Good morning! The winter leagues got a boost this week as the Mexican Pacific League resumed, while the Dominican League moved into week two. There were some great performances by some former prospects in the DWL, and there was some no-hitter flirtation in the LMP. For more details, take a look inside!

Dominican Winter League

Monday

Cibaenas 4 – Orientales 3

A shaky ninth from the bullpen was the only thing that marred a dominant performance by Cibaenas in a 4-3 victory over Orientales. Former Cubs swingman Yoanner Negrin started for the Eagles and fanned 8 of the Stars as he scattered 3 hits over 5 innings. Former right-haned pitching prospect Ivan Pineyro relieved starter Ariel Jurado in the fifth and gave up 2 earned runs on a two-run homer as he struck out two in 2 innings.

Tuesday

Licey 5 – Escogido 3

An outburst by the Licey offense in the late innings was the deciding factor as the Tigres pushed past Escogido 5-3. Lead-off hitter Emilio Bonifacio paced the attack as he went 2-for-4 with an RNI and a run scored. Designated hitter Welington Castillo went 0-for-3, while Jairo Asencio picked up a save despite surrendering an earned run in the ninth.

Wednesday

Orientales 2 – Cibaenas 1

In a tight contest, Junior Lake provided the winning margin for Orientales as they defeated Cibaenas 2-1. With the score tied at 1-1 in the sixth, Lake blasted a solo home run as he went 1-for-4 for Estrellas. Arismendy Alcantara entered in the eighth inning as a pinch hitter and drew a walk for the Aguilas.

Friday

Orientales 2 – Escogido 1

Orientales came out ahead in another squeaker as they topped Escogido 2-1. It was Junior Lake (1-for-3, RBI, run scored) once again, as the former Cubs outfielder launched his second solo home run of the season in the fourth inning for the Stars. Lefty Casey Harman fared better in his second start for the Lions, giving up an earned run on 3 hits and a walk while striking out a batter in 4.2 innings.

Saturday

Cibaenas 2 – Escogido 0

Cibaenas ended the week by getting another gem from Yoanner Negrin as the Eagles flew past Escogido 2-0. For six innings the Leones failed to make solid contact against Negrin, as he allowed only two hits and a walk. Negrin struck out two batter to pick up his second win of the week. Arismendy Alcantara went 0-for-3 as he started in right field.

Mexican Pacific League

Mayos de Navojoa

As action restarted for the league on Tuesday, Navojoa was able to get a fresh start as they defeated Monterrey 1-0 Felix Doubront started for the Mayos and struck out 3 as he scattered six hits and a walk over 7.2 innings for the win.

Naranjeros de Hermosillo

Javier Assad (Photo by Stephanie Lynn)

Hermosillo has got themselves moving in the right direction of late, as was witnessed by the 6-0 domination of Jalisco on Friday. Starter Javier Assad went 5.2 innings before allowing a hit, as he ended up surrendering two while walking a batter and striking out two before exiting with the win. Hermosillo 6 – Jalisco 0

Tomateros de Culiacan

Culiacan was able to pick up from where they left off on Tuesday, as they outpaced Hermosillo 2-1. First baseman Efren Navarro went 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI, while reliever Alberto Baldonado earned save number five. Baldonado gave up a hit and struck out a batter in a scoreless inning.

The Tomateros brought out the bats on Wednesday as they powered past Hermosillo 11-6. Efren Navarro played a big part as he drove in three as he was 2-for-5 with a run scored.

It wasn’t their night on Thursday as the Tomato-pickers were overwhelmed by Hermosillo 8-2 Efren Navarro did his best in going 2-for-4 with a run scored in the loss.

On Saturday, Culiacan ended the week with another victory, 5-3 over Navojoa, to put them back into the playoff hunt. Alberto Baldonado has emerged as the stopper for the Tomateros, as he earned his sixth save with a strikeout in a three up – three down ninth. Efren Navarro went 0-for-2 with 2 walks and a run scored.

Venados de Mazatlan

It was a slugfest on Wednesday as a Grand Slam from former Cubs prospect Isaac Paredes couldn’t help Mazatlan, as they lost 12-10 to Jalisco. Centerfielder Anthony Giansanti also contributed as he was 1-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored in the loss.

Thursday saw a back-and-forth contest finally go the Venados way as they held on for a 9-7 victory over Jalisco. Anthony Giansanti remained a force at the plate as he went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk, and a run scored.

The Stags made it two in a row on Friday as they were able to come on late and beat Los Mochis 7-4. Anthony Giansanti continued to hit well as he ended the night 2-for-4 for Mazatlan.

Mazatlan ended the week on a three-game roll as the Venados chipped away until walking off with a 6-5 victory over Los Mochis. Centerfielder Anthony Giansanti has been one of the most consistent players for the Stags, as he was 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in the game.

Yaquis de Obregon

On Tuesday, Obregon continued their first half dominance as they outlasted Mexicali 11-9 in eleven innings. Reliever Mario Meza was nicked for an unearned run as he walked 2 and struck out 2 in an inning of work.

The Yaquis suffered only their fifth loss of the season on Wednesday as they fell to Mexicali 4-1. Jose Albertos was able to get in some work as he gave up a hit, walked a batter, and had a strikeout in a scoreless eighth inning. Mexicali 4 – Obregon 1

After postponing Friday’s contest, The Tribe was able to sweep a doubleheader from Mexicali on Saturday. In Game 2, Obregon’s bats came to the rescue in a 9-8 victory. Jose Albertos remained inconsistent, as he relieved with one out in the third and uncorked a wild pitch and walked three batters, leading to three earned runs. Albertos was pulled after recording only one out. Mario Meza was able to slam the door in the seventh with a walk and a strikeout for his third save. Obregon 9 – Mexicali 8, 7 innings

Notes

The game between Obregon and Mexicali in the Mexican Pacific League was postponed on Friday due to COVID-19 concerns.