Dominican Winter League Postseason: Aguilas Cibaenas 2, Estrellas de Oriente 0

In the 4th inning of this one, the Aguilas’ Hector Luna took fellow ex-Ray Ramon Ortiz deep for a 2-run home run. That would be the only scoring in the game as both teams got dominant performances from their pitching staffs. For Cibaenas, Dustin Richardson went 7 innings allowing just 4 hits, striking out 10 while walking 1. A pair of relievers finished off the effort for the Aguilas as they 4-hit Oriente, striking out 13 while walking just 1. The Estrallas’ hitters could not get anything against Cibaenas pitching, but you can blame their staff for that. Ortiz was great except for the home run, going 6.1 innings allowing 2 runs on 5 hits, striking out 5 while walking 1, and Jose Trinidad finished the game for Oriente, going 2.2 hitless innings, striking out 2 while walking 1, but their performances went to waste as the Cibaenas pitching was just too good. To wrap up the other performances by ex-Rays, Ray Olmedo went 1 for 3 with one of the Estrellas’ 4 hits and their only walk while Manny Ramirez went 0 for 3 for the Aguilas, reaching once on a hit-by-pitch.

Leones de Escogido 4, Toros del Este 3

Escogido had a remarkable comeback in this one, overcoming a 3-0 deficit with 4 runs in the 8th inning, including a Mauro Gomez 3-run home run, to come away with the win. A trio of ex-Rays had interesting performances. Jorge Cantu, making his Este debut after his Naranjeros de Hermosillo got eliminated from the Mexican Pacific League playoffs, went 1 for 3 with a walk and an RBI, Willy Aybar went 1 for 1 for Escogido before getting taken out of the game following a hit-by-pitch- hope he’s OK- and Jhonny Nunez tossed a perfect 9th to nail down the save for the Leones.

Mexican Pacific League Playoffs: Aguilas de Mexicali 5, Algodoneros do Guasave 4

Speaking off incredible comebacks, Mexicali has to be feeling awfully good about themselves after this one. Guasave took a 4-0 lead in the top of the 2nd inning before the Aguilas responded with 1 run in the bottom of the inning to trail 4-1. The score remained that way until the 6th inning, when a Ricky Alvarez solo home run made it 4-2 Guasave. Then Mexicali kept chipping away in the 7th inning, with Oscar Robles doubling then scoring on an error to make it 4-3. And then a pair of slumping ex-Rays figured prominently in the Aguilas’ 8th inning rally to tie the game. After Alvarez singled to begin the inning, Weber, the Aguilas’ third-place hitter, bunted him over to second base knowing that he wasn’t hitting and just had to do whatever he could to help the team. A wild pitch moved Alvarez to 3rd base before Wes Bankston found a way to get him in on a flyball to centerfield to knot the game at 4. Then in the 9th, pinch-hitter Jorge Guzman came up with a walk-off RBI single as the Aguilas came up with a run each in the 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th innings to beat Guasave 5-4. Weber and Bankston combined to go just 0 for 5 with a walk in the game, but they did what they needed to do in that game-tying 8th inning rally.

Yaquis de Obregon 10, Tomateros de Culiacan 3

Unlike the games we saw above, Obregon rolled in this one and Iker Franco was in on the fun, going 2 for 4 with a run scored. Juan Miranda also went 0 for 3 with a walk for the Yaquis as 8 of the 9 Obregon starters reached base. Jesse Gutierrez slammed 2 home runs while Doug Clark went 4 for 5 with a homer, a double, 4 RBI, and 2 runs scored.

Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League (Puerto Rico) Postseason: Indios de Mayaguez 7, Cangrejeros de Santurce 6

Despite the best efforts of a pair of ex-Rays, Santurce came up just short in this one. Jose Ruiz went 1 for 2 with 2 RBI for Santurce, but was pinch-hit for in the 5th as he may be hurt, and Julio DePaula worked around a hit with a pair of groundouts as he tossed a scoreless 6th inning to hold a 5-5 tie. Ruiz has been huge for Santurce out of their cleanup spot, hitting .359, and it would be a major blow to them if he misses any time.

Gigantes de Carolina 3, Criollos de Caguas 1

I am completely befuddled by the fact that Carolina benched Jesus Feliciano in this one, but it worked as they won 3-1. Feliciano, who was the only Gigantes player who could say that he had a good game as he went 3 for 4 in the team’s 14-2 loss, was replaced at the leadoff spot and in centerfield by Osvaldo Martinez, who went 0 for 3 with a walk. Leslie Anderson did the same out of the Gigantes’ 3-hole (yay, Anderson drew a walk!). Catcher Rene Garcia drove in all 3 Carolina runs and that was enough as their pitching was phenomenal in a complete reversal of their last game. Gaby Hernandez allowed just an unearned run on 5 hits in 5 innings, striking out 4 while walking none, and then ex-Ray Eddie Morlan was incredible behind him, allowing just a hit and a walk in 3 shutout relief innings, striking out 3 and getting his other 6 outs on the ground. Sergio Espinosa tossed a perfect 9th for Caguas, striking out 1, but by then it was too late. Morlan has been exceptional this postseason for Carolina, managing a 0.90 ERA.

Dominican Winter League Postseason: Leones de Escogido 6, Estrellas de Oriente 1

Edward Valdez gave the Leones 5.1 innings of 1-run ball and the Escogido offense and bullpen did the rest as the Leones came away with a crisp 6-1 win. The Red Sox’ Mauro Gomez had a big game, going 1 for 3 with a 2-run homer and 2 walks, while the Mets’ Jordany Valdespin went 2 for 5 with a double, 2 RBI, and a run scored. In terms of the ex-Rays in the game, Willy Aybar went 2 for 3 with a walk and a run scored and Julio Lugo went 1 for 5 with an RBI for Escogido, and Ray Olmedo went 1 for 3 for Oriente. The most important Rays-related player in the game, though, was a player that the Rays will be relying heavily upon next season, Fernando Rodney, who made his Winter Ball debut and did hit a batter as he showed signs of rust, but worked an otherwise spotless inning, striking out 1.

Aguilas Cibaenas 5, Toros del Este 4

An improbable 3-run rally in the 9th inning finished off by a walk-off single by the Rangers’ Leury Garcia gave the Cibaenas an exhilarating win. Manny Ramirez‘s hot postseason took a day off as he went just 0 for 4, but Hector Luna did go 1 for 3 with a double, a walk, and an RBI.

Mexican Pacific League Playoffs: Aguilas de Mexicali 4, Algodoneros de Guasave 3

This was a game of momentum shifts as Mexicali scored 3 in the 4th inning to take a 3-1 lead only to see their bullpen blow a beautiful outing by Marco Duarte (6 IP, 1 ER, 8 K), but they got a go-ahead single by Roman Pena in the 9th to win the game. In terms of the ex-Rays, Jon Weber had a tough day, going 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts, while Wes Bankston went 0 for 2 but with 3 walks and a run scored.

Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League (Puerto Rico) Postseason: Idios de Mayaguez 14, Gigantes de Carolina 7

Not a good game for Carolina in this one, but a pair of ex-Rays did have good games. Jesus Feliciano went just 0 for 5 out of the Gigantes’ leadoff spot, but Leslie Anderson went 2 for 5 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored (although bizarrely, as a player with no speed, he was caught stealing), and Eddie Morlan went 1.2 perfect innings, striking out 2. Anderson is hitting .375 since joining Carolina for the RCPBL Postseason.

Arizona Fall League: Peoria Javelinas 8, Phoenix Desert Dogs 1

The Desert Dogs got trampled in this one, but how great is it to see Richie Shaffer playing every day? Shaffer went 1 for 3 with Phoenix’s only RBI in this one, extending his hitting streak to 4 since he entered the Desert Dogs starting lineup thanks to the absence (whether because of injury or otherwise) of Brewers prospect Hunter Morris. Hak-Ju Lee went 1 for 4 in the game but made a pair of throwing errors- Shaffer’s inexperience playing first base certainly didn’t do him any favors- and Kevin Kiermaier went 0 for 2 with a walk and a rare error of his own, another throwing error.

Dominican Winter League: Aguilas Cibaenas 6, Toros del Este 0

Omar Luna returned to the leadoff spot for Cibaenas for this first time in a while and had a nice game as the tablesetter, going 0 for 2 but with 3 walks, a stolen base, and 2 runs scored. This one great game improved Luna’s strikeout to walk ratio from a mediocre 9-4 to a nice 9-7, although Luna better continue showing patience or teams won’t care too much.

Estrellas de Oriente 3, Leones del Escogido 1

Willy Aybar went just 0 for 4 for Escogido and is just 2 for 14 so far in the DWL, although he has struck out just once.

Gigantes del Cibao 2, Tigres del Licey 1 (1o innings)

Wild finish in this one as Licey got a solo homer from Rangers prospect Leonys Martin in the 10th to break a scoreless tie before Cibao won it with 2 runs in the bottom of the inning. The ex-Rays position players did not have a good day, with Rhyne Hughes going 0 for 3 and Juan Miranda going 0 for 1 as a pinch-hitter, and Jhonny Nunez worked around 2 hits in the 9th for Cibao to toss a shutout frame, striking out 1.

Mexican Pacific League: Naranjeros de Hermosillo 5, Caneros de los Mochis 4

Jorge Cantu went 0 for 2 with 2 walks in this one for Hermosillo. Cantu has a nice 16-10 strikeout to walk ratio on the MPL season, but has hit just .241 in 15 games and hasn’t hit for much power either, managing just a .426 slugging percentage with only four of his 13 hits going for extra bases.

Mayos de Navojoa 1, Tomateros de Culiacan 0

Wait a second, this team was between the Mayonaises and the Tomatoes? No, not quite, the Mayo Native Americans and the Tomato Plants- really, the Tomato Plants? In any event, Wes Bankston had a rare bad game, going 0 for 4 for Navojoa.

Aguilas de Mexicali 10, Yaquis de Obregon 1

Jon Weber, the ex-Rays prospect from 2007 to 2009 who is most famous for having a big spring training for the Yankees in 2010 but not making the team, went 2 for 5 with an RBI and 2 runs scored for Mexicali in this one. He was struck at Independent in 2012 but is having a nice time in the MPL, posting a .291/.388/.419 line with 6 doubles, 1 homer, 11 RBI, and 14 strikeouts against 14 walks in 27 games. Catcher Iker Franco, who was a Rays prospect from 2000 to 2002, went 0 for 2 for Obregon.

Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League (Puerto Rico): Leones de Ponce 2, Congrejeros de Santurce 1

Felipe Lopez started at second base for Santurce and went just 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts. He has started the RCPBL (there has to be a better acronym than that) season going just 1 for 11, although he does have 4 walks compared to 4 strikeouts.

Criollos de Caguas 13, Gigantes de Carolina 4

Among the recognizable ex-Rays prospects, Jesus Feliciano went 1 for 4 with a run scored. For the other two ex-Rays in the game, you’re going to strain yourself to remember them even if you’re the most avid Rays prospect watcher. Sergio Espinosa went 1.1 innings for Caguas allowing a hit and a walk while striking out 2. Eddie Morlan, meanwhile, struggled mightily for Carolina, allowing 4 runs in just 1.1 innings on 2 hits, a walk, and a hit batsman. Morlan is best known as the throw-in along with Matt Garza and Jason Bartlett in the Delmon Young trade, and spent 2008 to 2010 in the Rays organization, while the lefty Espinosa was with the Rays in 2009 and 2010 after signing out of Cuba. Morlan and Espinosa were teammates on the 2010 Montgomery Biscuits. Morlan was also a nice prospect at one point, hitting 97 MPH with his fastball out of the bullpen to go along with a great slider, but command issues got his career off-track. Morlan is only 26 years old and has been electric in independent ball the past two seasons, so we may not have seen the last of him.

Venezuelan Winter League: Cardelanes de Lara 9, Bravos de Margarita 1

The Bravos have to give some help to Sean Burroughs if they ever want to win any games. Burroughs went 3 for 3 with a walk and the only Bravos run scored. He’s on a 4-game hitting streak with multiple hits in 3 of the 4, and he has a .367/.438/.544 line in 21 VWL games with 5 doubles, 3 homers, 16 RBI, and a 12-9 strikeout to walk ratio. The 32 year old Burroughs, who was with the Rays back in 2006, saw time in the big leagues with the Twins in 2012 and should have a good amount of offers this offseason after his great performance for the Bravos. Romulo Sanchez worked around 2 hits to toss a scoreless 9th for Lara, striking out 1.

Leones del Caracas 7, Aguilas del Zulia 3

The Aguilas completely imploded at the end of this one, but that was not the fault of Alex Torres. Torres did not have his best control but battled his way to a nice outing, going 6 innings allowing just 1 runs on 3 hits, striking out 6 while walking 4 and posting a 6-1 groundout to flyout ratio. Torres has just a 4.40 ERA on the VWL season after his implosion the other day, but his strikeout to walk ratio is a ridiculous 47-14 in 28.2 innings. That’s 14.8 strikeouts per 9 innings, although he has walked 4.4 per 9- still a good mark for the enigmatic lefty Torres. After Torres left the game, Caracas scored 6 of their 7 runs, including 4 in the 9th to break a 3-3 tie, and 3 of those 4 runs were driven in by ex-Rays prospects Henry Wrigley and Daniel Mayora. Wrigley went 1 for 4 with a walk, an RBI, and a run scored while Mayora went 1 for 5 with 2 RBI. Wrigley has a great .324/.378/.562 line with 8 homers and 23 RBI in 28 VWL games, but his strikeout to walk ratio is still pedestrian at 20-8.

Navegantes de Magallanes 3, Tigres de Aragua 2 (15 innings)

This game was a defensive disaster and it speaks to how good the pitchers were that it was a low-scoring game and even lasted until the 15th inning- although an error did end the game. Former Royals prospect Mario Lisson walked, stole second base, and then stole third base and scored on a throwing error to end the game. For the Rays-related players, Leslie Anderson had a nice game, going 3 for 4 before getting lifted for a pinch-runner in the 8th inning and watching the second half of this game from the dugout, Erold Andrus went 1 for 6, and Chris Nowak had a game to forget, going 1 for 6 with a double while making 3 errors at third base. Anderson is now hitting .378 in 9 VWL games, collecting at least 1 hit in all but 1 and notching multiple hits in 5 of 9.