FC Barcelona – Astros Valencia 1-0, 10-0 (8)
In a meeting between the top-ranked teams in Spanish Baseball the FC Barcelona extended his lead in the standings with a pair of shutouts against the Astros Valencia. Game one featured a thrilling pitcher’s duel between two of the most dominant hurlers in the Division de Honor this season. Barca won by a score of 1-0, as Ricardo Hernandez (W 8-0) allowed just a one-out single in the eighth and walks in the fourth and sixth. A fourth batter reached base on an error. However none of them got past first base. Hernandez struck out 13. Trevor Caughey (L 6-1) nearly matched him inning for inning, giving up just one run on five hits in eight frames, striking out eight. The lone run scored in the bottom of the seventh, when Pau Sancho singled in Jesus Golindano, who had reached with a double.
In the second game Jorge Balboa (W 7-0) and Oscar Gimenez combined for hold Valencia to six hits and four walks in eight scoreless innings. Four-run rallies in the first and second innings put the game out of reach early. Jesus Golindano hit a three-run homerun. Jose Luis Riera tripled twice to drive in three. Former FCB pitcher Pedro Pablo Belmonte (L 6-2) was the victim of the early power surge, as he was charged with eight runs (3 ER) on seven hits in just 1 2/3 innings.
San Inazio Bilbao – CD Pamplona 7-0, 3-2
San Inazio Bilbao also opened the second half of the season in Spain with a sweep. In game one Jose Romero (W 5-3) issued just one hit and two walks in seven scoreless innings to lead Bilbao to a 7-0 shutout over CD Pamplona. Markel Mendizabel and Fidel Mane closed out the one-hitter. Tony Alvarez scored three times, Edward Adames twice. Alexis Fumero (L 3-7) surrendered seven hits, six runs (5 ER) and two bb in five innings.
In the second game San Inazio overcame a 0-2 deficit to beat Pamplona 3-2. Javier Flores broke the 2-2 tie with a RBI single in the sixth, deciding the outcome. Kelvin Marianucci scored twice. Alberto Magallon (W 3-6) gave up ten hits, two runs and four bb in seven innings. Alberto Casanellas (L 2-5) conceded nine hits, three runs and two walks in 7 1/3 innings.
Halcones de Vigo – Baseball Navarra 8-7, 9-6
Halcones de Vigo stunned Baseball Navarra with two victories. In game one Marco Marques drove in Alejandro Carrillo with a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the ninth in an 8-7 win. One frame earlier Domingo Morillo had tied the game with his fourth hit. Adolfo Gonzalez went 4-for-5 with three runs and a RBI for Navarra. He missed the cycle by a homerun. Andoni Ortiz (W 1-0) got the win in relief. Juan Jose Lopez (L 1-3) was charged with the loss.
Halcones also came from behind in the second part of the twin bill, as they erased a 2-6 deficit en route to a 9-6 victory. Angel Virguez tied the game with a RBI single in the seventh. One inning later RBI singles by Alejandro Carrillo and Marco Marques plus a throwing error decided the outcome. Domingo Morillo again crossed the plate three times. Andoni Ortiz’ (W 2-0) number again was called in relief, as he shut out Navarra in the remaining 4 1/3 innings. Yorking Cespedes (L 2-1) took the loss.
CB Sant Boi – Sevilla Red Sox 15-0 (5), 8-0 (5)
CB Sant Boi dispatched the Sevilla Red Sox with a pair of lopsided shutouts, moving into second place in the Division de Honor standings. In game one the defending Spanish champion scored eleven runs in the opening frame on its way to a 15-0 rout. Xavier Civit drove in four. Rafael Rivas went 3-for-4 with three runs. Ten different players crossed the plate for Sant Boi. On the mound Eliezer Garcia (W 6-1) struck out two in five scoreless two-hit innings. Diego Torres (L 0-6) was charged with six hits, nine runs and two walks, while getting no out in the first.
In the second match Sant Boi scored all eight runs of an 8-0 shutout in the first three innings. This time not a mercy rule, but rain led to the early ending after five innings. William Domero highlighted the day with a grand slam. Daniel Martinez collected three hits and three RBI. Daniel Matias (W 1-0) struck out four in five innings, issuing two hits and a walk. Emili Lopez (L 1-7) allowed seven hits, eight runs and six bb in four innings.
Tenerife Marlins Puerto Cruz – CB Viladecans 2-4, 7-3
After slowly cutting the deficit towards the top teams in the league in the first half of the season CB Viladecans continued its strong showing with a split against the Tenerife Marlins this weekend. In game one the record Spanish champion scored four early runs in the first two innings en route to a 4-2 win. A bases clearing double by Rainny Peguero put CB up by four runs. Leslie Nacar answered for Puerto Cruz with a two-run homerun in the fifth. But otherwise the Marlins offense was shut down. Carlos Luis Amaro (W 4-4) picked up the win in a matchup of former Minor Leaguers against Eric Gonzalez (L 1-1). He allowed eight hits, two runs and a walk in nine innings, striking out eleven. Gonzalez conceded four hits, four runs (3 ER) and a bb in six innings, striking out seven.
In the second match Tenerife answered a two-run top of the first with five runs in the first three innings on its way to a 7-3 win and the split. Denny Nino and Miguel Valdes had three hits apiece for the guests from Catalonia. Ruben Rijkhof and Richard Montiel homered for the Marlins. Nestor Perez had three hits. Yoel Hernandez (W 5-2) allowed eleven hits, three runs (2 ER) and two bb in nine innings. Marc Jodar (L 2-1) issued eight hits, five runs (4 ER) and two walks in four-plus innings.
{mrb-standing:spain-2011}
Photo: © Diego Lazaro