Being at a Caribbean Series game is like being at an event, even before the baseball begins. It is like a mini Olympics with music and dancing, a celebration of the culture, and an announcement of the teams. Fans wear their country’s colors and wave their flags proudly. Fans bring in their own noisemakers (some the size of children) along with drums, maracas, and tambourines. Despite everything that is going on, the main focus of the fans, young and old, is what is happening on the field-the baseball game.

Mario Santiago with Single-A Wilmington

The 52^nd annual Caribbean Series began with the matchup between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. It was a pitcher’s duel between the young Puerto Rican (Mario Santiago of the KC Royals) and the seasoned veteran Dominican (Raul Valdes). Both deserved to win but one had to lose. The Dominican Republic scored an unearned run in the bottom of the first to take a 1-0 lead. The scored stayed the same until the sixth inning. Through five innings, Valdes had eight strikeouts but Santiago held the Dominicans to just two hits. In the top of the sixth, Puerto Rico scored on a fielder’s choice, but the Dominicans retook the lead at 2-1 on Kevin Barker’s opposite field solo homerun (Santiago’s lone mistake). The announcers, Victor Rojas and Mitch Williams from the MLB Network, talked about how Valdes does not have big league starter’s stuff, but he mowed down the Puerto Rican lineup. His keys were to keep hitters off balance and to have excellent control. Valdes combined with Joel Peralta (2 innings) and Dario Veras (1 inning save) to give up just the one run for the 2-1 win.  Santiago went seven innings allowing just three hits while striking out eight (on just 93 pitches). Reliever Pete Parise (Cardinals) dominated in his one inning of work.

The night game (which during the series will always include host Venezuela) pitted Venezuela against Mexico. Mexico jumped on Venezuela’s Guillermo Moscoso (Rangers) early and often. In the first after an error by shortstop Gregorio Petit (A’s) kept the inning alive with two runners on, veteran Ruben Rivera ripped a two-run triple. In the fourth inning, Mexico broke the game open with a four spot, highlighted by a two-run double by leftfielder Nelson Teilon and an RBI double by veteran third baseman Vinny Castilla. Moscoso lasted just 3.2 innings giving up four runs (two earned) on six hits and two walks while throwing 79 pitches.

On the other hand, Mexico’s Pablo Ortega dominated the first three innings, throwing just 38 pitches. Though he struggled in the fourth (throwing 30 pitches) allowing one run, he threw just 6 pitches in the fifth (his final inning). Defense was also key for Ortega and Mexico. Venezuela’s Oscar Salazar ripped a ball to the wall in left-center with a runner on but centerfielder Chris Roberson relayed quickly to shortstop Heber Gomez to throw the runner out by a mile to end the second. Roberson again provided heroics, this time in the third on a ten hopper up the middle with a fast runner (Petit) on second. He came up firing, again throwing out the runner by a mile at the plate.

To the dismay of the fans, Venezuela lost Game 1 7-2. After Day 1, both Mexico and the Dominican Republic are 1-0 and meet Wednesday afternoon. Puerto Rico and Venezuela drop to 0-1 and meet Wednesday night. The best record after 6 games wins the series. If there is a tie, there will be a one-game playoff on February 8^th.