SPAIN – Marlins Puerto Cruz and F.C. Barcelona continued on a collision course in the Spanish League with two wins apiece last weekend. Barcelona, which swept the previously unbeaten Marlins a week ago, has won nine consecutive games and trails the league leader by two games.

Barcelona (24-4) rolled to a pair of lopsided wins over Pamplona to remain within striking distance of the four-time reigning champion Marlins. The two squads will meet again in Tenerife for a doubleheader that will help determine the league champion

Homer Baez (11-2) limited Pamplona to just a pair of second inning scores and Barcelona racked up 24 hits in a 20-2 win in the front end of a twinbill. Albert Diaz collected four hits while the trio of Jesus Golindano, Jorge Miqueleiz and Felix Isasi chipped in three RBIs apiece as Barcelona plated 11 scores in the eighth to claim the blowout win.

Pamplona (5-22) took a 3-0 lead into the eighth before Barcelona sent 24 batters to the plate in a marathon 18-run inning. Leadoff man Emmanuel Febles reached base five times and scored three runs to help Pedro Belmonte (12-0) remain unbeaten on the season.

MARLINS STOP BASEBALL NAVARRA

The Marlins got back on the winning track with a doubleheader sweep against Baseball Navarra last weekend in Tenerife.

Luis Perez drilled his fourth home run of the season off Navarra starter Alberto Espanol (0-2) to start the fourth inning, and player/coach Nestor Perez singled home Jose L. Salazar with two outs to help the reigning title-holder capture a 2-0 win in the opening game.

Leslie Nacar (12-1) scattered four hits and a walk over eight shutout innings to register the win.

The Marlins (26-2) smacked five home runs and rolled to a 13-3 victory over Navarra (8-18) in the second encounter. Daniel Martinez (3,4) went deep twice while Perez (5), Richard Montiel (8) and Victor Lopez (1) each hit one long ball.

Southpaw Ivan Granados (10-1) struck out nine in six scoreless frames to notch the win.

SANT BOI SWEEPS VILADECANS

Sant Boi staged a pair of late comebacks to claim two extra-innings wins against Viladecans. With the two-game sweep, Sant Boi improved to 21-7 on the year.

Viladecans (13-14) grabbed a quick lead in the opening game when Edgar Hernandez popped a three-run double in the first. However, Sant Boi rallied to knot the score in the eighth before captuing a 4-3 victory in the 13th on Javier Flores’ RBI sacrifice fly.

Yaeko Vazquez (2-0) racked up his second win of the day as Sant Boi won the twinbill finale, 13-9, in 10 innings.

In other action last weekend, the Vigo Halcones beat San Inazio 4-2 and 5-3 to move into sole possession of fourth place with a 15-11 record. San Inazio fell to 13-15 on the season.

El Llano (11-17) foiled the Valencia Astros (1-27) upset bid with a 5-4 win in the first meeting before posting an easy 11-4 triumph in the series finale.

Photos courtesy of Diego Lazaro

Tags: Spain