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Winter League Recap: Mejia Throws Four Scoreless Innings

By Christopher Soto

November 19, 2018 No comments

Photo by Proceso.com.do

Mexican Pacific League (LMP)

Mayos de Navojoa 5 – 4 Yaquis de Obregon
Venados de Mazatlan 6 – 2 Naranjeros de Hermosillo
Tomateros de Culiacan 3 – 2 Aguilas de Mexicali
Charros de Jalisco 8 – 6 Caneros de Los Mochis

Venezuelan Winter League (LVBP)

Leones del Caracas 8 – 1 Tiburones de La Guaira
Tigres de Aragua 4 – 0 Aguilas de Zulia
Navegantes de Magallanes 6 – 1 Cardenales de Lara
Caribes de Anzoategui 7 – 2 Bravos de Margarita
Caribes de Anzoategui 9 – 2 Bravos de Margarita

Dominican Winter League (LIDOM)

Leones del Escogido 4 – 3 Gigantes del Cibao

Tigres del Licey 10 – 7 Aguilas Cibaenas

Crismatt had his change-up dancing in this game but poor defensive play by the Tigres bit him once again. In the first inning, a throwing error allowed Victor Robles to reach base followed by single Guillermo Heredia.Crismatt would get the next batter to strike out but a passed ball allowed both runners to advance to second and third and to subsequently score on a two RBI single by Wilin Rosario.

From there, Crismatt was superb as he struck out six of the next nine batters he faced, getting the other three batters to ground out. Despite a 7-2 lead for the Tigres, Crismatt would not stick around long enough to qualify for the win as he got himself into trouble in the fifth inning with runners on first and second. With one out and Robles at the plate again, Crismatt fell behind in the count and threw a fastball in the outer half of the zone that Robles took the other way for an RBI single with the runner on first advancing to third base. He would get the second out but could not get the final one as Ronny Rodriguez would cut the lead down to 7-4 with an RBI single of his own to end Crismatt’s day.

Toros del Este 4 – 3 Estrellas Orientales

Making his first start since being re-activated from his shin injury, Jenrry Mejia was superb on the mound tossing four innings of work and only allowing one hit, a weak flair over the shortstop, to Junior Lake in the fourth inning. Mejia seems to be gaining some confidence down in the LIDOM as he was much “looser” with his delivery and with his demeanor on the mound. At one point, he was even spotted dancing a bit when he didn’t get a strike on a close call on the corner of the zone. Mejia used his slider quite a bit in this game and it was very effective generating three of the four strikeouts on the pitch.

With the Toros leading 2-0, Tim Peterson was called on to pitch the eighth inning. Unfortunately, for the first time in over a month, he was not sharp. He allowed line-drive singles up the middle to two of the first three batters he faced putting runners on first and second with one out for San Diego’s top prospect Fernando Tatis Jr. After falling behind him in the count 2-0, Peterson left a fastball out over the plate and Tatis crushed it over the left field wall for a three run home run to blow the save situation and give the Estrellas the 3-2 lead. Peterson would finish the inning and actually get himself the win thanks to a two run double by Abraham Almonte in the bottom half of the inning to give the Toros the lead back and the win.

Roberto Clemente Puerto Rico League (LBPRC)

Criollos de Caguas 2 – 0 Gigantes de Carolina
Gigantes de Carolina 6 – 4 Criollos de Caguas
Indios de Mayaguez 1 – 0 Cangrejeros de Santurce
Indios de Mayaguez 3 – 2 Cangrejeros de Santurce

Torres nailed down his second save in as many opportunities, but, his grip on the job may be in trouble as he struggled once again to put batters away in the ninth. In addition, right hander Colby Blueberg nailed down a clean save in the first game of the doubleheader.