The Tenerife Marlins Puerto Cruz have won the past five championships in the Spanish Division de Honor. This year defending the title won’t be easy. After having lost twice against the FC Barcelona at home last weekend, they were winless again on Saturday in Burlada, Pamplona versus Baseball Navarra. The Marlins now already have doubled their win total from last year and have a deficit of four games in the standings after just four weeks.
In game one Navarra had no problems at all to hit Leslie Nacar, scoring six runs in the first two frames en route to an easy 12-2 eight-inning victory. Larry Infante and Hector Perozo went deep and combined to score seven runs. Juan Jose Lopez (picture) completely shut down the offense of the reigning champion, including holding Richard Montiel and Luis Landaeta to a combined 1-for-7.
The second match started promising for the guests, as they scored eight runs in the opening period. However Ivan Granados blew the lead nearly immediately. Navarra erased the deficit over the course of three frames to take a 9-8 lead after the third. An insurance run in the seventh became crucial, when Puerto Cruz started the top of the ninth with a solo shot by Montiel, a single by Javier Flores and a hit by pitch by Victor Lopez. But Navarra’s closer Victor Martinez recovered and sealed the 10-9 win and the sweep.
Leader CB Sant Boi stayed undefeated, sweeping local rivals CB Viladecans by scores of 10-0 and 9-4. The Astros Valencia couldn’t continue their surprise start against the FC Barcelona, losing 1-11 and 2-11 in Montjuic. San Inazio Bilbao closed the gap to the middle of the standings with two wins over CD Pamplona. Halcones de Vigo and El Llano only could play five innings on Saturday before rain washed out the rest with Vigo getting a shutout win.
Short recaps on all matchups will follow on Monday evening.
Results Week 4:
Saturday, March 20:
Baseball Navarra – Tenerife Marlins Puerto Cruz 12-2 (8)
Baseball Navarra – Tenerife Marlins Puerto Cruz 10-9
El Llano – Halcones de Vigo 0-5 (5)
El Llano – Halcones de Vigo postponed
CB Viladecans – CB Sant Boi 0-10 (8)
Sunday, March 21:
San Inazio Bilbao – CD Pamplona 4-1
San Inazio Bilbao – CD Pamplona 10-1
CB Viladecans – CB Sant Boi 4-9
FC Barcelona – Astros Valencia 11-1
FC Barcelona – Astros Valencia 11-2
Standings Division de Honor:
- CB Sant Boi 8-0
- FC Barcelona 6-0
- Baseball Navarra 5-3
- Astros Valencia 4-4
- Tenerife Marlins Puerto Cruz 4-4
- Halcones de Vigo 2-3
- San Inazio Bilbao 3-5
- CD Pamplona 3-5
- CB Viladecans 2-6
- El Llano 0-7
Photo: © Diego Lazaro