Peter O’Brien collected two hits in four trips to the plate and knocked two runs on opening night of the Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional to do his part in a Magallanes 12-0 blanking of the defending champion Tiburones de La Guaira. The Cuban-American outfielder also scored on an occasion to aid the cause.
For La Guaira one of last year’s heroes in the Serie del Caribe Miguel Romero was hit hard by the Navegantes lineup to the tune of five earned runs via five hits in 2⅔ innings of work that included two longballs in a third inning that he did not escape. The right-hander also walked two and fanned to leave his first outing of the season with an astronomical 16.88 earned run average.
The only Cuban to see action in the other Opening Day on the evening was Odrisamer Despaigne in the Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico. The righty from Havana was also hit freely to the tune of four runs in four innings of work via six hits. Despaigne struck out two and walked during Ciudad Obregón’s loss to defending champion Hermosillo 4-2.
Cuban action on the night:
LVBP:
Peter O’Brien (MAG) 4-2,2B,2RBI,R*
Yoel Yanqui (MAG) 1-0
Miguel Romero (LAG) 2.2IP,5H,5ER,2BB,K
Leonys Martín (LAG) 3-0
Liga ARCO:
Odrisamer Despaigne (CO) 4.0IP,6H,4ER, 2K,2BB
*Cuban-American