After rain denied opening day in the Spanish Division de Honor for the FC Barcelona and Halcones de Vigo last week, they get a chance to start the 2010 season on Saturday. “Barca” hosts Baseball Navarra at the ballpark in Montjuic. Not only new starting pitcher Delio Miguel Martinez and new shortstop Oscar Angulo were expected to arrive this week, but they also welcomed a new coach with the Dominican Eric Concepción, who has worked with the Baltimore Orioles in the past.
Navarra started with a split against CB Viladecans into the season. In the 10-5 win in game one Luis Villanueva and Victor Martinez put on a show with seven RBI combined. In the second match they couldn’t do much against the pitching of the Spanish record champion. Juan Jose Lopez and Andres Casado are probably starting again in Barcelona, likely facing Martinez and Pedro Belmonte. The two-game series is listed as the top game of the week in Spain and can be followed via live play-by-play.
Halcones de Vigo has to travel to Pamplona for their opening twin bill. CD got crushed by CB Sant Boi last week, getting out-scored 4-25. In 2009 both teams split the season series against each other, including two complete different games in Pamplona. In the first match CD won 2-0 thanks to a five-hitter by Patrice Briones, who is no longer on the roster. In the second part of the doubleheader, Halcones first blew an 11-1 lead, but later prevailed 14-13.
Three more matchups are scheduled this weekend in the Spanish elite league. El Llano hopes for their first runs of the season against Sant Boi. The Astros Valencia make the trip to Bilbao and have to show that last week’s shutouts against El Llano were no fluke. San Inazio on the other hand started with two losses on Tenerife. Defending champion Marlins Puerto Cruz will play a doubleheader in Viladecans.
Schedule Week 2:
March 6:
15.30 El Llano – CB Sant Boi
16.00 CB Viladecans – Tenerife Marlins Puerto Cruz
19.00 CB Viladecans – Tenerife Marlins Puerto Cruz (after completion of game one)
17.00 CD Pamplona – Halcones de Vigo
18.30 FC Barcelona – Baseball Navarra
March 7:
10.30 CD Pamplona – Halcones de Vigo
11.00 El Llano – CB Sant Boi
11.00 FC Barcelona – Baseball Navarra
11.00 San Inazio Bilbao – Astros Valencia
14.00 San Inazio Bilbao – Astros Valencia (after completion of game one)
Photo: © Diego Lazaro
