Astros Valencia – FC Barcelona 0-6, 5-4
The Astros Valencia and the FC Barcelona settled for a split in their highly anticipated opening day matchup in the Spanish Division de Honor. In game one Barca’s Ricardo Hernandez (W 1-0) made a statement, throwing nine no-hit innings to lead his new team to a 6-0 shutout. Only two batters reached base against him, one on a hit by pitch in the third and the other after an error in the seventh. Otherwise it was just pure dominance. He struck out 17 of the 29 batters he faced. At the plate Jorge Santana and Emmanuel Febles scored twice. Jesus Golindano went 3-for-5 with a double. Bobby Carrington (L 0-1) issued four hits, two runs (1 ER) and three walks in six innings in his Spanish debut.
In game two the Astros overcame a 2-4 deficit after six innings and celebrated a 5-4 victory. Kevin Malone tied the contest in the bottom of the eighth with a two-run double. One frame later a throwing error by reliever Jonathan Garcia (L 0-1) gave Jose Liste the opportunity to score the winning run from second. Pau Sancho hit a two-run homerun for Barcelona. Pedro Pablo Belmonte (W 1-0), who was on the opposing mound until last year, got the win, issuing nine hits, four runs and a walk in nine innings. Jorge Balboa (FCB) gave up a hit, two runs and eight walks in 4 1/3 innings of relief. He struck out seven.
CD Pamplona – San Inazio Bilbao 0-12, 6-10 (10)
San Inazio Bilbao has a better start into the new season than last year. They swept their doubleheader against CD Pamplona at Burlada on Sunday. In game one they had taken the lead in the third and blew things wide open for a 12-0 win in the last two frames. Tomas Alvarez and Ivan Roman went a combined 6-for-8 with five runs scored and two RBI. Kelvin Marianucci also collected three hits and two RBI. Jose Romero (W 1-0) struck out twelve in 6 2/3 two-hit innings for the win. Alexis Fumero (L 0-1) allowed two runs on nine hits in seven strong innings.
In the second match CD overcame a 1-3 deficit with a four-run rally in the seventh. But Bilbao fought back with two runs in the eighth to force extra innings. In the tenth San Inazio decided the outcome with five runs for a 10-6 win. Edward Adames went 4-for-5 with a double, three runs scored and three RBI. He also picked up the win on the mound, striking out seven in 3 1/3 innings of no-hit relief. Alberto Magallon (INA) and Alberto Casenallas (PAM) were on the mound for 6 1/3 innings apiece.
Baseball Navarra – Halcones de Vigo 2-4, 6-0
Baseball Navarra and Halcones de Vigo settled for a split in their first doubleheader this year. In game one Halcones used a strong start by Jose Navas (W 1-0, 8 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 7 BB, 7 SO) and a homerun and three RBI by Domingo Morillo for a 4-2 win. Juan Jose Lopez (NAV) had struck out ten in six innings for Navarra. Adolfo Gonzalez (L 0-1) took the loss.
In game two Andres Casado (W 1-0) led Navarra to a 6-0 shutout. He allowed just two hits and a walk in eight scoreless innings, striking out three. Adolfo Gonzalez scored twice. Alejandro Carrillo (L 0-1) gave up three hits, four runs (3 ER) and five walks to take the loss.
Sevilla Red Sox – CB Sant Boi 2-18 (6), 0-6
Defending champion CB Sant Boi started the 2011 campaign with a sweep against the promoted Sevilla Red Sox. In game one they scored a whopping 13 runs in the top of the fifth en route to an 18-2 victory in six innings. Daniel Sanchez and Rafael Rivas combined for eight RBI. Marc Carrillo, Yaeko Vazquez and Stefano Pistocchi scored three runs apiece. CB especially profited from 14 walks, issued by Sevilla pitching. Eliezer Jesus Garcia (W 1-0) struck out eleven in six innings for the win. Alejandro Pena (L 0-1) gave up nine hits, 14 runs and twelve bb in 4 1/3 frames. In game two on Sunday Sant Boi celebrated a 6-0 shutout.
CB Viladecans – Tenerife Marlins Puerto Cruz 3-5 (10), 1-11 (7)
The Tenerife Marlins Puerto Cruz opened the 2011 season in Spain with two wins against CB Viladecans. In the afternoon portion of the twin bill they needed an error and a RBI single by Richard Montiel in the tenth to win 5-3. Another error had helped them to tie the game in the eighth. Christian Remedios (W 1-0) got the win in relief of Leslie Nacar who struck out 14 in eight innings. Gabriel Camino (L 0-1) took the loss after ten innings, seven hits, five unearned runs and a walk. Viladecans committed eight errors.
In game two the outcome was decided early, as the Marlins led off with six runs in the first in an 11-1 seven-inning win. Richard Montiel highlighted the rally with a grand slam. Giannini Binetti drove in three. Yoel Hernandez (W 1-0) struck out ten in seven innings, allowing three hits, a run and two walks. Pol Llopis (L 0-1) gave up seven hits, seven runs (6 ER) and a bb in five innings.
{mrb-standing:spain-2011}
Photo: © Diego Lazaro