Puerto Rico still alive after 7-1 win over Venezuela

by Michael Ferrin

Ebeisbol.com Exclusive

Puerto Rico’s been playing must win games the last 3 nights. They’ll get to play another Sunday, thanks to the work of 20 year old Efrain Nieves. The lefty entered a bases loaded jam in the 5th, fanned a pair and allowed a Sac Fly, squashing a rally, and keeping Los Indios de Mayaguez alive with a 7-1 win over Venezuela.

Now, Puerto Rico must beat Mexico Sunday afternoon, and hope Venezuela can upset the Dominican Republic to force a Championship Game Monday. Nieves was a major reason why Puerto Rico still has a chance.

Despite the fact he lead 4-0 and didn’t allow a hit until the 5th, Puerto Rico starter Brodie Downs couldn’t make it out of that inning. He departed with the bases loaded and nobody out, having walked 4 and hitting a batter in 4 plus innings.

Enter Nieves, to face the top of the Venezuelan order. The Brewers farm hand promptly fanned leadoff man Erold Andrus, allowed a sac fly to the Phillies Luis Maza, then fanned Padres 1B Oscar Salazar on a 3-2 breaking ball to escape with a 4-1 lead.

Los Indios offense jumped on Venezuela starter Heath Totten in the top of the third inning. 3 straight 2 out singles gave them a 1-0 lead, and it could have been more. Luis Figueroa was caught on a delayed steal to end the inning, and couldn’t stay in the rundown long enough to let Jesus Feliciano to score from 3rd.

In the Mayaguez 4th, Twins 3B Prospect Danny Valencia doubled the lead, clanging a 2-1 Fastball off the left field foul pole for his 1st home run of the series. Angel Sanchez reached on an error by SS Marwin Gonzalez, who was starting in part because Gregorio Petit had committed 4 errors over the past 4 games. Catcher Edwards Guzman singled Sanchez to 3rd, and he scored when Miguel Abreu hit into a double play making it 3-1 Puerto Rico.

Jesus Feliciano homered to right center, giving Los Indios a 4-1 lead, as Feliciano continued his torrid series. A Mets farmhand, through 5 games, the left handed hitting Center Fielder is 10-23. He’d add another RBI on a fielder’s choice as part of a 3 run Puerto Rico 6th.

But, the real hero was Nieves. A former 7th round pick of Milwaukee, Nieves fanned 3 in 2 2/3 innings of scoreless ball, gaining his 2nd win of the series.

Edwards Guzman added 2 hits and a RBI, Angel Sanchez also scored twice as Puerto Rico avenged a 5-2 loss earlier in the tournament. Jose Lobaton had 2 of Venezuela’s 4 hits on the night.

The defending champions & host Venezuela, have struggled offensively, and enter the final day 1-4, but with a chance to affect the outcome of the entire tournament, something Puerto Rico needs if it’s to have a chance to win the 2010 Series.

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.

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.

Mexico beats host Venezuela convincingly, 7-2

by Guille Esquivel
Ebeisbol.com exclusive

 

Mexico started off on the right foot as they defeated host Venezuela 7-2 in the second game of the series.

Mexican team manager Homar Rojas was interviewed before the game and he said that Mexico ’s strength was pitching and that was evident in their first game as the pitching corps only allowed one earned run.

Venezuela represented by the Leones del Caracas are looking to go back to back in the Caribbean Series. Mexico is represented by the Naranjeros de Hermosillo who beat in state rival and last year’s representative Venados de Mazatlan in seven games to earn their spot.

Venezuela has seven Caribbean Series titles while Mexico only has five. Caracas and Hermosillo each have eleven championship titles in their respective country’s leagues.

In the first inning with two outs, Vinicio Castilla drew a walk off of Guillermo Moscoso and Luis Garcia reached base on second baseman Gregorio Petit’s error to extend the inning. Panamanian Ruben Rivera who also accompanied the Mexican team in Mexicali last year hit a triple scoring both to take the early 2-0 lead. Moscoso was given permission to pitch in only one game for Venezuela . He pitched 3.2 innings allowing five runs, three of them unearned while walking two and striking out three.

Venezuela made a little noise in the second with two outs when Jesus Guzman singled to left and Oscar Salazar doubled deep off the centerfield wall, but Guzman was gunned down at home by Chris Roberson to end the inning.

Roberson displayed his great arm again in the third inning when he threw Petit out at home while attempting to score from second on a single by Erold Andrus.

Mexico extended their lead in the third inning with two outs when Carlos Gastelum reached base on a bunt towards third. Roberson doubles to left advancing the runner to third. Dominican Nelson Teilon followed with a double scoring both Gastelum and Roberson to take the 4-0 lead. Mexican star Vinicio Castilla doubled as well scoring Teilon and Castilla came around to score on an error by first baseman Guzman giving Hermosillo the 6-0 lead.

Venezuela finally got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning when Michael Ryan scored on Salazar’s single to center off of Pablo Ortega making the score 6-1. Ortega pitched five innings allowing one earned run on seven hits, walking one and striking out one.

The Leones took advantage of reliever Francisco Felix’s control issues and an error committed by Heber Gomez in the sixth inning to load up the bases. Jackson Melian drew a walk pushing in Ryan with their second run of the night. With the bases loaded, Petit with a chance to vindicate himself after committing two errors in the game hit a grounder to second to end the inning. Venezuela crossed the plate only once in the inning making the score 6-2.

In the top of the seventh inning, Mexico got the run back when Castilla hit a solo shot to left to give Mexico a 5-run advantage again, 7-2. Castilla came through on a promise to his daughter that he would hit a home run.

METS PROSPECT FERNANDO MARTINEZ ENJOYING HIS FIRST SERIE DEL CARIBE

 

By Guille Esquivel
Exclusive to www.eBeisbol.com

 

Mexicali, Mexico - Feb. 5th - The New York Mets baseball operations hierarchy are proponents of winter baseball as a place where team prospects can work to improve on certain aspects of their game. In the Dominican Republic, winter baseball is not about development, but competiveness and winning. This also adds to the overall make up of a professional player. Fernando Martinez, a 20-year old Dominican and coveted outfield prospect of the Mets, experienced his winter ball season playing for the leones de Escogido and he had an enviable debut.Martinez batted .314, had 6 homeruns, 26 RBI and 26 runs scored. That was enough to get him an invitation to join the Dominican League champions, the Tigres del Licey to represent the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean Series.

Martinez felt a pull in his right elbow in practice prior to playing in his first game on Tuesday. It did not seem to affect him as he hit a homerun in his only at bat as a pinch hitter for Licey. It was a 2-run homerun that secured the Dominican Republic’s first and only victory up until the midway point of the Caribbean Series.

Fernando Ravelo, Licey’s GM called the New York Mets and notified them of the injury, leading to the end of Martinez’s winter league season. The Mets are looking to have Fernando rest and heal before the start of spring training.

Martinez will be missed by Licey who will only be carrying 27 players which only four of them are outfielders.

There has been a lot of firsts for Martinez who is participating in his first Caribbean Series and this is also his first time in Mexico. “Mexicali is very pretty and I have enjoyed my time here,” Martinez told ebeisbol.com. He also said that he hopes to keep playing in the winter league in the Dominican Republic and hopes to participate in more Caribbean Series.

ARAGUA TIGERS ROAR LOUDER

By Guile Esquivel
Exclusive to www.eBeisbol.com

Aragua upsets Licey 3-2 in the inaugural game trying to prevent the winningest Caribbean Series team (10 crowns) from claiming back to back titles for the first time in their history.

Dominican pitcher Victor Marte opened the ninth inning by walking Ramon Castro. Castro moved to second base on Rodney Medina’s grounder to first and Maza singled to right allowing Castro to score the winning run. Marte was charged with the loss in one inning of relief.

American pitcher Brad Knox flirted with a no hitter through 6 1/3 before being pulled and replaced by Yohan Pino. Knox struck out five and walked five including Jose Bautista with one out in the seventh inning. Pino’s first pitch was promptly placed in the left field seats by Belliard to tie the game at 2.

With two outs in the second inning, Aragua took advantage of Ronnie Belliard’s throwing error allowing Aragua to extend the inning and take the 1-0 lead when Luis Ugueto scored on Castro’s single to left.

In the top of the seventh, they added to their lead when Dodgers’ farmhand Luis Maza doubled in Alex Delgado to go up 2-0.

Last year’s Caribbean Series MVP Ramon Ortiz allowed two runs one of those unearned on eight hits while pitching 7 innings and leaving the game with a no decision.

In the eighth inning, Tampa Bay’s Willy Aybar hit a dribbler to Ronald Belisario who lost the ball in the sun. Philadelphia Phillies’ Ronny Paulino followed with a single to left, but Amaury Cazaña hits into the 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.

Belisario was the winning pitcher and closer Francisco Butto came in the ninth to close out the game retiring the three batters he faced to get the save.