Royals weekly winter league recap

The winter league season is winding down and one of the Caribbean Leagues has already crowned a winner.

Let’s start there, as Gigantes came back to beat Estrellas in the best-of-nine series of the Dominican Winter League Championship Series.

Gigantes was down 2-0 in the series, before winning the Championship Series five games to three. They now head to the Caribbean Series (which starts on February 2nd in San Juan, Puerto Rico).

In terms of the Kansas City Royals, reliever Michael Mariot pitched three times last week, picking up two holds. On January 19th, he entered in the seventh with one on and left him stranded. He was bailed out by former Royal Zach Jackson, who got a line out with two one and two outs in the eighth.

Mariot earned his second hold of the week on January 21st, when he entered in the seventh and recorded the final two outs (with a strikeout). He pitched again on January 24th in the 8th inning. Mariot allowed one hit in his scoreless inning of work.

Right fielder Moises Sierra played just one game last week (Monday). In that game (Gigantes’ first win of the series), Sierra went 3-for-3 with a double and a run scored. He also had an outfield assist.

Former Royal Carlos Peguero had a hand in the Gigantes comeback. He hit a two out solo home run in the sixth on January 23rd in a game that they won 1-0. He also went 3-for-5 in Sunday’s clincher.

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Moving on to

Puerto Rico,

where Santurce has a 3-2 series lead in the best-of-seven Championship Series.

Over the last week, centerfielder Reymond Fuentes has played in every game for Santurce. However, he has bounced around the order: sixth, seventh, and eighth. In the five games, Fuentes went 5-for-21 with a double, two triples, three RBIs, and three runs scored. He did strike out nine times.

Now to Venezuela, where the best-of-seven Championship Series began on Saturday, pitting Caribes (11-5) against Magallanes (10-6).

Caribes leads the series, two games to none, winning 6-0 and 8-5 respectively.

After being hit by a pitch on January 19th (and being pinch run for), Balbino Fuenmayor returned to the Caribes lineup (batting fourth and playing first base) for the Championship Series. Over the two games, he went 2-for-8 with a double and a two-run home run. He did strike out twice.

Shortstop Alcides Escobar played in two games for La Guaira last week (La Guaira finished the postseason with a 5-11 record). In those two games, Esky went 1-for-6 with a run scored, an RBI, and two strikeouts.

Finally to Australia, where the Preliminary Finals are set between Sydney and Perth beginning on January 30th. First place Adelaide awaits the winner for the Championship Series.

Melbourne finished in last place with a 15-31 record. They played their final series of the ABL season at home against Adelaide, in which the Aces lost three of four.

Ryan Dale started at third base in two of the four games. In Game 2 of the series, he went 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout. In the final game of the season, he went 1-for-4 with a strikeout. He also played both third base and shortstop (and back to third base), as everyone moved around so that Scott Wearne could play all nine positions.