SPAIN – Felix Isasi delivered a run-scoring hit in the bottom of the 10th inning and FC Barcelona edged Viladecans 2-1 in the season opener for both teams last weekend in Spanish League action. FC Barcelona, ranked No. 11 in the BaseballdeWorld 2009 Preseason European Top 20 Poll, rallied from an early one-run deficit to rout Viladecans, 11-1, in the second meeting between the two squads.

Jehan Machado’s RBI single in the opening frame off Viladecans starter Delio Martinez put FC Barcelona ahead 1-0. Then, Martinez and FC Barcelona staff ace Homer Baez locked horns for the next six scoreless frames in a classic pitching duel until Viladecans knotted the score in the eighth on Oscar Angulo’s run-scoring groundout.

The game remained 1-all until the 10th when Viladecans reliever Pol Llopis walked Emmanuel Febles. The speedy infielder sprinted to third on an errant pick-off throw, and scored the game-winning run on Isasi’s clutch hit.

Baez (1-0), who went 11-1 a year ago with a 1.12 ERA, allowed five hits and fanned 10 in a complete game effort to pick up the win.

Llopis (0-1) was charged with the loss after surrendering a hit and a run in less than an inning on the mound.

FC BARCELONA 11, VILADECANS 1

Jason Friedman drove in four runs and Pedro Belmonte turned in a strong outing to lead FC Barcelona to the easy win and a sweep of the opening weekend series. Friedman went 3-for-4 with a double while Belmonte (1-0) scattered a run on three hits in a complete game win in his debut for FC Barcelona. Joshua Castro (0-1) was charged with the setback after giving up five hits and six runs in 4 2/3 innings.

SANT BOI 13 BASEBALL NAVARA 0

Oscar Alvarez tossed one-hit ball for seven innings and Sant Boi cruised to a 13-0 season-opening victory against Navarra this past weekend. Sant Boi, ranked No. 19 in the BaseballdeWorld 2009 Preseason European Top 20 Poll, completed the sweep with a 10-1 triumph in the second game.

Rafael Rivas (4-for-5) and Jose Cruz (3-for-3) led the offensive fireworks for Sant Boi which raced out to a 5-0 lead after two innings, and then plated eight scores over the final three innings to notch the seven-inning victory.

Alvarez (1-0) struck out nine in his Spanish League debut to earn the win while Juan J. Lopez (0-1) took the loss after allowing 10 uns and nine hits in 4 2/3 innings.

SANT BOI 10 BASEBALL NAVARA 1

Jose Cruz threw six innings of no-hit ball and Sant Boi rolled past Navarra 10-1 to register their second blowout win of the young season. A balanced offensive attack with eight different players driving in at least one run doomed Navarra starter Juan Marte (0-1). Cruz (1-0) fanned three and walked one in a masterful six-inning outing to notch the win.

EL LLANO 7, PAMPLONA 0

El Llano starter Juan De Leon tossed seven scoreless innings and Roberto Noriega drove in a pair of runs to lead El Llano to a 7-0 win over Pamplona last weekend to start the 2009 season on the right track. El Llano took the second game by the same 7-0 score to earn the series sweep.

Emilio Perez ripped a three-run double off Pamplona starter Alexis Fumero in a four-run third to put El Llano in control of the season opening matchup. El Llano stretched the lead to 5-0 with a run in the fifth, and added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh to clinch their first victory of the season.

Noriega, last year’s batting champion and BaseballdeWorld’s Spanish League Offensive Player of the Year, started the new campaign in mid-season form with two hits and two RBIs.

De Leon (1-0) limited Pamplona to a walk and four hits to get the win, while Fumero (0-1) allowed five runs on four hits and was tagged with the setback.

EL LLANO 7, PAMPLONA 0

Ruben Fente pitched eight strong innings and Marco Trillo had three RBIs to lead El Llano past Pamplona, 7-0, to earn the weekend sweep.

Trillo turned in a 3-for-4 effort with the lumber and Gabriel Sanso scored three runs for El Llano which outhit Pamplona 19-7 in last weekend’s action. Emilio Perez, who continued to deliver clutch hits this young season, collected two more RBIs.

Fente (1-0) picked up the win in dominating fashion allowing just two hits while recording nine strikeouts.

Pamplona starter Eneko Del Burgo (0-1) was charged with the loss after surrendering four runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings.

HALCONES DE VIGO 5, ASTROS 2

Halcones broke open a one-run game with a pair of eighth-inning runs to claim a 5-2 win over the Astros in their Spanish League debut this past weekend. The former second division club completed the sweep with a 13-4 triumph in the second game.

Alejandro Carrillo and Marco Marquez paced the Halcones, which overcame four defensive miscues to start the new season in the win column, with two RBIs apiece.

Vigo starter Ronny Malave (1-0), who finished with eight strikeouts, allowed two runs and eight hits over eight innings to pick up the win.

Elvis Polanco (0-1) suffered the loss after giving up three runs and six hits.

HALCONES DE VIGO 13, ASTROS 4

Vigo erupted for seven runs in the fifth en route to a 13-4 rout over the Astros who have lost 34 consecutive games since entering Spain’s top division last year.

Marco Marquez continued swinging the bat well going 3-for-5 including a grand slam, and tallied six RBIs to finish the opening weekend with a league-high eight RBIs.

Juan J. Lopez (1-0) scattered a run and four hits over five innings to earn the win.

Jorge Gomez (0-1) lasted only 2 1/3 innings and was tagged with the loss after allowing eight hits and four runs.

MARLINS PUERTO CRUZ SWEEPS SAN INAZIO BILBAO

SPANISH LEAGUE

Photo courtesy of El Llano Baseball Club

Tags: Spain