Tenerife, Valencia, and Viladecans left no doubt that they are the frontrunners for the Spanish Baseball League with another week of dominant sweeps, but it was the Astros’ Edison Valerio that stole the spotlight with a four-homer Saturday. Seven of 10 games contested ended via the mercy rule and only four of the circuit’s dozen teams can boast a winning record. Additionally, the Miralbueno vs. Barcelona series was postponed due to a rise of COVID-19 cases.
Toros vs. Astros
Edison Valerio might have been the hottest hitter on the planet last weekend, dropping three bombs in Game One against the first-time SBL debutant Toros and adding another in the nightcap. The Toros, who were so impressive in last week’s sweep of Barcelona, actually looked very strong in early innings and were down only 1-0 in the fifth when Valerio launched his first homer of the day, a three-run shot. Valencia could not immediately blow the game open, but a 10-run eighth was the final dagger.
Valerio drove in seven of the Astros’ runs in the 16-1 victory, while Blake Ochoa also connected on a longball. Édgar Rondón smashed a four-bagger for Pamplona’s only run, one of only three this that Lowuin Sacramento (2-0) surrendered [Box].
Game Two was all Astros from the start, with four runs in the first, six in the second, and three in third. Valerio’s second three-run jack made it 10-0 and Yulman Ribeiro (2-0) easily marched through four. The Milwaukee Brewers’ Delson Guzman — who has yet to appear in a minor league contest — struck out the side in the fifth for the 16-0 victory [Box]. José van Heneguen also had a three-run drive, but Valerio’s 6-for-7, four-homer, six-run, 10-RBI day will go down as the offensive display to beat this season.
Sant Boi vs. Marlins
Antonio Noguera (2-0) came within two batters of a perfect game in the series opener, permitting a single free pass and only surrendering his first hit in the final inning, the eighth. Gabriel Lino and Jesús Ustariz went yard for Tenerife, which coasted to an easy 10-0 victory. Noguera faced the minimum and struck out nine [Box]. The second game was more of the same, with Ustariz launching another two balls out of the park as part of a 5-for-9 day. Lesther Galvan also homered to back up Leslie Nacar (2-0) in the 12-2 romp [Box].
Viladecans vs. Rivas
Continuing with the trend of the rest of the games, the games between Rivas and Viladecans ended with a very bulky result in favor of the latter. The 11-3 and 13-1 victories made it clear that the Catalan club is the main candidate to challenge the Marlins of Tenerife and the Astros of Valencia for their hegemony. Jorge Balboa (2-0) and Alejandro Martín scattered four hits in the opener, and Denny de Jesus Niño drove in seven with a pair of two-baggers and a home run [Box]. A day later, Joaquin Castano (2-0) was solid on the bump and Maddiel Pérez and Miguel Catalan each stroked two doubles, the former adding a pair of one-base knocks [Box].
Antorcha vs. Navarra
The only split of the weekend, neither of the two matches was particularly close. In the first game, the score was knotted at 2-2 until the fifth inning. The tone of the game changed completely then, when four hits by the Valencian batters and two errors in the Navarra defense plated six runs for Antorcha. In the seventh inning, a succession of walks led to a walk-off grand slam by Édgar Aineto in the 13-2 mercy rule win [Box].
Navarra earned revenge in the rubber match, scoring four runs in both the first and second and then holding on for an 11-6 victory. Four players ripped doubles in those two innings alone, though another Aineto dinger in the second frame made the game interesting. Jorge Hernández (1-0) was solid through seven innings (9H, 3ER, 1BB, 8K). V Reyes was 3-for-6 with two doubles and two walks on the day [Box].
San Inazio vs. CBS Gavà
Bilbao’s San Inazio made up for its Opening Weekend drubbing by Tenerife by exacting revenge on one of the SBL’s two newly promoted clubs. Gavà’s tough welcome continued with 10-0 and 16-8 defeats, surrendering 31 hits and 15 freebies during the doubleheader. In the opener, an effectively wild Elio Silva (1-1) kept Gavà off-balance (7IP, 3H, 8BB, 8K) while Moreno had three hits and Kresiber Auciello homered [Box].
Gavà unloaded to start the rubber match, knocking San Inazio’s starter out before he could record an out. Sterlin Cuevas laced a three-run double down the left field line as part of the five-run inning. The rookie side would remain in the lead through four, but its 6-2 advantage evaporated on another Auciello extra-base hit, a double, and in the following frame the hosts would plate seven markers on an equal number of hits and hold on to win.
Giovanni Ramirez (1-0) provided 7.1 innings of strong relief work and Daniel Moreno bettered his Game One performance with three doubles and a single. Daniel González had four hits of his own and Josias Sánchez ripped two- round-trippers and a single [Box].
Miralbueno vs. Barcelona
Postponed due to a rise in COVID-19 cases.
Standings
Pos | Team | WO | LO | AVG | GB |
1 | Astros Valencia | 4 | 0 | 1000 | 0 |
2 | CB Viladecans | 4 | 0 | 1000 | 0 |
3 | Tenerife Marlins P.C. | 4 | 0 | 1000 | 0 |
4 | Miralbueno Zaragoza | 2 | 0 | 1000 | 1 |
5 | Beisbol Navarra | 2 | 2 | 500 | 2 |
6 | CBS Toros | 2 | 2 | 500 | 2 |
7 | S. Inazio Bilbao Bizkaia | 2 | 2 | 500 | 2 |
8 | CBS Antorcha Valencia | 1 | 3 | 250 | 3 |
9 | CBS Sant Boi | 1 | 3 | 250 | 3 |
10 | CBS Barcelona | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
11 | CBS Gavà | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
12 | CBS Rivas | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
Week 2 Results
April 17 CBS Antorcha 13 — Béisbol Navarra 2 (7) [Box]
April 17 San Inazio 10 — CBS Gavà 0 (7) [Box]
April 17 CBS Sant Boi 0 — Tenerife Marlins PC 10 (8) [Box]
April 17 CBS Toros 1 — CB Astros Valencia 16 (8) [Box]
April 17 CBS Antorcha 6 — Béisbol Navarra 11 [Box]
April 17 San Inazio 16 — CBS Gavà 8 [Box]
April 17 CBS Sant Boi 1 — Tenerife Marlins PC 12 (7) [Box]
April 17 CBS Toros 0 — CB Astros Valencia 16 (5) [Box]
April 17 CB Viladecans 11 — CBS Rivas 3 [Box]
April 18 CBS Miralbueno — CBS Barcelona (Postponed)
April 18 CB Viladecans 13 — CBS Rivas 1 [Box]
April 18 CBS Miralbueno — CBS Barcelona (Postponed)
Many thanks to RFEBS for providing a daily recap, portions of which have been translated and adapted herein.