UNDEFEATED VENEZUELA ON TOP OF THE STANDINGS

By Guille Esquivel 
Exclusive www.ebeisbol.com

Hector Gimenez ended an extra innings affair in the bottom of the eleventh when he took Jose Cobos deep to right field to end the game and beat Mazatlan 1-0.

A theme of blown opportunities for Mexico highlighted most of the night.  Venados threatened again getting a runner to third in the eleventh, but failed to bring him into score when Marcos Carvajal struck out Miguel Ojeda to end the inning. Venados stranded seven batters in their last three at bats.

Adrian Gonzalez came through in the clutch with his defense when in the bottom of the tenth Aragua had runners at the corners and Ramon Castro hit a grounder to him and he started the 3-6-3 double play to keep Mexico’s hopes for a victory alive.

 Venados failed to capitalize in the tenth when Edgar V. Gonzalez singled to left to open up the inning.  Oscar Robles and Christian Quintero laid down successful bunts, but Jon Weber swung at the first pitch flying out to left and Agustin Murillo struck out to end the inning.   

Aragua had a golden opportunity in the bottom of the ninth inning when Medina opened with a double down the left field line.  Last night’s hero and Lorenzo Bundy’s AAA superman, Luis Maza, struck out failing to advance the batter.  Gimenez drew the walk, Raul Chavez flew out to left and Selwyn Langaigne grounded out to pitcher Tim Lavigne to end the inning.

In the ninth, Jon Weber opened the inning with a single to right field.  Murillo laid down the bunt advancing him to second.  Adrian Gonzalez was intentionally walked and hometown boy Christian Presichi struck out before Freddy Sandoval flied out to left to end the rally.

Mexico squandered a scoring opportunity in the eighth when Edgar Gonzalez opened up the inning with an infield hit to third.  Miguel Ojeda bunted him over to second base.  Oscar Robles grounded to short, but Gonzalez reached third base safely.  Christian Quintero grounded out to short to end the inning.  

Mexico blew a chance to score in the seventh inning when Presichi doubled to center and Agustin Murillo ignored the third base coach’s sign to stop at third and was gunned down at home on the 8-4-2 play.

The nightcap of the second day of the Caribbean Series featured two undefeated teams in the form of Mazatlan and Aragua.   Excellent pitching continued in the fourth game as Edgar G. Gonzalez carried a no hitter for 4.1 innings before Jackson Melian singled to left to end his bid.  Gonzalez left with a no decision pitching seven scoreless innings allowing two hits while striking out nine batters.  American Tim Harikkala pitched six scoreless innings allowing two hits while striking out three and also left the game with a no decision.

Jose Cobos was charged with the loss while Carvajal came away the winner.