SPAIN – Pau Sancho hit a go-ahead two-run double and Homer Baez held Marlins Puerto Cruz to a lone run over the final six innings as F.C. Barcelona snapped the reigning league champion 24-game winning streak with a 7-4 victory last weekend at the former Olympic stadium in Viladecans.

The Marlins (24-2), which have captured four consecutive Spanish League titles, hold a slim lead over Barcelona (22-4) with 10 games remaining on the schedule – including a pivotal two-game set between the two rivals.

Barcelona grabbed a quick lead off Marlins ace Leslie Nacar. J M Salazar ripped a one-out triple to right field in the opening frame, and Felix Isasi followed with an RBI sacrifice fly for a 1-0 lead.

The home team added another run in the second. J Miqueleiz started the inning with a walk, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Sancho, and scored on Emmanuel Febles two-out RBI single to make the score 2-0.

The Marlins bats awoke in a three-run third to take a 3-2 lead. Daniel Sanchez tied the game with a two-run triple to right field off Baez, and scored moments later on an RBI single by Luis Perez.

The score stayed unchanged until the sixth when Barcelona grabbed the lead for good. Miqueleiz’ infield hit plated Victor Lopez, who reached on a walk to start the inning, to knot the score at 3-3. Sancho followed with a two-base hit to the wall in center field to put Barcelona ahead, 5-3.

Sanchez collected his second triple of the game an inning later, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Perez to cut the lead to 5-4. But Barcelona added two runs in the bottom of the same inning on RBI hits by Oscar Roman and Orlando Diaz to seal the win.

Baez (W 10-2) allowed 10 hits and struck out six in a complete-game effort to get the win, while Nacar (11-1) also went the distance but was pinned with his first setback of the season.

Barcelona finished off the doubleheader sweep with a 4-2 victory in the second game to move within two games of the league-leading Marlins.

Sancho, who started the day with four doubles, drove in a pair of runs with another two-base hit in the fourth to erase a 2-1 deficit. Febles added an RBI single in the sixth to end the scoring for both squads.

Pedro Belmonte (11-0) went the distance allowing 10 hits to remain unbeaten on the year, while Marlins southpaw Ivan Granados (9-1) suffered his first loss of the season.

SANT BOI SWEEPS PAMPLONA

Oscar Alvarez (10-3) went the distance with seven strikeouts and Sant Boi routed Pamplona 9-2 in the first game of a twinbill. William Domero drilled his fourth home run of the year and tallied four RBIs for the home team.

Sant Boi (19-7) chased Pamplona starter Daniel Celaya (0-3) in the second en route to a lopsided 11-2 victory in the second game to finish off the sweep. Jose Estebin Cruz (9-4) picked up the win and Javier Jose Flores drove in three runs with a trio of hits.

HALCONES AND VILADECANS SPLIT TWINBILL

Ronny Malave (5-4) outpitched Delio Martinez (8-2) and Michel San Gil and Carlos Millan both had RBI hits to help the Vigo Halcones edge Viladecans 2-1 in their first meeting last weekend.

Pol Llopis (2-3) limited Halcones (13-11) to just a ninth-inning run and Viladecans (13-12) salvaged a split with a 4-1 win the the second encounter. Miguel Catalan had two RBIs and Raul Perez crossed the plate three times for the winners.

SAN INAZIO SURVIVES ASTROS UPSET BID

Fidel Mane (6-3) tossed six strong innings and San Inazio Bilbao trounced the Valencia Astros 13-1 in their twinbill opener. Dirimo Chavez (3-fo-4) led the offensive onslaught with three runs scored, and Asier Izaguirre added three RBIs.

Chavez hit a three-run bomb in the eighth to erase a 5-4 deficit to help San Inazio (13-13) escape with a 7-6 win in the second game over the upset-minded Astros (1-25). Andoni Ortiz (1-3) was credited with his first win of the year, while Luis Galicia (1-4) was charged with the loss.

NAVARRA AND EL LLANO BATTLE TO A DRAW

Jose R. Morales delivered a three-run triple in a five-run ninth to lift El Llano past Baseball Navarra 7-6 in the first game of a doubleheader. Elbis Avila (1-2) allowed one hit in 3 1/3 shutout innings to earn the win.

Navarra survived another late rally by El Llano to claim an 8-7 win in the second game. Juan Miguel Marte (4-4) picked up the win, while Ruben Fente (5-4) was pinned with the loss.

STANDINGS

Photo courtesy of Diego Lazaro

Tags: Spain