FC Barcelona – CB Viladecans 2-1, 2-1
The FC Barcelona had to work hard for a pair of 2-1 victories over CB Viladecans in the Spanish Division de Honor this weekend. In game one Ricardo Hernandez (W 2-0) nearly matched his no-no performance from opening day weekend, as he issued just one unearned run on one sixth-inning hit and four walks, striking out nine. Viladecans took the lead in the fourth thanks to a balk and an error by first baseman Jose Luis Riera. Barca tied the contest through a RBI fielder’s choice by Jose Luis Salazar. It the ninth it again was Salazar, who drove in the game winner with a walk-off RBI single. CB’s Carlos Luis Camilo (L 0-1) nearly matched Hernandez, surrendering just two runs on seven hits and a bb. He struck out nine.
On Sunday Barcelona again needed a walk-off hit in the ninth to beat Viladecans 2-1. This time it was Cole Yanko Rancoll to push the winning run over the plate with a single. Oscar Angulo, who was 4-for-4 and had driven in the tying run with a single in the seventh, scored from third. CB had taken the lead in the second on a RBI single by Aderly Grullon. On the mound Oscar Jimenez (W 1-0) didn’t show any signs of an offseason knee surgery and picked up the win with a complete game, giving up two hits, a run and five walks. He struck out seven. Gabriel Kalev Camino (VIL) allowed five hits, a run and a walk in 5 2/3 innings. Pol Llopis (L 0-2) took the loss.
CD Pamplona – Astros Valencia 7-16 (12), 1-16 (7)
The Astros Valencia swept their doubleheader against CD Pamplona last weekend. Game one turned out to be a twelve-inning slugfest. The Astros decided the outcome by scoring nine runs in the top of the third extra inning for a 16-7 victory. They had blown a 7-5 lead in the bottom of the ninth, as CD tied the contest on a RBI groundout and a RBI double by Carlos Del Burgo. Pedro Pablo Belmonte (W 2-0), who also picked up the win in relief, and Pedro Mendez had two-run doubles in the twelfth. Kevin Malone hit a two-run homerun. Gabriel Guerrero drove in two for Pamplona. Alexis Fumero (L 0-2) struck out 16 batters in eleven-plus innings, allowing seven hits, eleven runs (3 ER) and four bb. Bobby Carrington (AST) had issued five runs (4 ER) on five hits and six walks in five innings for Valencia.
The second game was a more lopsided affair as the Astros scored eleven runs in the first four frames, highlighted by a seven-run rally in the fourth. Sandel Cuevas homered, scored three times and drove in three. Kevin Malone also crossed the plate three times. Pedro Luis Peraza (W 1-0) struck out twelve in seven innings, giving up two hits, an unearned run and three bb. Juan Redin (L 0-1) allowed four hits, four runs and four bb in two-plus innings.
Halcones de Vigo – San Inazio Bilbao 1-16 (6), 5-0
Halcones de Vigo and San Inazio Bilbao settled for the split in their two-game series in the Division de Honor this weekend. In game one Bilbao already was up 6-1 after five innings, when they put ten runs on the board in the sixth for a 16-1 blowout. Kelvin Marianucci highlighted the big rally with a three-run double. He had five RBI overall. Tomas Alvarez and Edward Adames scored three runs apiece. Jose Romero (W 2-0) struck out ten in 5 1/3 no-hit innings, issuing just an unearned run and two walks. Fidel Mane allowed a double in the sixth, missing out on the combined no-no. Jose Navas (L 1-1) took the loss after 5 1/3 innings, four hits, twelve runs (7 ER) and nine bb.
In game two on Sunday Alejandro Carrillo (W 1-1) led Halcones to a 5-0 shutout. He allowed just one hit and three walks in nine scoreless innings. He struck out ten. He issued the lone hit in the opening period, when he loaded the bases but escaped unharmed. Afterwards just three more batters of Bilbao reached base. Marco Marques went 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI. Marcos Trillo scored twice. Alberto Magallon (L 0-1) gave up five runs on nine hits in 7 1/3 innings, striking out nine.
CB Sant Boi – Baseball Navarra 4-3, 7-6
After picking up the championship trophy from 2010 out of the hands of RFEBS President Julio Pernas CB Sant Boi celebrated a pair of one-run wins over last year’s fourth ranked Baseball Navarra. In game one CB overcame a 0-3 deficit in the last two frames to win 4-3. After ending the shutout bid in the eighth, Yaeko Vazquez tied the game with a two-run single in the bottom of the ninth. Moments later Rafael Rivas delivered the walk-off hit with a RBI single. Daniel Fernandez (W 1-0) got the win in relief. Hector Perozo (L 0-1) took the loss. Juan Jose Lopez (NAV) gave up five hits, three runs (2 ER) and five bb in eight-plus innings, striking out seven. Eliezer Garcia (BOI) had ten Ks in seven frames, issuing three hits, two unearned runs and three bb.
Similar procedure in game two on Sunday morning. After Navarra took leads of 4-1 and 6-3, Sant Boi came back and won 7-6. This time Daniel Martinez tied the game with a two-run single in the eighth. William Domero followed with the game-winning RBI double. Lowin Sacramento (W 1-0) struck out ten in a complete game effort, allowing eleven hits, six runs (3 ER) and two walks. Andres Casado (NAV) gave up eight hits, four runs (3 ER) and two bb in six innings. Victor Martinez (L 0-1) took the loss in relief.
Tenerife Marlins Puerto Cruz – Sevilla Red Sox 9-0, 9-0
The Tenerife Marlins Puerto Cruz came to two easy wins, as the Sevilla Red Sox didn’t show up for the two-game set on the Canary Island.
{mrb-standing:spain-2011}
Photos: © Diego Lazaro