Astros Fall and Winter League Recaps

Results for Sunday, October 26, 2014

LIGA VENEZOLANA DE BÉISBOL PROFESIONAL

Zulia 2, Caracas 0

W- Julio Vivas (1-0)
L- Boone Whiting (0-1)
S- Tim Dillard (1)

Caracas HRs by Astros players: None.

The capital club was blanked and got held to just 4 hits. Danry Vásquez went 0-3 from the leadoff spot for Caracas.

Caracas and Zulia will be the only game on the LVBP slate today. First pitch will be at 7:30 Venezuelan time.

LIDOM

Águilas 6, Licey 1

W- Tony Peña (1-0)
L- Randall Delgado (0-1)

Águilas HRs by Astros players: None.
Licey HRs by Astros players: None.

Águilas had a pair of 3-run innings to top Licey as they honored a fallen teammate with a victory. Cardinals OF Oscar Taveras, 22, was a member of the team in 2012. He, along with his girlfriend, Edilia, lost their lives in a car accident in the Dominican Republic yesterday. My condolences go out to his family and friends, his girlfriend's family and friends, and the St. Louis Cardinals organization and its fans.

Sidebar: Although he was not a part of the Houston Astros organization, I knew that Oscar Taveras was extremely well-regarded. Not just as a baseball player, but as a person, as well. He was a perennial top prospect who got his chance to shine in the Major Leagues this season. I feel that Oscar was just beginning to scratch the surface of his potential as a MLB player, and he was on the cusp of becoming one of the game's brighest stars. Not many people who play baseball can say that they reached the Majors by the time they turned 22. Oscar Taveras, from the time he turned professional, honed his skills every year, and in the process, he became a top prospect, and as a testament to his top prospect status, he eventually became one of the few men who could say that he achieved the feat of becoming a Major League Baseball player by the age of 22. With his passing, we can only talk about what could have been. The game of baseball will never know how great Oscar Taveras could have been, and that, for lack of a better term, is simply unfair.

Oscar Taveras and I were the same age. Obviously, I did not know him personally, but whenever I hear of, or read about, someone my age, or close to my age, passing away, I suddenly feel myself becoming more mortal. It has been said countless times, but tomorrow is not guaranteed. Cherish every moment you spend with your loved ones.

Descanse en paz, Oscar. Rest in peace, Oscar. You will be greatly missed. Although your family, and Edilia's family, grieve for the two of you, I hope that they find solace in the fact that you are both at peace now. And, as time passes, they will remember you for the joy that you brought them during your time on this Earth. I also hope that everyone involved with the St. Louis Cardinals organization, from the front office to their fans, will remember you for the excitement that you brought them as a top prospect who brought them great hope for the future of their team. Now that you have taken your place alongside the Lord, I hope that you will take some time to reflect on your brief time here on this Earth and know that you have accomplished so much in that timespan.

As long as your family lives, you will live on in their hearts and souls. You will never be forgotten.

End sidebar. Recollecting myself....

As far as the game was concerned, Jonathan Villar went 0-4 with a strikeout, but he did record a stolen base (3).

For Licey, Domingo Santana entered the game as a defensive replacement in the 4th and led off the 6th with a double. Ruben Sosa went 1-4.

Both of these teams will be off until Wednesday. Licey will host Gigantes that night, while Águilas will host Toros.

Toros 4, Escogido 3

W- Jhan Marinez (1-0)
L- Stephen Kohlscheen (0-2)
S- Jose Valverde (2)

Toros HRs by Astros players: None.

Teoscar Hernandez's sac fly in the top of the 9th was the difference for Toros as it broke a 3-3 tie. He entered the game as a defensive replacement in the 8th for Cameron Maybin.

These two teams will be back in action tomorrow as they face each other.

LIGA MEXICANA DEL PACÍFICO

Culiacán 9, Mazatlán 2

W- Oscar Villarreal (1-1)
L- Alejandro Martinez (0-2)

Gonzalo Sañudo worked around a hit to throw a scoreless 7th, striking out 1.

After a day off, Culiacán will travel to Navojoa for a 2-game set beginning tomorrow.

Jalisco 2, Mexicali 1

W- Brian Broderick (2-0)
L- Francisco Rodriguez (1-2)

Jalisco HRs by Astros players: None.

All 3 runs in this game were scored in the final 3 innings. Jalisco walked off with the W thanks to an RBI single from Amadeo Zazueta. Leo Heras hit a 2-out double in the 8th and drew a walk in 3 at-bats, while Japhet Amador went 0-4.

Jalisco will now begin a series Obregón tonight. It's the only game on the LMP schedule, and it will begin at 7:00.