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.

Francisco, Phillips lead DR to Brink of Title

by Michael Ferrin

Ebeisbol.com Exclusive

Reds Prospect Juan Francisco, homered and drove in 3 and lefty Heath Phillips fanned 7 as the Dominican Republic clinched at least a berth in the 2010 Caribbean Series championship with a 7-2 win over Mexico.

As well as things turned out for Los Leones de Escogido, things didn’t start well for them or their starter Phillips. After allowing a leadoff single to Chris Roberson, Phillips served up a 2 out 2 Run home run to Mexico First Baseman Luis Garcia.

But Naranjeros de Hermosillo starter Walter Silva gave it right back. Dominican First Baseman Kevin Barker answered Garcia’s homer, crushing a 2 run blast of his own in the 1st, to tie the game.

With the score 2-2, in the Bottom of the 3rd, back to back singles by Pablo Ozuna & Freddy Guzman started a Dominican rally ]. After Ramon Santiago sacrificed them to 2nd & 3rd, Juan Francisco lined a sacrifice fly to right giving the Dominican Republic a 3-2 lead.

The Dominican offense, which had struggled in the tournament, collected 10 hits…including a solo homer from OF Fernando Martinez to make it 4-2 Leones in the 4th. The Mets #3 prospect according to Baseball America, Martinez, is hitting .316 though the first 5 games of the series with a pair of homers.

But the real offensive star was Francisco. Rated as the 5th best prospect in the Cincinnati System by Baseball America, the burly 3B made his presence felt reaching base safely in all 4 plate appearances including a 2 run homer in the 5th, that gave the Dominican Republic a 6-2 lead.

Francisco’s long ball showed his brute strength. His slicing opposite field homer stayed just fair inside the left field foul pole and just cleared the left field wall at Estadio Guatamare.

While Francsico was doing it at the plate, starter Heath Phillips silenced Mexico’s bats. The veteran lefty who signed a minor league deal with Tampa Bay last week, settled down after his shaky first. Phillips retired the last 12 hitters, and 16 of the last 17 he faced, allowing just, a lead off double in the 3rd following the 2 run first. Phillips big slow breaking ball kept Mexico off balance, as he fanned 7 over 7 innings of 2 run ball.

Mexican hitters continued to struggle. After hitting just .222 through their first 4 games, Los Naranjeros managed just 4 hits against Phillips and 2 relievers.

While the offensive doldrums continued, starter Walter Silva never really gave his teammates a chance. The Mexican starter was chased by Francisco’s homer after allowing 6 earned runs in 4 1/3 innings, as the Mexicans fell to 2-3 in the Series.

At 4-1, The Dominicans could clinch the title before they next take the field Sunday Night against Venezuela. A Puerto Rico loss to the Veneluezans tonight, or Mexico tomorrow, will clinch Los Leones de Escogido their first Caribbean Series title in twenty years.

Mexico beats Venezuela in crucial game

by Guille Esquivel

Ebeisbol.com Exclusive

 

Mexico beat Venezuela 3-2 in an extra innings nail biter.

Mexico and Venezuela were both facing a must win situation because a loss would dash their title hopes.

Leones del Caracas struck first when Michael Ryan took Juan Delgadillo deep to left for the solo shot to take the 1-0 lead in the second inning.

With two outs in the third, Erold Andrus and Luis Maza strung together a couple of hits and Oscar Salazar drove in Andrus to go up 2-0.

After allowing two runs early on to Venezuela Delgadillo buckled down and retired 13 batters in a row. Delgadillo pitched eight innings allowing two runs on six hits while striking out three.

Mexico got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning when Luis Garcia hit a grounder to third scoring Chris Roberson and they now trailed 2-1.

Mexican slugger Karim Garcia finally made it to the island in hopes of helping his team avoid elimination. The Naranjeros de Hermosillo were in dire need of a left handed bat in their line up and Garcia soon proved why. In the sixth inning he hit Jose Sanchez’s pitch deep to right for the solo home run and tied the game at 2.

Sanchez was the third starter to have eight strikeouts in a game and he accomplished it through five innings. Sanchez pitched six innings allowing two runs on five hits and leaving with a no-decision.

Mexico missed an opportunity to close it out in the ninth inning when they loaded up the bases. Luis Garcia opened up the inning with a double, Ruben Rivera was intentionally walked and Carlos Valencia bunted them over. Humberto Cota also drew an intentional walk and Saul Soto grounded into an inning ending double play to end the threat.

Heber Gomez opened up the tenth with a single off Elio Serrano. Gomez advanced to second on Roberson’s sacrifice bunt. Then Venezuela ’s manager made a questionable move by intentionally walking Garcia to face Vinny Castilla. Castilla then singled deep to left center scoring Gomez to win the game 3-2.

Mexico will face the Dominican Republic and they have to win in order to keep their hopes alive.

Puerto Rico will play against Venezuela in Saturday’s nightcap. Venezuela has a chance to play spoiler.

Puerto Rico snaps Escogido’s winning streak defeating them 7-3

by Guille Esquivel

Ebeisbol.com Exclusive

Puerto Rico handed the Dominican Republic their first loss of the series defeating them 7-3.

The Leones del Escogido pitching staff that had been so dominant in the past three games faltered today allowing seven runs on eleven hits. Four players on the Mayaguez teams had multi-hit games.

Felix Diaz was the starting pitcher for the Dominican squad and Andrew Baldwin was on the mound for Mayaguez.

With runners at the corners, Raul Casanova doubled deep to left field scoring Jesus Feliciano to make it a 1-0 game. Next batter, Danny Valencia doubles to left scoring Randy Ruiz and Casanova giving Puerto Rico the 3-0 advantage in the first inning.

Diaz who was having control issues pitched four innings allowing three runs on three hits, walking three and striking out one.

Puerto Rico’s defensive woes continued as they committed two errors in the third inning being their eighth and ninth of the series. The errors extended the inning for the Dominican Republic. Dominican Winter League MVP Juan Francisco who had been struggling since the Finals finally came through with his first hit of the series, a single to left center field scoring Pablo Ozuna getting the Leones within striking distance, 3-1.

Escogido got closer in the fifth inning with a two out rally off of Baldwin when Ramon Santiago drew a walk and Francisco doubled him in to make the score 3-2.

Francisco, who has been struggling defensively, was used as the designated hitter by Ken Oberkfell, went 2-3 with 2 RBI.

Baldwin pitched 4 2/3 innings allowing one earned run on four hits, walking four while striking out two.

Indios de Mayaguez greeted reliver Juan Carreño with three consecutive singles to open up the sixth inning and pull away. Randy Ruiz came around to score the first of three runs in the inning. Miguel Abreu grounded into a force out that allowed Casanova to cross the plate. Jesus Feliciano singled to center scoring Valencia and giving Mayaguez the 6-2 lead.

Puerto Rico added another run in the seventh when Angel Sanchez singles in Edgardo Baez to go up 7-2. The Dominican team added a run of their own in the eighth inning on Wilkin Castillo’s RBI.

With their fourth consecutive victory the Dominican Republic would have secured at least a tie atop of the leader board, but now they must win on Saturday or Sunday. They will face Mexico who they beat 7-1 in their second game.

Puerto Rico who now stands at .500 will face Venezuela in Saturday’s nightcap looking to remain in contention.

Dominican Republic beats Venezuela 3-2 and remains undefeated

by Guille Esquivel

Ebeisbol.com Exclusive

Escogido’s Freddy Guzman stole home to break a 2-2 tie in the eighth inning giving the Dominican Republic their third consecutive win.

Nerio Rodriguez was the starter for Escogido and southpaw Jose Orteganos was on the mound for the Venezuelan team.

The Dominican team was looking to win three in a row and remain atop of the standings while Venezuela was looking to avoid a loss that would dampen their hopes of repeating as champions.

Errors continue to plague this edition of the Caribbean Series. Two consecutive fielding mistakes by third baseman Juan Francisco and shortstop Ramon Santiago allowed the Leones del Caracas to load the bases in the second inning. Rodriguez worked harder and longer, but managed to strike out Gregorio Petit looking to end the threat.

The Venezuelan team was first to score when in the third inning Oscar Salazar hit a two-run shot to left off of Rodriguez to take the 2-0 lead.

Rodriguez pitched 5 2/3 innings and allowed 2 runs while striking out seven.

Orteganos dominated the Escogido lineup keeping them hitless through five innings. In the sixth inning, Pablo Ozuna drew a walk and advanced on a wild pitch making him the first runner to reach second base. Guzman singled to center to break up the no-hitter. Santiago then singled to center scoring Ozuna to make it a one run game and trailed 2-1.

Orteganos was pulled in favor of Edgar Estanga who quickly retired the first two batters he faced. He then walked Willis Otañez to load the bases and face Fernando Martinez who went 2-4 with a home run in Tuesday’s game. He worked Martinez to a full count before getting him to pop out to first in foul territory.

Orteganos pitched five innings allowing one run on two hits, while walking three and striking out three.

In the seventh inning the Dominican team produced a two-out rally against reliever Darwin Cubillan who issued back to back walks to Ozuna and Guzman. Cubillan who had already made two appearances was quickly replaced by Edgar Alfonzo. Santiago came through again with his second single of the night scoring Ozuna and tying the game at 2. Guzman then accomplishes a rare feat by stealing home and giving Escogido the 3-2 lead. Guzman became the third player to steal home in the history of the Caribbean Series.

Cubillan was charged with the loss.

Venezuela ’s bats were silenced in the final two innings and Escogido went on to win the game.

Jose Veras working one scoreless inning in relief got the victory and closer Dario Veras got the save.

The Dominican team will look to pad their lead in the standings against Mexico on Friday.

Venezuela will face Puerto Rico in the second game. They have identical records and neither can afford to lose.