Fall/Winter League Roundup: Villanueva picks up playoff victory

This continues our series of weekly roundups of the Fall/Winter Leagues. Coverage will continue every Monday into January. For the full list of Red Sox prospects participating in these leagues, check out our Fall & Winter Leagues page, which will be updated continuously through January. This week's roundup covers the period from December 18 to December 25.

The regular season came to a close on December 17, and playoff action kicked off the following day. Free agent righty Elih Villanueva (pictured) earned the victory on Wednesday in the only win of the postseason for the Toros del Este. Villanueva allowed two runs on five hits over five innings, striking out four and issuing one walk. Roenis Elias, who had been outstanding prior to getting roughed up in his final regular season outing, did not take the mound this week for Aguilas.

Boston's position players did not see much action. Outfielder Aneury Tavarez was 3 for 8 with a double in three games, while Chris Madera was 1 for 3. Ryan Court, a minor league free agent, was 1 for 6 in a pair of contests.

Henry Urrutia a minor league fee agent, closed the week as one of the hottest players in Venezuela. Urrutia has four consecutive multi-hit games, finishing the week 8 for 19 with four RBI. Fellow free agent and longtime Sox organization member Heiker Meneses played in only three games, but made the most of them by going 6 for 9 with a double, triple, homer, and three runs driven in. Juan Hernandez was 1 for 3 in his three games played, while Deiner Lopez was 1 for 7

Recently signed infielder (Jesus) Esteban Quiroz continues to see action as the regular second baseman for Mazatlan. He appeared in six games, going 4 for 23. Hector Velazquez was excellent in his second start of the winter league, giving up just one hit in four shutout innings, striking out three and walking one. 

Daniel McGrath, the only member of the Boston organization playing in Australia this summer, did not see game action this week.