HOPE STILL ALIVE FOR HOT HITTING PUERTO RICO

by Michael Ferrin
Ebeisbol.com Exclusive

Puerto Rico’s representative in the Caribbean Series has played the last month with little margin for error. Now, after beating Mexico 8-2, they are hoping someone else will help keep their season alive, and give their hot bats a chance to bring home a championship.

Puerto Rico, 4-2, jumped on Mexico in the top of the 2nd. After shortstop Angel Sanchez reached on a 2 out infield single, Right Fielder Karim Garcia bobbled Edwards Guzman’s base hit, allowing Sanchez to score from first, giving Los Indios de Mayaguez a 1-0 lead and sending Guzman to 3rd.

The next hitter, Miguel Abreu hit a liner to right center. Garcia, appeared to take a bad angle allowing the ball to get by him. Guzman scored easily, while Abreu scampered into third with a triple. Jesus Feliciano followed with an RBI single making it 3-0 Puerto Rico.

It stayed that way until the 4th, when Sanchez,made a wide throw on a seemingly routine grounder off the bat of Mexico First Baseman Luis Garcia. It was Puerto Rico’s Series leading 11th error. Two batters later, Shortstop Luis Cruz cracked a 2 run homer deep into the left center field bleachers to cut Puerto Rico’s lead to 3-2.

But what Puerto Rico lacked on defense, they more than made up for at the plate. Hitting .299 as a team entering the day, 60 points better than next best offensive squad, Puerto Rico kept tacking on runs. Armando Rios RBI 2B and Randy Ruiz run scoring single in the 5th, re-established a 3 run lead for Los Indios. Ruiz and Jesus Feliciano have been the hitting stars for Puerto Rico. Feliciano was on base 4 times out of the leadoff spot, netting 3 singles, including an RBI safety in the 6th. Angel Sanchez also had 3 hits and scored a pair. Armando Rios second double of the day in that inning plated 2 more and gave Puerto Rico an 8-2 lead.

25 year old Indios starter Mario Santiago, did his job too, not allowing an earned run through 5 innings of work. The Royals prospect fanned three, and didn’t issue a walk.

Los Naranjeros de Hermosillo finished 2-4, and their scuffling offense managed just 8 hits, 2 each from Cruz and leadoff man Chris Roberson. Only Cruz’s homer went for extra bases. 42 year old third baseman, and former major league all-star Vinny Castilla did not play in the game for Mexico.

Puerto Rico now must wait to see if host Venezuela can help them continue an improbable run. After finishing the Puerto Rican season under .500, Mayaguez has a chance to play for the Caribbean Series championship, if the Domincan Republic loses to Venezuela tonight. A Championship for Los Indios would be their third ever, and first in 18 years.