Two teams remain undefeated in the Spanish Division de Honor after four weeks competition. This will change this weekend, as they will meet. Additionally both are local rivals, which should add to the hype. CB Sant Boi (8-0) hosts the FC Barcelona (6-0) in a two-game series on Saturday evening and Sunday morning.
In game one anything else as a pitcher’s duel would be an upset. Junior Guerra (2-0, ERA 1.59, 17 IP, 31 SO, 7 BB) and Jose Guanchez (2-0, ERA 1.38, 13 IP, 18 SO, 7 BB) for Sant Boi and Jason Friedman (3-0, ERA 1.35, 20 IP, 22 SO, 14 BB) and Delio Miguel Martinez (ERA 1.80, 5 IP, 5 SO, BB) for Barcelona are already in mid-season form. Both combos celebrated no-hitters in last weekend’s game ones. Friedman even has allowed just one hit in his last twelve-plus innings. In the second match CB will send Jose Estebin Cruz (2-0, ERA 0.52, 17.1 IP, 28 SO, 6 BB) and Jose Luis Peraza (2-0, ERA 1.32, 13.2 IP, 16 SO, 7 BB) to the mound against Pedro Pablo Belmonte (3-0, ERA 3.00, 24 IP, 17 SO, 4 BB).
The pitchers also couldn’t complain about few run support so far this season. Sant Boi has scored at least eight runs in each of the eight games, while reaching double digits in five of them, leading the league with 94 runs. Especially Jose Luis Riera is tearing up opposing pitching so far, going 14-for-29 with eight extra base hits, 14 runs and 18 RBI. The FC Barcelona is second in the league with 58 runs, plating 37 in the last three games. Shortstop Oscar Angulo didn’t show any need for adjustments, collecting eight hits in 18 at-bats with three triples, two doubles, seven runs and eight RBI in his four games for the FCB.
Sant Boi is going to miss Daniel Sanchez this weekend, as he is recovering from a sprained ankle he suffered during the second game against CB Viladecans last Sunday. Marc Carrillo, who missed the two games with muscular problems, is expected to be back in the lineup according to the report on the Sant Boi website.
Schedule Week 5:
Saturday, March 27:
12.00 Halcones de Vigo – Tenerife Marlins Puerto Cruz (DH)
17.00 CD Pamplona – CB Viladecans
18.30 CB Sant Boi – FC Barcelona
Sunday, March 28:
10.00 Astros Valencia – Baseball Navarra (DH)
10.30 CD Pamplona – CB Viladecans
11.00 CB Sant Boi – FC Barcelona
11.30 El Llano – San Inazio Bilbao (DH)
(DH)…indicates doubleheader
Standings:
- 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