Danny Valencia with Double-A New Britain

Day 4 was a rematch of the Day 1 matchups. Puerto Rico faced off against the Dominican Republic. Puerto Rico’s Andrew Baldwin (Mariners), who had only gone six innings once in winter ball, went up against Dominican long reliever Felix Diaz.  In the first inning, Puerto Rico jumped all over Diaz as they did the day before against Travis Blackley of Mexico. DH Raul Casanova ripped a ground-rule double and drove in a run and third baseman Danny Valencia (Twins) drove in two more with a double. Valencia finished the game with 3 RBIs and a run scored. Diaz settled in to just give up those three runs in four innings on just three hits. Baldwin went 4.2 innings allowing an earned run on four hits, though he did walk four. Puerto Rico’s defense failed him (it has been shoddy during the whole series) as the first run he allowed was unearned.

Unfortunately for Diaz and the Dominican Republic, the bullpen failed to keep the game close as Puerto Rico won 7-3 to hand the Dominicans their first loss. Puerto Rico scored three more runs in the sixth inning to break the game open. The win for Puerto Rico gives them hope that they can win the Caribbean Series as they evened their record to 2-2.

In the Mexico versus Venezuela rematch, both teams received great pitching. For Mexico, Juan Delgadillo struggled a bit early on. In the top of the second inning, leftfielder Michael Ryan (who was only 2-for-13 so far in the series) blasted a solo homerun. In the top of the third inning, centerfielder Erold Andrus (Rays) hit a double and second baseman Luis Maza (Phillies) followed with an infield single. Third baseman Oscar Salazar (Padres) ripped an RBI single to give Venezuela a 2-0 lead. In the top of the fourth inning with a runner on, Rene Reyes ripped a shot to dead center. However centerfielder Chris Roberson made an over-the-shoulder catch at the wall to add to his Caribbean Series defensive highlight reel (maybe someone should sign him?). After that Delgadillo seemed to settle in and cruised through the Venezuela lineup. Delgadillo went eight innings allowing just the two runs on six hits while striking out three.

For Venezuela, Jose Sanchez was cruising along until the fourth inning. Roberson blooped a hit to left field but hustled in to second base after Ryan made a weak throw into the infield. Veteran rightfielder Karim Garcia, making his first Caribbean Series appearance, bunted for a base hit. First baseman Luis Garcia followed two batters later with an RBI groundout. In the sixth inning, Karim Garcia blasted a solo homerun. Sanchez lasted six innings allowing two runs on five hits while striking out eight.

Vinny Castillo celebrates

Against the Venezuelan bullpen, Mexico loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth inning, but catcher Saul Soto grounded to first and Venezuela’s Raul Padron (in his first game at first base) turned an inning-ending double play (3-2-3). Mexico’s Mario Mendoza had another great relief appearance. In the bottom of the tenth inning, Roberson sacrificed Heber Gomez over to second base. After an intentional walk to Karim Garcia, veteran Vinny Castilla ripped the first pitch he saw from Elio Serrano into the left-centerfield gap and off the wall for the game-winning hit. Mendoza got the 3-2 win and Mexico improved to 2-2 in the series. Host Venezuela dropped to last place with a 1-3 record. Mexico will face the Dominican Republic this afternoon with the chance to tie them for the top spot. Venezuela will face Puerto Rico tonight.