Sadiel Lebrón Especial para ebeisbol.com ¡Sorpresa! La serie final del campeonato invernal dominicano 2009-2010 no será entre Águilas Cibaeñas y Tigres del Licey. Después de una intensa serie semifinal o round robin, el béisbol dominicano entra a su etapa final, con dos protagonistas inesperados. Los Gigantes del Cibao, contra viento y marea y contra todos los pronósticos, alcanzaron su segunda serie final consecutiva luego de quedar con el mejor record en la etapa de semifinales. Segundos, con el cuentagotas en la mano, llegaron los Leones del Escogido, que van a disputar su primera final en siete temporadas. La última vez que asistieron a la final fue en la campaña 2002-2003, cayendo derrotados por barrida ante las Águilas. El equipo Cibaeño fue el que mejor pelota jugó en los últimos 12 compromisos del certamen, logrando su pase una semana antes de que se concluyera el calendario de 18 partidos, mientras que el conjunto escarlata tuvo que sudar la gota gorda ante unos Tigres del Licey que no se daban por vencidos, pero que al final cayeron en la última fecha del calendario con una aparatosa derrota de 10-6 ante los Gigantes, la misma en la que sus eternos rivales lograron el triunfo clasificatorio, 4-3, ante los Toros del Este. Los Gigantes, dirigidos por el exitoso dirigente Félix Fermín, quien dicho sea de paso asistirán a su séptima serie final en sus nueve temporadas como dirigente en el béisbol invernal dominicano (ocho con las Águilas Cibaeñas), culminó con marca de 12-6 para un porcentaje de .667. De su lado, los Leones, plagado de jóvenes prometedores y que lideraron gran parte de la segunda ronda del campeonato, culminaron segundos con récord de 10-8 (.556) gracias a un repunte al final; los Tigres, aún campeones vigentes, terminaron terceros con arca de 8-10 (.444), y los Toros del Este cuartos al finalizar con 6-12 (.333) El Escogido pudo mantenerse en segundo lugar y clasificar a la final gracias en gran medida a los tres triunfos que consiguieron en las últimas cuatro fechas, incluyendo uno vital (miércoles 13 de enero) de dos que escenificaron en días seguidos ante el Licey, y luego masacraron a los lanzadores de los lanzadores Gigantes con 16 hits en ruta a un triunfo de 10-1, y finalmente 4-3 el sábado 16 ante los Toros. Ahora van tras su primer título en 17 temporadas y el 13 de su historia. Será la primera vez que los Gigantes y Leones se enfrentan en una serie final. El equipo de San Francisco de Macorís había asistido a otras dos finales -2003-2004 y 2008-2009- perdiéndolas ambas ante el Licey. Los más destacados del round robin Sin lugar a dudas que los Leones se beneficiaron del aporte que administraron los importados Kevin Barrer y Wladimir Balentein, especialmente este último. Balentein terminó como líder de bateo con .407 de promedio producto de 24 hits en 59 turnos en 15 juegos, al tiempo de anotar 9 carreras y remolcar 10; mientras que Barrer, quien arrolló con las Águilas en la serie regular, bateó para .385 (62-24) con 11 empujadas y 8 anotadas en 15 cotejos. Otro que se destacó fue el toletero Juan Francisco, de los Gigantes del Cibao, con 3 cuadrangulares y 13 empujadas, líder en ambos departamentos ofensivos. Willie Otañez (Escogido) remolcó 11; Emilio Bonifacio (Licey) fue líder de hits con 26 y de anotadas con 13; y Juan Bautista (Licey) remolcó 12 y bateó 5 dobletes. En el pircheo, sin lugar a dudas que el mejor fue el zurdo Francisco Liriano, que venció en dos duelos a Ubaldo Jiménez (Licey) y terminó con efectividad de 0.00 en tres salidas. Por su lado, Jiménez lidero en ponches con 26.

By Guille Esquivel Exclusive for ebeisbol.com

Ponce beat 2009 Caribbean Series champions Aragua, 9-1. After snapping their 11 game losing streak, Ponce started a new streak winning two consecutive games. Manager Eduardo Perez said that he wanted to leave Mexicali with wins in their final games and that they did.

Perez said that he always has to find a reason to motivate the team. Today he chose to cite that the only team that has won a Caribbean Series by going undefeated has been a Puerto Rico team. This definitely served as motivation as they not only defeated Aragua, but they did it convincingly.

After beating the Dominican Republic 3-0 on Friday, stellar pitching from Ponce continued as they only allowed one run in the victory. Giancarlo Alvarado pitched six innings allowing one run on four hits while walking two and striking out five. Travis Minix and Edward Buzachero followed with three innings of scoreless relief.

Ponce scored all nine runs in the third inning coming one shy from the record of runs scored in an inning in a Caribbean Series. Andy Gonzalez singled to center scoring Eli Marrero. Carlos Rivera also singled to center allowing Jesus Feliciano to score. Jorge Padilla hit a three run shot to left to put the game at 6-0. Iggy Suarez singled to center bringing Fernando Cortez across the plate. Luis Figueroa singled to right to score Suarez and the last run was scored by Feliciano who crossed the plate on Gonzalez’single to center to put the game away 9-0.

Venezuela’s sole run came when Ramon Castro singled to center to score Selwyn Langaigne. Venezuela’s pitching had been brilliant only allowing nine runs over the first five games before they allowed nine in their last game of the series.

Venezuela winners of the 2009 Caribbean Series

  By Guille Esquivel Exclusive www.ebeisbol.com Venezuela crowned themselves champions as they defeated a strong Mexico team, 5-3. That was Aragua’s first title ever and Venezuela’s seventh overall. Venezuela’s last title was when Leones de Caracas won in the 2006 Caribbean Series. Tigres de Aragua remained undefeated with a 5-0 record heading into their last game against the Dominican Republic on Saturday afternoon. With the loss the Venados de Mazatlan’s record became 3-2 with both losses coming at the hands off the Aragua team. The game was tied at 2-2 until the seventh inning when Venezuela scored three runs to take the commanding 5-2 lead. Luis Maza opened the inning with a double and later came around to score on a groundout by Selwyn Langaigne. Jackson Melian scored the fourth run on Luis Uguetos’s single to left. Later in the inning, Jose Cobos who was also the losing pitcher in their first meeting came in in relief and Raul Chavez greeted him with a single scoring Wilson Ramos to make it a 5-2 game. Mazatlan was the first to score when Adrian Gonzalez doubled to center allowing Christian Quintero to make the game, 1-0. Chavez singled in Langaigne in the second inning to tie the game, 1-1. Chavez’ bat was significant in the game as he went 3-5 with two RBI. Erick Arteaga was the starting pitcher for Aragua pitching 2.2 innings of 3-hit ball while allowing one run. Venezuela has counted on their relief corps who has been exceptional throughout the series. “Having relievers starting games and you have to compliment the guys, they wanted to take the ball,” Buddy Bailey said. Bailey was happy to get the championship and wondered why major league teams do not make it mandatory to play in the winter leagues. “There you have the responsibility, the accountability to play well or you are sent home. Playing in that hostile environment makes you grow up. You have a country who is riding on you, kind of like this series where there is so much emotion,” Bailey added. Francisco Butto came in to pitch the ninth and got his fourth save of the Caribbean Series with that he established a new record for saves. Butto started shaky walking Oscar Robles, the first batter he faced. Robles advanced to second on a wild pitch. Butto then struck out Miguel Ojeda. Heber Gomez singled to center and Robles came around to score to make it a 5-3 game. Jon Weber grounded out to second before getting Christian Quintero to pop out to center to end the game. Butto commented on his feat, “I didn’t know that, knowing it makes me appreciate it more and it brings me joy.” Mexico had a lot of missed opportunities in the game stranding eight runners. Lorenzo Bundy said that he believes that many fans hold him accountable for the loss. Having played here six years and coached for seventeen he understands the high expectations that the fans have. “Playing winter ball develops men, this is a man’s league where you get the job done or you go home,” Bundy said. Venezuela will face Puerto Rico on Saturday looking to go 6-0 while Ponce is trying to get their second victory. Mexico will meet a reeling Dominican team who is trying to avoid going 1-5 in the series which would be the worst for Licey since going 1-7 in 1970.