Dominican Winter League: Leones del Escogido 5, Gigantes del Cibao 2

Joel Peralta was unhittable for his first few DWL games, but he’s finally showing he’s human and it’s probably time for him to quit until pitchers and catchers report. Peralta had a tough outing for Cibao on Saturday, allowing a hit and 2 walks without recording an out, although he did allow just 1 run. Jhonny Nunez was strong in the 9th for the Gigantes, working around a hit with 2 strikeouts in a shutout frame. On the offensive side, Julio Lugo went 1 for 3 with a walk and Willy Aybar went 1 for 4 with an RBI for Escogido while Rhyne Hughes went 1 for 3 with an RBI for Cibao. Pirates prospect Kris Johnson had a huge game for Escogido, striking out 11 while walking none in 7 innings.

Mexican Pacific League: Venados de Mazatlan 7, Tomateros de Culiacan 6

A save is a save is a save, but Matt Buschmann made Mazatlan fans a little too nervous on Saturday night. A Mario Valdez pulled Culiacan within a run with 1 out in the 9th, and a hit and a walk brought the tying run into scoring position and the winning run at first base. But Buschmann struck out Cory Aldridge to get in as Mazatlan hung on to win 7-6. Buschmann went 1.1 innings for the save allowing 2 hits, 2 walks, and 2 runs. He did, however, record all his outs via the strikeout for a silver lining. Henry Mateo also went 1 for 4 for the Venados.

Aguilas de Mexicali 7, Mayos de Navojoa 3

Jon Weber continues to deliver big-time for Mexicali and he went 1 for 2 with 2 walks and a run scored in this one. He has a .371/.500/.486 line in his last 10 games, not hitting for much power as he has managed just 4 doubles and 2 RBI, but he has walked 10 times versus 7 strikeouts. On the season, he has a .312/.409/.439 line with 18 doubles, 2 homers, 25 RBI, and 41 strikeouts versus 34 walks in 60 games. Even though he’s about to turn 35, a big league team has to give him one last invite to spring training, right? On the other side, Wes Bankston went 0 for 3 with a sac fly for Navojoa. I’d love to see the stat for Navojoa’s record when he has a hit because he’s been a major part of their offense all season, and at 29 years old, an offer from a big league organization could be coming.

Venezuelan Winter League: Caribes de Anzoategui 3, Bravos de Margarita 1 (7 innings)

A few words of pity for lefty Neil Schenk, who came in for Margarita, got a groundball but watched it get booted for an error, and then left without recording an out. Better luck next time, Neil.

Dominican Winter League: Tigres del Licey 7, Gigantes del Cibao 3

Cibao pitchers struck out 9 batters in this game- but that was canceled out and then some by six walks, and the Tigres took advantage. Juan Miranda helped set the tone for Licey, going just 0 for 1 out of the 5-hole but drawing 3 walks and scoring 2 runs. He now has managed an outstanding 11 walks versus just 9 walks. (If only Miranda had any power! His patience is great!) Also appearing for Licey was Jesus Colome, who struck out 1 in a shutout inning as he worked around a hit. Joel Peralta worked around a hit to pitch a shutout frame for Cibao, not striking out a batter after striking out 2 in his first two appearances for the Gigantes, while Rhyne Hughes went 0 for 4.

Venezuelan Winter League: Navegantes de Magallanes 3, Bravos de Margarita 2

In a Navegantes-Bravos game not that long ago, there might have been four or five current and former Rays. Now, as players like Sean Burroughs and Chris Nowak have gone home, just one appeared in this game, lefty Neil Schenk, who retired the one batter he faced. Schenk has now made VWL appearances across 6.2 innings and has not allowed an earned run.

Tigres de Aragua 12, Tiburones de La Guaira 4

The question is still out there: why hasn’t Joey Gathright attempted a stolen base for the Tigres? Demoted from the leadoff spot to the nine-hole for Aragua, he went 0 for 3 but did draw 2 walks and score a run. Two other ex-Rays got into this one for La Guaira, with Cesar Suarez having a rough game, going 0 for 4 and Ray Olmedo actually going 1 for 2 with a pinch-hit double and a run scored. His double was just his second extra-base hit in the VWL despite the fact that he’s been with the Tiburones since the start of the season.

Dominican Winter League: Aguilas Cibaenas 7, Toros del Este 4

Is Omar Luna ever going to get his lineup spot back for the Aguilas? Miguel Tejada, who played shortstop over Luna in this one after playing mostly third base previously for Cibaenas, slammed 2 home runs in this one, and Rafael Ynoa, playing Luna’s other primary position, second base, led off and went 1 for 4 with 2 RBI. Manny Ramirez went 0 for 3 with a walk in the game for the Aguilas.

Mexican Pacific League: Algonoderos de Guasave 4, Yaquis de Obregon 2

Iker Franco isn’t playing much for Obregon despite being absolutely red-hot of late, going 13 for his last 30 (.433). Franco went 1 for 4 with a double in this one, collecting a hit for the 6th time in 7 games- but you have to go back to November 23rd, nearly two weeks ago, for the start of that streak.

Naranjeros de Hermosillo 4, Aguilas de Mexicali 3

The performances of the ex-Rays canceled out in this one as Jorge Cantu for Hermosillo and Jon Weber for Mexicali both went 1 for 4 with a run scored. Cantu, though, stole a base, his first of the season- and quite possibly his first since 2009 with the Marlins. Wow. Cantu was never much of a basestealer, stealing just 2 bases in 338 games with the Devil Rays, but it has to be satisfying for him when he does get an opportunity to swipe a bag. Cantu’s stolen base in this 6th inning followed by a wild pitch and a groundout to score him gave Hermosillo a 4-0 lead, and that run would be huge as the Aguilas would pull within 1 in the bottom of the inning.

Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League (Puerto Rico): Cangrejeros de Santurce 10, Atanlenses de Manati 0

Felipe Lopez got off to a horrific start to the RCPBL season but is finally coming on. Lopez had a great game in this one, going 2 for 3 with a double, 2 RBI, and a run scored, and he’s hitting .294 in his last 10 games. He still has plenty of work to do and he’s hitting just .228 in 18 games so far in Puerto Rico.

Venezuelan Winter League: Aguilas del Zulia 3, Navegantes de Magallanes 0

Leslie Anderson finally got a hit, going 1 for 4 in this one- but striking out 3 times. He’s in a 5 for 27 (.185) stretch right now to lower his average to .288 on the VWL season. That isn’t so bad until your realize that he barely walks (.333 OBP) and isn’t hitting for any power (.313 SLG). Why the Navegantes hit him out of the 3-hole in this one I don’t have the slightest idea. Jean Machi went 0.2 innings for Magallanes, working around a hit with a pair of groundouts.

Tiburones de La Guaira 9, Caribes de Anzoategui 8

La Guaira very nearly blew a 9-1 lead after six and a half innings, barely getting it together at the end of the game. Cesar Suarez was a big reason the Tiburones were up so big to begin with, going 2 for 4 with a homer, a double, and a walk.

Great to see Wrigley deliver a pair of big hits in this one. (Credit: Flickr user Nick Martinez)

Leones del Caracas 10, Bravos de Margarita 7

Henry slammed a bases-clearing 3-run double for the Leones in the 3rd inning and by the end of the frame, they were up 5-0. But the Bravos rallied back, tying the game at 6 before taking a 7-6 lead in the top of the 8th. But in the bottom of the inning, Josh Kroeger laced a game-tying single, and two batters later, Wrigley delivered again, slamming a go-ahead 2-run single before scoring on a squeeze bunt by fellow ex-Rays prospect Daniel Mayora. Wrigley’s triple and run scored were the margin of victory as Caracas won 10-7. Wrigley went 2 for 5 with a triple, a double, 5 RBI, and 2 runs scored in this one to raise his line on the VWL season to .313/.360/.553. Lefty Neil Schenk, who posted a 2.97 ERA in 42 relief appearances at Double-A Montgomery for the Rays, retired both batters he faced in this one and has actually tossed 2.2 perfect innings across 3 appearances so far in the VWL.