The Undercards: Pablo Sandoval, Reggie Corona Influential As Magallanes Win In 10 Innings

Friday’s games were filled with plenty of excitement and close scores as players Manny Ramirez, Asdrubal Cabrera, Pablo Sandoval, and even Willy Aybar were a few of those to dominate in the postseason.

Dominican Winter League Postseason:

Toros del Este 4, Aguiles Cibaenas 3

Toros got to Cibaenas’ starting pitcher, Dustin Richardson, early as Donell Linares drew a walk in the bottom of the second inning. Two batters later, Diory Hernandez was also walked. Miguel Rojas went on to double to center field, allowing both Linares and Hernandez to score.

But, the Cibaenans saw some action of their own as Hector Luna singled in the top of the fourth inning. Manny Ramirez stole the show as he hit a two-run homerun in the following play. Things only continued to get better as Miguel Tejada also hit a homerun.

Hernandez continued to be productive for Toros as he singled in the bottom of the seventh inning and eventually scored off of Jose Constanza’s single to center field.

Leones de Escogido 7, Estrelles de Oriente 2

Oriente’s Carlos Colmenares seized a good moment early in the first inning as he reached first base on a fielding error by Escogido second baseman Alexi Casilla. Luis Jimenez, who hit a triple to center field, batted Colmenares in.

But, things got better for Escogido as Henry Blanco hit a single to left field and scored later in the third inning as Jordany Valdespin grounded out. The fourth inning was even more productive for Escogido as Julio Lugo leadoff with a walk. Willy Aybar followed with a double, allowing Lugo to score. Oriente’s starting pitcher, Ramon Ortiz, loaded the bases after hitting Javier Herrara with a pitch and giving up a sacrifice bunt to Abraham Almonte. Reliever Willy Lebron replaced Ortiz, only to throw a wild pitch to Blanco, allowing Aybar to score.

Things only continued to look up for Escogido in the seventh inning as Mauro Gomez drew a walk from Lebron, followed by Lugo’s single to left field. Both players scored off of Aybar’s double.

Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League Playoffs:

Gigantes de Carolina 5, Cangrejeros de Santurce 1

Leslie Anderson got Carolina off to a good start as he hit a two-run homerun in the top of the first inning. The fourth inning was especially entertaining for Gigantes fans as Anthony Garcia and Tony Thomas hit back-to-back singles. With Carlos Corporan at bat, Garcia stole home and Thomas stole second base. Thomas went on to steal third base as Osvaldo Martinez was at the plate, and Martinez later was walked and stole second base himself. Both Thomas and Martinez scored off of Jesus Feliciano’s double.

Santurce’s action came late in the eighth inning as Orlando Mercado and Luis Matos singled in the inning. Mercado scored Santruce’s only run as Jose Ruiz grounded out to first base.

Venezuelan Winter League Postseason:

Navagantes de Magallanes 11, Leones de Caracas 10   (10^th inning)

This game was a nail bitter until the tenth inning as Caracas’ Asdrubal Cabrera began the action in the second inning by batting in Jesus Aguilar and Luis Rodruguez with a double to center field. Magallanes benefited from Caracas’ starting pitcher, Yohan Pino’s, mistake in the second inning, as he walked Ramon Hernandez and Reggie Corona in a row. Endy Chavez batted Ezequiel Carerrara, Hernandez, and Corona in later in the inning. The action only intensified as Caracas took the lead in the third inning by scoring three runs, putting them ahead 6-4.

But, World Series hero Pablo Sandoval came through for his team, Magallanes, as he hit a grand slam in the bottom of the fourth inning. Caracas only retaliated by scoring four runs in the top of the fifth inning, which was easy as Magallanes’ reliever Amalio Diaz loaded bases after Luis Rod scored Caracas’ first run of the inning first run.

With the game in Caracas’ favor, Magallanes’ Corona tripled in the bottom of the seventh inning, allowing Hernandez score. Corona later scored off of Chavez’s double, tying the game at 10-10.

Corona became the game’s hero as he hit a leadoff single off of Caracas’ reliever, Loiger Padron, and scored the winning run off of Mario Lisson’s single to second base.