ALB Orkas – Caracas 8-7
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Despite being out-hit 7-14 the ORKAS defeated CARACAS 8-7 on Wednesday behind four RBIs from Bryon Bell. He led the attack with two hits, including a double and his second homerun in the Liga Paralela. Gabriel Montero and Israel Diaz also scored twice. Sytse Visbsen drove in two with a single. Daniel Bittar went hitless in five at bats, batting second. Ricky Thomas replaced Visbsen at first base for defensive purposes in the end.
CARACAS rallied a few times in the game, but the BBC always stopped comeback tries before blowing the lead. Jurjen Van Zijl (W 2-0) got the start and allowed three runs on eight hits and a walk in five innings. He struck out five. It was his second victory in Venezuela. Steven Van Groningen relieved him in the sixth and gave up four hits, two unearned runs and a base on balls in two innings. Closer Yorby Marcano struggled in the ninth when pinch hitter Leonardo Gil hit a two-run homerun to cut the deficit to a run. But Marcano prevailed to pick up save number one.
ALB Orkas – Tampa Bay Rays 10-9
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On Thursday the ORKAS and the RAYS met for a seven-inning doubleheader to make up the rained out date from opening day. In game one the European squad got off to a good start, scoring four runs in the second. But TAMPA BAY answered with five runs in the fifth. The ORKAS weren’t shocked, as they put three runs on the board in each of the fifth and sixth period to regain the lead. The RAYS rallied one more time in the top of the seventh, but couldn’t tie the contest, losing 9-10.
Gerson Manzanillo was the hitting star for the ORKAS, reaching base in all four plate appearances, including three hits, a homerun, two runs scored and four RBIs. Gabriel Montero also homered and drove in two. Ricky Thomas tripled, walked and scored once. Pinch hitter Daniel Bittar had a two-run single. Bryon Bell went two for three with a RBI.
Carlos Farias started for the ORKAS and conceded seven hits, five runs (4 ER) and two bb in 4 1/3 innings. Luis Camacaro (W 1-1) picked up the win. Andres Perez (S 1) got the last two outs in the seventh in rescue of closer Yorby Marcano, who had given up three runs on three hits and a walk.
Tampa Bay Rays – ALB Orkas 3-1
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In the second part of the doubleheader, the ORKAS couldn’t do much damage against RAYS pitching, losing 1-3. TAMPA BAY took a fast 2-0 lead after three innings and added an insurance run in the fifth, shortly after the ORKAS had cut the deficit in a half.
Ricky Thomas, who had reached with a double, scored the lone run for ALB on a single by Kevin Gutierrez. Designated hitter Bryon Bell and shortstop Daniel Bittar each went hitless in three at bats. Emilio Linarez struck out in all three plate appearances.