ADRIAN GONZALEZ HITS HISTORIC 3HRS in 12-9 WIN OVER THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

February 5, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment

Adrian Gonzalez rounding 3rd in the 1st of his Historic 3HRs in the Serie del Caribe.

By Guille Esquivel
ebeisbol.com

Mexico won a shootout 12-9 as both teams’ bats finally woke up and the Venados capitalzed on the Tigres’ errors. Adrian Gonzalez made history when he became the first player in Caribbean Series history to hit three homeruns in a game.

In the first, Anderson Hernandez scored on Dominican Juan Pena’s wild pitch taking the early 1-0 lead.

Venados answered back in the second when Heber Gomez singled to left scoring and left fielder Timo Perez misplayed the ball allowing Christian Presichi and Saul Soto.

Licey drove Pena out of the game scoring three more runs off of him. Pena only lasted 2.1 innings allowing four runs on three hits, walking four while striking out three.

Compatriot Jorge Sosa did not fare that much better. Mazatlan tagged him for three runs in the fourth inning when Agustin Murillo hit an infield single to second scoring Gomez. Adrian Gonzalez brought Murillo in on a long homerun to left center field taking the brief 6-5 lead.

Licey would add another one in the fourth when Jose Bautista hit a soft fly ball to right scoring Willy Aybar tying the game at 6.

In the fifth, Gomez reached base on a force attempt and a missed catch error by Ronny Paulino allowed Ruben Rivera to score. Next batter, Jon Weber singled to right pushing in local Presichi taking the 8-6 lead, both runs were scored off reliever Jailen Peguero. Presichi went 3-5 and scored two runs.

The end of the fifth was followed by a 41 minute delay due to the blackout of some stadium lights. That time was filled by mascot competitions and the Banda Limon who came out on the field and played briefly.

Licey reliever Valerio De Los Santos came out to open up the sixth and Adrian Gonzalez greeted him with a long solo shot to left field to put Mexico up 9-6. Robert Saucedo scored on a wild pitch by Oneli Perez and Gomez hit a sac fly to left scoring Edgar V. Gonzalez widening their lead to 11-6.

Licey got within striking distance in the eighth when Erick Aybar doubled in Ronnie Belliard to make it 11-7. Later in the inning, Ronny Paulino doubled to center and Jon Weber misplayed the ball allowing Erick Aybar and Hernandez to score and get within two, 11-9.

In the ninth, Adrian Gonzalez added an insurance run with his solo shot to left field to make it 12-9.

Rafael Martin came away with the victory pitching in three innings of relief. Sosa took the loss pitching 4.1 innings allowing 8 run (5 of them earned), walking two while striking out two. Hector Navarro came out in the ninth and recorded the save.