Misery loves company, as Greg Rohan and Hector Mayora joined the entire Mesa Solar Sox squad in having a tough time this past week. Mesa was a miserable 0-for-6 for the week, as they wasted decent performances from Matt Szczur and Kevin Rhoderick.
However, Ty Wright saw his fortunes turn around as he welcomed Jae-Hoon Ha to Tigres de Aragua. Yoanner Negrin also had a gem for Leones de Caracas, while infielders Alfredo Amezaga, Diory Hernandez and Junior Lake kept plugging along. Note: Coverage of the winter leagues will be by calendar week, Sunday through Saturday
Arizona Fall League
Mesa Solar Sox
It was a tough week for the Mesa Solar Sox, as they lost all six games. The week started with a 9-2 loss to Peoria on Monday. Outfielder Matt Szczur appears to have seized the centerfield and leadoff spot for the Solar Sox, as he had his finest game of the fall by going 3-for-4 with a double and a stolen base. Infielder Javier Baez was 0-for-4 as he lined up at shortstop.
Tuesday saw another loss to Peoria, this time 4-2 as Javier Baez played third base, this time without incident. Baez went 2-for-4 with his ninth RBI, while Matt Szczur and Rubi Silva each went 0-for-4. Kevin Rhoderick and Nick Struck each tossed a scoreless inning, with Rhoderick striking out two batters.
Cubs’ pitchers most of the action on Wednesday, as Dae-Eun Rhee started and allowed three earned runs in four innings. Rhee was the losing pitcher in a 5-2 effort against Scottsdale. Rhee also struck out four in his outing. Tony Zych pitched a scoreless inning and Matt Szczur went 1-for-3 with a walk.
The struggles continued on Thursday with Mesa dropping an 8-3 contest to Scottsdale. Rubi Silva went 0-for-3, while Javier Baez was back at short. Baez committed two errors and finished the day 0-for-4.
Friday saw good and bad efforts by Cubs’ prospects, but the trend continued as a 10-6 loss to Phoenix made it five in a row for the Solar Sox. Nick Struck has had a tough time with his location and adjusting to working out of the bullpen. Struck gave up three walks and three earned runs in 0.2 innings. Both Matt Szczur (0-for-5) and Javier Baez (0-for-4) failed to put wood to the ball. However, Rubi Silva entered the game in the fifth inning at second base and went 1-for-2 with a triple and an RBI before being ejected in the ninth inning. Kevin Rhoderick remained solid and pitched a scoreless inning.
Mercifully, the week came to an end on Saturday, but not before Mesa pitching put the Solar Sox in a 14-4 hole after just two innings in a 16-10 loss. Pitching wasn’t only at fault, as shortstop Javier Baez (1-for-4 with a home run, three RBI, two runs and a walk) committed two more errors (already six total on the season). Baez somewhat redeemed himself in the eighth inning by clouting a three-run homer for his league leading 12 RBI. Matt Szczur was 1-for-4 with two walks and two RBI, while Tony Zych gave up his first earned run of the fall and struck out a batter in an inning of work.
Dominican Winter League
Toros del Este
It was an up and down week for the Bulls, starting out with a 2-1 loss to Oriente on Sunday. Infielder Diory Hernandez was 0-for-3, while reliever Jeffry Antigua saw 0.2 scoreless innings of work, but was tagged with a blown save. Iowa reliever Jairo Asencio took the loss after giving up an earned run in 0.1 innings.
Este was back to work on Tuesday, this time beating Licey 11-3. Diory Hernandez had a good game going 2-for-5with a double.
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The Cubs’ prospects didn’t see any other action until Friday, when Licey returned the favor and trounced the Bulls 12-5. Diory Hernandez was 1-for-4 with a run scored, while Jeffry Antigua worked three innings of relief. Antigua allowed an earned run and walked two, but struck out four during his stint.
The Toros closed out the week with a 7-5 victory over Cibao. Doiry Hernandez drove in a run and went 1-for-4. Even though Jairo Asencio gave up a walk and an earned run in an inning, he also had a strikeout and picked up his first save of the winter.
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Tigres del Licey
Daytona infielder Arismendy Alcantara only saw brief action as a pinch runner this past week, scoring a run in the Tigers’ 7-6 victory over Escogido on Sunday while going 0-for-1 in an 11-3 loss to Este on Tuesday.
Estrellas de Oriente
It appeared that infielder Junior Lake was in the right place at the right time for the Stars this week, as Oriente reeled off three straight wins starting with a 2-1 victory over Este on Sunday. Lake was 1-for-3 with a run scored in the contest.
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After a day off on Monday, Oriente had another 2-1 win on Tuesday, this time over Cibaenas as Junior Lake was 0-for-3.
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Junior Lake played a big part in the Stars’ 9-8 win over Licey on Thursday. Lake went 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBI.
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Friday saw the streak end, as Junior Lake was 0-for-3 with a walk in a 7-3 loss to Cibaenas.
Mexican Pacific League
Venados de Mazatlan
It was a tough week for Iowa infielder Greg Rohan. Rohan went 0-for-4 both on Sunday in an 8-3 loss to Culiacan and in Tuesday’s 9-4 loss to Guasave.
However, Greg Rohan was able to solve the Cotton Growers pitching on Thursday. Rohan was 1-for-3 with an RBI as Mazatlan lost in game one of a doubleheader 9-6 to Guasave.
On Friday, Greg Rohan was able to contribute for the Deer despite going 0-for-5. Rohan reached on a fielding error which also brought in a run in an 11-5 victory over Mexicali.
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Greg Rohan was able to work a walk as a pinch hitter on Saturday, as the Stags outlasted Mexicali 12-10.
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Yaquis de Obregon
The Tribe started a busy week by beating Novajoa 5-1 on Sunday. Iowa infielder Alfredo Amezaga was 1-for-4 with a triple and an RBI, while Iowa reliever Esmailin Caridad got credit for a hold by walking one and striking out one in a scoreless inning.
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Obregon was back in action on Tuesday as Alfredo Amezaga went 2-for-3 in a 4-3 loss to Mexicali. The Eagles were able to best the Yaquis again on Wednesday, this time 2-1. Alfredo Amezaga went 2-4 while Esmailin Caridad struck out a batter as he pitched 1.1 scoreless innings. Mexicali then made it three in a row on Thursday as Alfredo Amezaga was 1-for-5 in a 3-2 loss.
Friday saw Obregon traveling to Hermosillo to take on the Orangemen, with Alfredo Amezaga going 1-for-5 in an 8-3 victory.
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Esmailin Caridad got a rare start on Saturday and tossed 4.2 innings. Caridad allowed three runs (one earned) as the Yaquis lost 4-3 to Hermosillo. Caridad also had three walks and five strikeouts in his appearance while Alfredo Amezaga went 0-for-4.
Venezuelan Winter League
Caribes de Anzoategui
There was only one appearance for Daytona reliever Eduardo Figueroa for the Indians this week. Figueroa tossed 2.2 scoreless innings and struck out a batter as Anzoategui lost 5-3 to Caracas on Thursday.
Tigres de Aragua
Iowa outfielder Ty Wright saw an upturn in production this week. Wright went 1-for-5 on Sunday in a 7-4 loss to Caracas.
Ty Wright then got some company on Wednesday, as Tennessee outfielder Jae-Hoon Ha joined the Tigers and Aragua defeated Anzoategui 3-1. Wright went 2-for-2 while Ha went 0-for-4 in his debut.
The Cats were able to blank Zulia on Thursday 4-0, as Ty Wright went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Jae-Hoon Ha was 0-for-3 but drew two walks.
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The Eagles were able to edge Aragua 7-6 on Friday. Ty Wright had a big game. Wright went 3-for-3 with a double, a triple and a run scored. Jae-Hoon Ha was 1-for-5 with a stolen base and a run scored.
Saturday saw a 12-inning thriller as the Tigers edged Caracas 2-1. Ty Wright went 0-for-3 and was replaced in the outfield by Jae-Hoon Ha, who was 0-for-1 in the win.
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Leones de Caracas
The parent club may have a new name in play for a rotation spot in 2013, as Yoanner Negrin had an eye-opening performance on Tuesday. Negrin shut out the Cardinals for five innings as Caracas defeated Lara 5-3. Negrin walked two and struck out four in the effort.
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Also making an impression was reliever Loiger Padron, who spent time with the AZL Cubs last season. Padron walked a batter and allowed an earned run, but was able to toss two innings in an 11-4 victory over La Guaira on Friday.
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Tiburones de La Guaira
Former Boise reliever Hector Mayora really struggled for the Sharks this week. Mayora allowed two earned runs in 0.2 innings on Tuesday as LA Guaira lost 7-2 to Margarita. Mayora then allowed another two earned runs, this time in an inning of work on Saturday in an11-5 to Magallanes.
Aguilas del Zulia
Playing time for Iowa catcher Juan Apodaca diminished this week. Apodaca was 2-for-4 with a run scored in the Eagles 8-4 loss to Lara on Sunday. Apodaca then drew a walk in a pinch hitting appearance on Wednesday as Zuila dropped a 9-4 game to Magallanes. Juan Apodaca then tripled and drove in a run as he was called on to pinch hit in the Eagles 4-3 loss to Lara on Saturday.
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