MARLINS STILL CRUISING ON TOP OF SPANISH STANDINGS

The Puerto Cruz Marlins have won their first 18 games of the 2009 Spanish Division de Honor season. Last weekend, the Marlins had to work for two wins over the Viladecans.

In the May 16 opener in Caledonia, Puerto Cruz needed three runs in the top of the ninth to pull out a 5-2 win as Daniel Sanchez broke a 2-2 tie with a two-run triple. Leslie Nacar got the win on the mound for Puerto Cruz, and is now 8-0. The Marlins came back one day later to cop an 8-4, but this one wasn’t easy. The Viladecans got off to a 4-0 lead, thanks in part to a bases-loaded triple by Oscar Angulo in the third. Puerto Cruz fought back and eventually took the lead with a five-run eighth. Daniel Martinez reached base all five times he came to the plate, including four walks.

FC Barcelona earned a split of an important two-game series with Sant Boi to maintain second place at 13-3, while Sant Boi dropped to 13-5. Sant Boi won the opener, 7-3, as William Domero stroked a three-run homer in the third for the victors. Barca came back to win the second contest, 8-3, behind the four hits of Albert Diaz. Pedro Belmonte went the distance to go to 6-0 for Barcelona.