PUERTO RICO BEATS CHAMPION VENEZUELA 9-1

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.

SU PROPIA SUERTE

Por Eduardo Almada
Exclusivo de www.eBeisbol.comSi acaso hubiera una duda del porqué Venezuela se coronó campeón en la Serie del Caribe 2009, no está de mas decir porque fue el mejor. Los Tigres de Aragua lo demostraron a diario. Siempre el campeón crea su propia suerte.

De esta forma los criollos se apuntan su 7mo. título de la 2da. parte (1970 a la fecha) y el 2do. que acumulan en el siglo XXI; el otro fue en 2006, los Leones de Caracas. Para los felinos es el 1ro. y como afirmó el mánager campeón, Buddy Bailey: “Haber estado en estos eventos durante 5 de los 6 últimos años, con casi la misma escuadra, fue una ventaja”.

El 5 veces estratega campeón no cesó en elogios para sus muchachos, afirmando: “Dos cosas fueron claves: el corazón de nuestros jugadores y el bulpen”, aunque aparte reconoció que la defensiva felina fue otro factor determinante: “El pitcheo solo es tan bueno como tu defensiva. Una doble matanza aquí y otra allá, ahorra lanzamientos a los pitchers y de la forma como usamos el bulpen, fue definitivo”.

De una manera enfática alabó el béisbol invernal y las Series del Caribe, explicando: “Cuando fui coach en las Ligas Mayores con Boston, solo había gran entusiasmo cuando jugábamos contra los Yanquis. En Venezuela, los playoffs y finales así como en en las Series del Caribe elevan las emociones a niveles máximos”. Luego complementó: “No tengo la menor duda que jugar en el béisbol invernal de latinoamérica te prepara de una forma muy especial. No puedo entender como organizaciones de las Grandes Ligas que tienen grandes prospectos, no los envíen al béisbol invernal. Para jugar en a un nivel muy alto, se necesita madurez física, madurez mental y madurez emocional. Las Ligas Menores (en la Unión Americana) no pueden duplicar las experiencias que se viven en invierno donde todo un país te observa y exige. Las asistencias a estos juegos son enormes y provocan gran presión”.

Una gran sorpresa, sobretodo para Bailey y Francisco Buttó, taponero de Venezuela que compiló 4 salvamentos en las 5 victorias, es que estableció un nuevo record, siendo el único en los mas de 50 años del torneo: “La verdad no sabía sobre ello. Solo quise conservar la ventaja y sacar outs”. Pero además es el líder de todos los tiempos, ahora, del mismo departamento, y agregó: “Pues me siento mas satisfecho todavía”, esbozando una gran sonrisa.

Por su parte, Lorenzo Bundy, el piloto vencido y quien hizo presencia en representación de la tropa mexicana, no escatimó alabanzas para los campeones: “Demostrando ser los mejores. Jugaron muy bien todo el tiempo”. Sobre su equipo: “Tuvimos las oportunidades para ganar; pero no las concretamos. Así de sencillo”.

Con el marcador que Venezuela derrotó a México, 5-3, por 2da. vez, vino a ser el 1er. encuentro donde permitió mas de 2 carreras, algo que no escapó de las observaciones del timonel campeón y que reafirma el dominio que han demostrado en los 5 primeros cotejos del certamen. Y es que debemos recordar que aún falta un juego mas, para el cual, Francisco Buttó aseguró: “Si mi mánager me necesita, yo estaré listo. Así podría aumentar mi (ahora) record”.

 

CAMPEONES:

En el conteo a la fecha, Dominicana ha obtenido 17 coronas seguido por Puerto Rico con 10, los 7 de Venezuela aparecen después y México cierra la cuenta con 5.

ULTIMO PARTIDO:

Los Venados de Mazatlán enviarán a Walter Silva en el último encuentro, el sábado contra Dominicana. Estarán presentes para verlo lanzar expertos de los Padres de San Diego incluyendo al mánager, Buddy Black

VENEZUELA 2009 CARIBBEAN SERIES CHAMPIONS

 

 

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.

VENEZUELA PLAYS SPOILER ELIMINATING THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, 3-2

 

By Guille Esquivel
Exclusive for www.eBeisbol.com

Tigres de Aragua beat the Tigres del Licey 3-2 dashing their hopes of repeating as Caribbean Series Champions. Licey who is the winningest team in Caribbean Series history with ten crowns has never won back to back titles.

The Tigres del Licey were on the brink of elimination going into Day 4 of the Caribbean Series and tried their best to stay alive another day. After displaying their great offensive power on Wednesday night putting up nine runs against Mexico, the Dominican Republic reverted back to the team that struggled to get runs on the board. They opened up the game scoring a quick two in the first inning to take the early lead, 2-0 on Ronny Paulino’s 2-run homerun to right field. That would be the last time that the Dominican Republic would be heard from again.

Aragua scored in the third when Jackson Melian hit an infield single to first scoring Ramon Castro cutting the deficit in half, 2-1. Later in the inning, Venezuela added two more to take the 3-2 lead while never looking back.
Venezuela elected to start Yohan Pino who had previously appeared against the Tigres del Licey in the first game where they beat them, 3-2. Pino lasted two innings allowing two runs on five hits before giving way to eventual winner Oswaldo Sosa who worked two scoreless innings of relief. Francisco Butto got the save to become the leader in saves in this edition with three.

The Tigres del Licey who arrived on Sunday night after having not played since the previous Sunday because of their sweep of the Gigantes del Cibao did not seem to be in tune out on the playing field having committed six costly errors in their first four games. Ronnie Belliard of the Tigres del Licey is not one for excuses, but did mention that the lack of playing for over a week definitely played a role in their performance. The Dominican Republic has a chance to finish the series at .500 if they win their last two games.

Friday will feature a match up between two eliminated teams in the form of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

VENEZUELA INVICTA SE ENCAMINA AL TITULO

 

Rafael Cadenas
Exclusivo para ebeisbol.com

Venezuela contó con un sólido pitcheo y un bateo oportuno para derrotar a Tigres del Licey 3 carreras por 2 y continuar invicto en la Serie del Caribe que se disputa en la ciudad mexicana de Mexicali.

Un hit productor del jardinero Selwyn Langaigne en la parte baja de la tercera entrada permitió a los felinos aragüeños voltear el juego a su favor y conseguir la cuarto victoria al hilo para los venezolanos.

Otro factor determinante fue el pitcheo, después de conocerse que Jeff Farnsworth no sería el abridor por problemas de lesión, el manager Buddy Bailey designo al joven Yohan Pino, el serpentinero permitió dos carreras a los dominicanos y después de dos outs, trajo a Oswaldo Sosa a partir del tercer inning. Posteriormente Bailey trajo a cuatro lanzadores mas, estos no permitieron mayores libertades a la toletería quisqueyana al colgar ocho ceros consecutivos.

MOVIMIENTO DE CARRERAS…

En su primera oportunidad al bate, los dominicanos abrieron el marcador. Después de dos outs, el inicialista Willy Aybar sonó sencillo por el jardín izquierdo. Luego su compañero, el receptor Ronny Paulino despachó cuadrangular por encima de la barda del left field para empujar las dos primeras rayitas del Licey.

En el cierre del tercer episodio, los representantes venezolanos voltearon el marcador. La emboscada la inició con hits por la parte derecha. El jardinero Rodney Medina dio sencillo por el jardín derecho. Seguidamente, el manager Buddy Bailey ordenó la jugada de sacrificio al bateador Luis Maza para permitir el avance de los corredores a la tercera y segunda respectivamente. Con dos outs, el jardinero Jackson Melián dio incogible por el pitcher para empujar a Castro con la primera rayita de los bengaleses maracayeros. Luego Melian se robó la segunda y el jardinero central Selwyn Langaigne conectó imparable por la segunda para remolcar a Medina y Melian con la segunda y tercera rayita de los aragüeños.

PRODUCTIVOS CON EL MADERO…

Nuevamente el bateo oportuno se hizo presente para la escuadra venezolana. El camarero Ramón Castro fue la bujía al batear de 3-2 con una anotada. El primer bate Rodney Medina, quien busca contrato en el beisbol organizado, se fue de 4-3 con una anotada. El jardinero Selwyn Langaigne se fue de 4-1 con dos remolcadas y su colega Jackson Melian sonó de 4-2 con una anotada y una impulsada.

Por los dominicanos destacó el receptor Ronny Paulino quien despachó un cuadrangular con un corredor en base para empujar las dos carreras del Licey en el juego.
EN LA LOMITA…

El joven Oswaldo Sosa fue el ganador. Su compañero Francisco Buttó consiguió su tercer rescate en la serie. La derrota fue para el abridor Nerio Rodríguez.

Con esta victoria, los dirigidos por el controversial Buddy Bailey se encaminan a su primer título en una Serie del Caribe. Su próximo juego será ante los Venados de Mazatlán y para dicho encuentro no hay un lanzador definido por parte de los campeones venezolanos. En consecuencia, el manager del combinado felino se plantea utilizar nuevamente a uno de sus relevistas.

VENEZUELA REAMINS UNDEFEATED

 

 

By Guille Esquivel
Exclusive for www.eBeisbol.com

Venezuela beat Puerto Rico 5-2 to remain undefeated in Caribbean Series play. The Leones are on the brink of elimination after suffering three straight losses making it a difficult situation to come back from. Ponce committed three errors and Aragua capitalized scoring two unearned runs. Aragua’s five runs were the most scored by any team in the last five games.

After four games where pitching was key, both Venezuela and Puerto Rico scored early. Aragua struck first when Ramon Castro hit a bloop single allowing Wilson Ramos and Alex Delgado to score and take the 2-0 lead.

Puerto Rico came back with a run of their own when Luis Figueroa hit a soft fly to left center and Raul Gonzalez crossed the plate to cut the deficit in half, 2-1.

The Tigres added to their lead in the fourth when Delgado singled to center pushing in Ramos and Luis Ugueto to go up 4-1.

In the sixth Selwyn Langaine scored on the catcher’s erroneous throw into center field allowing Aragua to go up 5-1.

In the bottom of the seventh, Ponce put another run on the board when Figueroa got his second RBI of the game scoring Gonzalez on a sac fly to center.

Horacio was the winning pitcher pitching 5.1 innings and only allowing one run while striking out three. Orlando Roman took the loss and Francisco Butto got the save for Vemezuela.

Aragua will face Tigres del Licey tomorrow trying to remain undefeated while Puerto Rico will face Mexico in the nightcap.

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.