RED SOX OR ATHLETICS

NATIONALS HOLD OFF LATE RALLY IN SLOPPY 18AAA GAME The National All Stars (Caribbean Stars, RJ Electric Mets and Whitecaps) took a 7-2 lead to the ninth inning and survived a four run bottom of the 9th inning to capture the 18AAA Fall League All Star game 7-6 at the Santaluces Complex February 2. The Americans, (Arrigo Dodgers, Estilo Twins and Cardello’s Wise Guy’s), were aided in their rally by three Nationals errors, three walks, and a passed ball. The Nationals’ Ryan Ghianda (Mets) walked the first three batters in the ninth, but got the next hitter to ground into a force out at the plate. Brian Fitzsimmons (Arrigo Dodgers), though, singled to center to score two runs, and another scored when his hit was misplayed in center field. Fitzsimmons wound up at second base, and scored when Ghianda, attempting to pick him off second, threw wildly into center field. The throw was again bobbled in center, allowing Fitzsimmons to score. Marcos Rodriguez (Arrigo Dodgers) singled to left, putting the tying run at first base. However, Jason Martin (Wise Guy’s) was inserted as a courtesy runner for Rodriguez and was caught stealing when Ghianda’s pickoff throw nailed him between first and second base, trying to get the tying run into scoring position. Until the 9th inning, the Nationals seemed headed for an easy victory. With former New York Met Mike Draper (Mets) pitching three scoreless innings and doubling home a run, the Nationals took a 2-0 lead in the third inning. Billy Campbell (Mets) had led off the third with a triple to deep right field. He scored on an error. John Joseph (Caribbean Stars) drove in the second run with an infield roller to score Chad Shaw (Whitecaps). They added a run in the fourth when Ghianda singled and scored on an infield error. The National squad upped its lead to 5-0 with two more in the sixth. Rob Rowe (Mets) hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Marlon Hernandez (Stars), and Ghianda reached on an error and scored on a balk and an errant throw by the pitcher as he attempted to nail the runner, who was headed toward third base after the balk call. The Americans finally got on the board in the sixth inning. William Osorio (Wise Guy’s) singled, moved to third on a pair of infield errors and scored on a fielder’s choice grounder by Pedro (Mike) Alvarado (Twins). The Nationals added their final two runs in the seventh on singles by Gustavo Castillo (Stars) and Nick Adames (Stars), an infield error and a run scoring single by Draper. The Americans cut it to 7-2 with a seventh inning run. Fitzsimmons singled and scored on two wild pitches. The Americans made it interesting with that four run 9th inning that fell one run short. Draper, who pitched three scoreless innings as the starter, fanning three, got the victory under the special All Star scoring rules. He also drove in two runs with a double and single and was selected as the game’s Most Valuable Player. Rob Riganati (Whitecaps) also had two hits. Campbell (triple), Joseph, Ghianda, Rowe, Castillo, Adames, and Shaw had one hit apiece. Rodriguez led the Americans, going 3 for 3 with a walk. Fitzsimmons had two hits and drove in a run. Osorio, Ronel Diaz (Arrigo Dodgers) and Martin had one hit apiece. Diaz, the Americans’ starter, was tagged with the loss. BOX SCORE-18AA ALL STAR GAME—THURSDAY, FEB. 2 AT SANTALUCES COMPLEX, LANTANA Nationals (7) AB R H BI BB SO Americans (6) AB R H BI BB SO John Joseph (Stars) 4 0 1 1 0 1 Dave Machado (Dodgers) 3 1 0 0 1 1 Marlon Hernandez (Stars) 4 1 0 0 0 0 Melvin Bruno (Twins) 3 1 0 0 1 0 Ryan Ghianda (Mets) 4 2 1 0 0 1 Kevin Rubel (Wise Guy’s) 4 1 0 0 0 1 Rob Rowe (Mets) 3 0 1 1 0 0 Brian Fitzsimmons (Dodgers) 4 2 2 2 0 0 Rob Riganati (Whitecaps) 3 0 2 0 1 1 Marcos Rodriguez (Dodgers) 3 0 3 0 1 0 Gustavo Castillo (Stars) 4 1 1 0 0 1 Diego Santos (Twins) 4 0 0 0 0 0 Nick Adames (Stars) 4 0 1 0 0 1 Emilio Vargas (Twins) 3 0 0 0 0 1 Billy Campbell (Mets) 3 1 1 0 1 2 William Osorio (Wise Guy’s) 3 1 1 0 0 1 Chad Shaw (Whitecaps) 3 2 1 1 0 0 Ronel Diaz (Dodgers) 3 0 1 0 0 1 Will Ford (Whitecaps) 4 0 0 0 0 2 Pedro Alvarado (Twins) 3 0 0 0 0 1 Mike Draper (Mets) 3 0 2 2 0 0 Jason Martin (Wise Guy’s) 2 0 1 0 1 0 Gustavo Lopez (Stars) 0 0 0 0 0 0 TOTALS 35 6 8 2 4 6 TOTALS 39 7 11 5 2 9 LINE SCORE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Managers Nationals 0 0 2 1 0 2 2 0 0 7 11 5 Santos Adames (Caribbean Stars) Americans 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 4 6 8 5 Rick Brescia (Arrigo Dodgers) LOB-Nationals 8, Americans 6 E-Ghianda 2, Joseph 2, Vargas 3, Alvarado, Diaz DP-None 2B-Draper 3B-Campbell SB-Martin CS-Martin HBP-Shaw (by Alvarado) Balk-Alvarado PITCHING IP H R ER BB SO PITCHING IP H R ER BB SO Draper (Mets) W 3 1 0 0 0 3 Diaz (Dodgers) L 3 3 2 1 0 5 Lopez (Stars) 2 1 0 0 0 2 Alvarado (Twins) 3 2 3 1 2 1 Castillo (Stars) 1 2 1 0 0 1 Martin (Wise Guy’s) 1 3 2 0 0 2 Ford (Whitecaps) 2 2 1 1 0 0 Fitzsimmons (Dodgers) 2 3 0 0 0 2 Ghianda (Mets) 1 2 4 2 3 0 Umpires-Bernie Ginsburg (P), Jim Lief (B) MVP-Mike Draper (Nationals) Time: 2:55