring in the bottom of the first. with one out, Ronny Cedeno (Chicago Cubs) was hit by a pitch. A throwing error by Nibaldo Acosta (Arizona) on the pick off attempt saw Cedeno to 2nd. Miguel Cabrera (Detroit) hit for a single, but moved to 2nd on the throw, which also scored Cedeno. Hector Gimenez (Houston) drew a talk before Mike Aviles (Kansas City) doubled to bring in Cabrera.

Los Tiburones took one back in the top of the 2nd with Jorge Velandia (Pittsburgh)and Edward Bellorin (Colorado) hitting back-to-back singles off starter Henry Bonilla (LA Angels). Following a line out by Liu Rodriguez (F/A), Gregor Blanco (Atlanta) hit a sac fly to bring in Velandia.

The Tigres added an insurance run in the bottom of the 3rd, with Aviles going yard over the center field wall.

Bonilla would work six innings for the Tigres, allowing the one run on six hits and three walks while striking out 3.

The Cats would add two more runs to their total in the fifth. Following a ground out by Cedeno, Cabrera singled and moved to 2nd on a while pitch. Gimenez then doubled him in, and a second double by Aviles pushed Gimenez over the plate. Kendy Batista (Texas) would come in to replace Acosta at that point for La Guaira, getting a pair of former Miracle, Alex Romero (Arizona) and Luis Maza (LA Dodgers), to ground out to end the inning.

Jose Guanchez (F/A) replaced Bonilla on the mound at the top of the 7th and promptly allowed a double to Blanco. Denny Sandoval (Philadelphia) and Alex Sanchez (Chicago White Sox) hit back-to-back singles with scored Blanco. Following a pitching change that saw Minnesota's Oswaldo Sosa take over the mound, Oscar Salazar (Baltimore) then doubled to bring the runners. Sosa would get the next three batters out however, ending the Sharks rally.

The Tigres found their final run of the evening in the bottom of the inning, when Cedeno singled then stoled 2nd base. Cabrera's single plated him, to make it 6-4 Aragua.

Cabrera, who played 3rd base, finished up the game 3-for-4 at the plate with 2 runs and 2 RBIs. Luis Rodriguez (San Diego) was 0-for-5 in the lead off position. Romero and Maza were both 0-for-4.

Sosa worked 1 inning allowing 1 hit and strike out 2.

The win puts the Tigres four game behind Caribes de Anzoategui with four games left to play. The two teams rematch on Sunday at 4:00 PM AST before the league takes a 3-day holiday break.

The win on Saturday combined with a twin bill sweep of los Aguiles de Zulia by los Cardenales de Lara puts the Tigres into the round-robin style playoffs for their sixth consecutive season.

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Tigres de Aragua

Tiburones end Tigres streak

Photo courtesy of los Tigres de Aragua

Aragua 7 at La Guaira 8

W: A. Tovar (3-1, 4.24); L: V. Moreno (4-2, 3.71)
HR: LAG: R. Mateo (1).

Los Tiburones de La Guaira ended los Tigres de Aragua win streak Thursday night, rallying past the visiting team in the 9th inning to pick up an 8-7 victory.

Aragua got on the board early, with Luis Rodriguez (San Diego) starting off with a triple. Miguel Cabrera (Detroit) brought him in on a sac-fly.

The Tigres added to their total with Alex Nunez (F/A) singling. Alex Rodriguez (Arizona) doubled one out later to move Nunez to 3rd. He'd come home on a sac fly by Martin Prado (Atlanta).

La Guaira answered back though in the the bottom of the 2nd, with Ruben Mateo (Milwaukee) hitting a double out to left. With 2 outs and a walk to Alvin Colina (Cincinnati), Luis Hernandez (Baltimore) would single to bring in Mateo, making it 2-1 Tigres.

The game would work through 3 more scoreless innings before Cabrera led off the top of the 6th with a walk. Hector Gimenez (Houston) doubled moving Cabrera to 3rd. A single by Nunez served to plate the Tigre's 3rd baseman, and a throwing error advanced Nunez to 2nd. A sac-fly by Raul Chavez (Pittsburgh) brought in Gimenez, to make it 4-1 Aragua.

The Cats could not hang on the lead though. Alejandor Freire (F/A) doubled off Minnesota's Frank Mata in the bottom of the 6th. That was followed up by Maeteo going yard over the center field wall to cut the Tigres lead to just 1 run. Liu Rodriguez (F/A) singled, Colina walked and Hernandez would single to drive Rodriguez and tie up the game. The Tigers called for a pitching change with Jose Mijares (Minnesota) taking the mound. He'd allow a single to Greg Blanco (Atlanta) that moved the runners before getting Danny Sandoval (Philadelphia) to strike out. A single to Alex Sanchez (Chicago White Sox) brought in Colina, giving the Sharks the lead.

Los Tigres answered back in the top of the 7th however, with Luis Figueroa (San Francisco) and Luis Rodriguez (San Diego) both drawing walks off Richard Salazar (Baltimore). La Guaira brought Gerardo Casadeigo (Colorado) into the game. Luis Maza (LA Dodgers) reached on a force attempt that saw both runners score and Maza end up at 2nd base on a throwing error by Casadiego. After a ground out to Cabrera and a fly out Giminez, Nunez would reach on a fielding error which allowed Maza to score, giving the Tigres a 1 run lead.

With former Miracle Victor Moreno (Baltimore) on the mound in the 9th, Sanchez would single and Oscar Salazar (Baltimore) would triple him in to tie up the game. Moreno would then intentionally walk Ron Acuna (F/a) and Mateo. After L-Rod popped out to L-Rod, Javier Colina (F/A) would hit a sac-fly to driving Salazar, ending the game with a Tiburones win.

Cabrera finished up the game 0-for-3 at the plate with a walk and a run, Maza was 0-for-5 with a run, L-Rod was 2-for-4 with a walk and 2 runs and Romero was 2-for-2 with a double.

Kyle Middleton (Houston) made his last start for the Cats, allowing 1 run on 5 hits and 3 walks while striking out 2 in 3.2 innings. As per the terms of his contract, he'll be returning to the States.

Mata was charged for 5 runs (all earned) on 4 hits and 1 walk while striking out 1 in .1 inning worth of work. Mijares was not charged for any of the inherited runs, allowing 2 hits and striking out 1 in 1 inning worth of work. Moreno took his 4th loss of the season as well as suffering the blown save, allowing 2 run, both earned on 2 hits and 2 walks while striking out 2 in 2 innings worth of work.

The Cats take Friday off. The two teams rematch on Saturday with Aragua hosting los Tiburones and Sunday with La Guaira again playing host to los Tigres.

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Tigers 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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Tigres de Aragua

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.

Twins host Free Youth Clinics in Southwest Florida

The Minnesota Twins Community Fund will host nine free Minnesota Twins Youth Clinics from Jan. 12 through Feb. 16, 2008, in Southwest Florida. The Minnesota Twins Youth Clinics, presented by the Lee County Parks and Recreation and the Minnesota Twins Community Fund, give youth from throughout Southwest Florida the opportunity to learn the games of baseball and softball.

The two-hour clinics require no registration and are open to boys and girls ages 5 to 16. Twins clinicians will teach hitting, fielding, and throwing at each clinic. Parents are encouraged to participate with their sons or daughters in the sessions.

The Minnesota Twins have held Spring Training at the Lee County Sports Complex in Fort Myers since 1991. In addition, the Fort Myers Miracle, a Twins Class A affiliate, plays at the Lee County Complex.

The Minnesota Twins Community Fund is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to enrich local and regional communities by providing resources for the healthy development of children and families through an association with baseball, softball and the Minnesota Twins. The Minnesota Twins and the Minnesota Twins Community Fund annually distribute more than $3.6 million in community support.

The Youth Clinic Program was created in 1961 by longtime Twins scout Angelo Giuliani. Since that time, more than 850,000 youth have participated in a Minnesota Twins Youth Clinic.

Minnesota Twins 2008 Southwest Florida Youth Clinics Schedule
(Subject to change)

Jan. 12	10 a.m. to 12 p.m.	Minnesota Twins/Lee County Sports Complex 14100 Six Mile Cypress Parkway Fort Myers, FL 33912 Jack Nelson -- 239-292-5240
Jan. 19	10 a.m. to 12 p.m.	Buckingham Little League 9800 Buckingham Road Fort Myers, FL 33905 Pat Shannahan - 239-936-8561
	1 p.m. to 3 p.m.	Lehigh Little League 1400 West 5th Street Lehigh Acres, FL 33972 Darrel Willis - 239-823-6126
Jan. 26	10 a.m. to 12 p.m.	Cape Coral Little League / Pelican Complex 4128 Pelican Boulevard Cape Coral, FL 33914 Art Avellino - 239-772-423
Feb. 2	10 a.m. to 12 p.m	DeSoto Little League Speer Recreation Center 185 West Winifred Street Arcadia, FL 34266 Tara and Matt Anderson - 863-990-0529
	1 p.m. to 3 p.m.	Charlotte County Little League Harold Ave Recreation Center Port Charlotte, FL 23400 Lou Augsto - 941-629-6552 or 941-629-0114
Feb. 9	10 a.m. to 12 p.m.	San Carlos Little League 18215 Three Oaks Parkway Three Oaks Park Fort Myers, FL 33912 Todd Backster - 239-989-5868
	1 p.m. to 3 p.m.	Immokalee Little League Tony Rosdough Little League Field Immokalee, FL 34142 Jack Nelson - 239-292-5240
Feb. 16	10 a.m. to 12 p.m.	South Fort Myers Little League/Rutenberg Complex 6500 S. Pointe Blvd Fort Myers, FL 34142 Jack Nelson - 239-292-5240

All questions, concerns or information regarding the clinics should be directed to the Twins Community Fund staff:

Stephanie Johnson
Twins Community Fund
34 Kirby Puckett Place
Minneapolis, MN 55415
Direct: 612-375-7523
Fax: 612-475-7480
stephaniejohnson@twinsbaseball.com