Good morning! This past week there was a flurry of activity in the winter leagues, as more Cubs prospects saw action. The schedule was in full swing down in Venezuela, while new players made it to the field in Mexico. For more, take a look inside!

Mexican Pacific League

Tomateros de Culiacan

Sunday was an intense contest between Culiacan and Jalisco, with the Tomateros losing 1-0. Cubs shortstop prospect Luis Verdugo started the game at second base and was 0-for-2. Switching between left field and first base, former Cub Efren Navarro was 1-for-4 in the loss. Jalisco 1- Culiacan 0

Friday saw Culiacan make short work of Los Mochis, as they jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the first inning and never looked back, winning 9-1.  Luis Verdugo appeared as a pinch-hitter in the seventh and flied out, then took over a t second base. Efren Navarro was the Designated Hitter and had a big day. Navarro’s three-run homer in the first gave the Tomateros the lead for good, as he ended the night 1-for-1 with three walks. Culiacan 9 – Los Mochis 1

The Tomato-men closed out the week on an upbeat note as they doubled-up their runs on Los Mochis, winning 4-2.  Luis Verdugo got another start at second base and was 1-for-3 but was caught stealing second base. Alberto Baldonado picked up his tenth save as he struck out two and gave up a hit in a scoreless ninth inning. Culiacan 4 – Los Mochis 2

Yaquis de Obregon

Obregon did not start off the week well, as they were ambushed by Guasave in the late innings, losing 6-3 on Sunday. Jose Albertos was at the top of his game, throwing 10 if his 15 pitches for strikes as he allowed a hit and struck out a batter in a scoreless inning. Former pitching prospect Mario Meza gave up an earned run on two hits as he tossed an inning of relief. Guasave 6 – Obregon 3

Venzuelan Winter League

Bravos de Margarita

It took eleven innings and a late rally for Margarita to lose on Sunday, as they bowed 7-6 to Lara. Cubs lefty Manuel Rondon entered in he sixth and eventually struck out the side, as he also gave up a hit in an inning of work.  Margarita 6 – Lara 7, 11 innings

It was doubleheader day on Wednesday, as the Bravos pounded out ten hits in seven innings to defeat Magallanes 4-3. Manuel Rondon started for the Braves and was tagged for two runs (one earned), as he had a strikeout in four innings. Margarita 4 – Magallanes 3

Cardenales de Lara

Lara only scored in two innings on Sunday, but they ended up being the right innings as the Cardenales beat Margarita 7-6 in eleven innings. Pitcher Yapson Gomez came on in the sixth and had a strikeout as he pitched 1.1 perfect innings. Lara 7 – Margarita 6, 11 innings

After a break on Monday, the Cardinals were back in action on Tuesday as they once again burned through Margarita’s bullpen to win 6-2. Yapson Gomez once again provided steady relief. Gomez entered with two-outs in the sixth and gave up a walk and had a strikeout as he tossed a scoreless inning. Lara 6 – Margarita 2

The Cardenales were able to let their pitching do the heavy lifting as the scattered six hits in a 4-1 victory over Magallanes on Friday. Yapson Gomez was able to notch his first win of the season by taking over in the sixth and striking out two and giving up a hit in two scoreless innings. Lara 4 – Magallanes 1

In what can be considered doubleheader Saturday the Cardinals swept a pair, beating La Guaira 6-2 in Game 2. Entering with an out in the fifth, Yapson Gomez only gave up a double as he shut down the Tiburones for 0.2 innings. Lara 6 – La Guaira 2, 7 innings

Caribes de Anzoategui

The week started with Anzoategui coming from behind and walking off against Caracas, winning 4-2 on Sunday. Pinch-hitter Erick Castillo singled to begin the ninth inning and came around on Rafael Ortega’s two-run home run. Leading off for the Caribes, Ortega was 1-for-4 with the game-winning hit. Anzoategui 4 – Caracas 2

Pitching betrayed the Caribes on Wednesday as the Tribe was doubled-up by Caracas 8-4. Lead-off centerfielder Rafael Ortega was 1-for-4 with a walk, a double, and a run scored for Anzoategui. Caracas 8 – Anzoategui 4

It was a good evening for Anzoategui on Thursday, as their offense was able to back up their pitching in a 10-5 victory over La Guaira. Rafael Ortega once again was in centerfield and led off, going 2-for-5 with a double, a stolen base, two RBI, and a run scored in the game. Anzoategui 10 – La Guaira 5

The Caribes took over first place on Friday as they held on for a 4-3 win against La Guaira, The Tribe scored all of their runs in the first inning as centerfielder Rafael Ortega was 1-for-5 with a run scored. Erick Castillo lined up at DH and went 1-for-4 in the game. Anzoategui 4 – La Guaira 3

For Game 1 of a Saturday doubleheader, the Tribe needed an extra inning to get past Magallanes 6-4. Centerfielder Rafael Ortega was walked intentionally in the eighth and came around to score as part of a five-run inning as he went 0-for-3. Erick Castillo came in as a defensive replacement at catcher in the eighth. Anzoategui 6 – Magallanes 4, 8 innings

Tiburones de la Guaira

On Sunday, La Guaira chalked up their first win of the season in destroying Aragua 9-1. Cubs infield prospect Nestor Heredia started as Designated Hitter and was 1-for-2 with a run scored before leaving in the sixth inning. La Guaira 9 – Aragua 1