Puerto Rico greets Michael Hernandez after his HR

Day 3 began with the matchup of Mexico against Puerto Rico. Mexico was looking to keep pace with the Dominican Republic and win their second game and Puerto Rico was looking to avoid going 0-3. Puerto Rico sent 37-year old veteran Bill Pulsipher to the mound. Pulsipher relies on excellent location and changing speeds and those types of pitchers had succeeded so far in the Caribbean Series. Mexico sent minor league veteran Travis Blackley to the mound, who just signed with the NY Mets. The Aussie rarely throws two fastballs in a row and relies mainly on breaking pitches. However the breaking pitches were not working for Blackley early on.

The game began with a misplay in left field by Luis Cruz (he ran in and the ball was over his head) on a ball hit by Jesus Feliciano (Mets). After a hit by Luis Figueroa, leftfielder Miguel Abreu (Orioles) delivered an RBI double. First baseman Randy Ruiz (Blue Jays) followed with a two-run single. Blackley gave up five consecutive hits to start the game and was losing 3-0 before finally getting an out. It took 36 pitches for him to get through the first inning. The second inning started out the same for Blackley, but after allowing two straight hits, he found a groove and struck out Abreu and Ruiz to end the second inning. A 1-2-3 third inning followed for Blackley as he needed just 42 pitches to get through the 2-4 innings while he struck out four. Blackley’s troubles began again in the fifth as he allowed two straight hits, which ended his afternoon. Francisco Campos came on in relief and struck out both Ruiz and Edgardo Baez to end the threat.

Pulsipher on the other hand, was cruising along until the fourth inning when his defense failed him. With second and third and nobody out, Mexico’s Ruben Rivera hit a ground ball to short that was bobbled by Angel Sanchez. His throw to first appeared to be in time but Rivera was ruled safe and a run scored. After Pulsipher induced a double-play groundout, second baseman Figueroa committed an error on an inning-ending ground ball and another run scored. All-in-all, Puerto Rico committed three errors in the fourth to let Mexico cut the lead to 3-2. However in the sixth, DH Michael Hernandez ripped a two-run homerun off Campos in the sixth to give Puerto Rico a 5-2 lead. Despite giving up a run in the ninth, veteran Saul Rivera (Indians) completed the save after Pete Parise (Cardinals) dominated in his three innings of relief (allowing just 1 hit while striking out 4).

Venezuela fans

The night game pitted two heated rivals: the Dominican Republic and Venezuela. It was a battle of the young Venezuelan Atlanta Braves prospect (Jose Ortegano) against the veteran Dominican (Nerio Rodriguez). Ortegano was stellar as he carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning and he threw just 46 pitches through four innings. Rodriguez had his struggles as he threw a lot of pitches, but he only allowed third baseman Oscar Salazar’s two-run blast in the third inning.

In the sixth inning, Ortegano began to run out of gas. After a leadoff walk to Pablo Ozuna, centerfielder Freddy Guzman collected the Dominican’s first hit. Shortstop Ramon Santiago (Tigers) followed with an RBI single. That would be all for Ortegano and in came Edgar Estanga (Blue Jays), who with the bases-loaded got Fernando Martinez (Mets) to pop up and end the inning. This was the second time that the Dominican Republic had the bases-loaded and did not score. In the seventh inning, the Dominicans scored against reliever Darwin Cubillan to tie the game. With new reliever Edgar Alfonzo in, Guzman stole home with the go-ahead run. The pro-Venezuela crowd was in disbelief.

The Dominican Republic had another bases-loaded opportunity in the eighth, but Victor Mendez grounded into an inning-ending double play. Down by just one run in the ninth, the crowd got loud to get behind their Venezuelan’s, but Dominican closer Dario Veras set them down in order to earn the save.

The win improved the Dominicans record to 3-0 and dropped Venezuela to 1-2 and into a three-way tie with Mexico and Puerto Rico. With just three games left, the Caribbean Series appears to be again going to the Dominican Republic. Today Puerto Rico will go against the Dominican Republic in the afternoon and Mexico will face-off with Venezuela in the night game; both are rematches of Day 1.

Tags:

Bill Pulsipher, Caribbean Series, Dario Veras, Dominican Republic, Edgar Estanga, Freddy Guzman, Jose Ortegano, Mexico, Michael Hernandez, Miguel Abreu, Nerio Rodriguez, Oscar Salazar, Pete Parise, Puerto Rico, Ramon Santiago, Randy Ruiz, Saul Rivera, Travis Blackley, Venezuela

The Caribbean Series is set to begin on the Venezuelan island of Margarita on February 2nd. It continues until February 8^th. The four champions of the winter ball leagues in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela will meet today (Tuesday). MLB Network will be airing the series, beginning at 2:30 pm (EST). Puerto Rico (Mayaguez) squares off against the Dominican Republic (Escogido) followed by the opening ceremony. The night game pits the host country Venezuela (Caracas) against Mexico (Hermosillo). The series is in a round-robin format and the game to watch will be on February 4^th as Venezuela and the Dominican Republic will meet.

As the host country, Caracas will have the pressure of its fans at every game, along with being the reigning champion. Last year, Venezuela rolled through the series in Mexicali, Mexico with a 5-1 record. Offense hasn’t been a problem for Caracas as Carlos Maldonado (.333 average and 17 RBIs) and Josh Kroeger have led the way. Caracas has hit 19 homeruns in the playoffs and scored 211 runs in 23 games. Gustavo Chacin (3-2 with a 3.43 ERA and 25 strikeouts) leads the Caracas pitching staff and the bullpen (like Orber Moreno) has done a good job.

The Dominican Republic has won the Caribbean Series 17 times and 11 times since 1990. They hope to have ace Francisco Liriano for the series and he has pitched well throughout the Dominican’s winter league playoffs. Liriano is 3-1 with a 0.49 ERA. Pitching has been key for Escogido as that has been what has carried them to the Caribbean Series (a 2.61 ERA in 27 playoff games). Heath Phillips (3-0 with a 3.86 ERA) and Nelson Figueroa (1-1 with a 1.37 ERA) have pitched well. Wladimir Balentien (.348 average) and Kevin Barker (.337 average) have led the way offensively.

Mayaguez is well rested because their series only took five games to complete while the other leagues’ finals went seven (or nine) games. Offensively, Mayaguez may have the best team. Angel Sanchez (.452 average with 24 RBIs), Jesus Feliciano (.340 average), and Randy Ruiz (.289 average with 22 RBIs) have all been hot at the plate. Starter Bobby Cramer (0.79 ERA in 2 starts) and reliever Pete Parise (0.93 ERA in 6 games) have been some of the better pitchers in the league.

As for Mexico, their series just ended on Saturday. Hermosillo advanced on the heroics of outfielder Chris Roberson. Former big league All-Star Vinny Castilla (.270 average with 13 RBIs) has been hitting well, along with Roberson and veteran Geronimo Gil (.313 average). Travis Blackley (3-0 with a 2.01 ERA) and Juan Delgadillo (3-0 with a 2.49 ERA) have led the pitching staff.

The Caribbean Series should be exciting with national pride showing strong throughout. The crowds will be electric and packed, if any of the championship games attendances showed (around 16,000 a game in Venezuela). Each team has a current or former Major Leaguer and each team should match up well with the other. However, we will just have to see how the games play out.

Tags:

Caribbean Series, Chris Roberson, Dominican Republic, Francisco Liriano, Gustavo Chacin, Mexico, Pete Parise, Puerto Rico, Randy Ruiz, Venezuela, Vinny Castilla

Left-hander Gustavo Chacin (Astros) went seven scoreless innings allowing five hits as Caracas evened the Venezuelan Winter League’s championship series at 3-3 to force a deciding game seven versus Magallanes. Caracas scored five runs in the top of the fourth inning. Carlos Maldonado hit a two-run homerun, outfielder Josh Kroeger added a solo homerun (2 hits), and second baseman Jose Lopez (Mariners) also added a solo homerun. There were over 16,000 fans in attendance.

Carlos Maldonado

There was excitement in the air in Venezuela as the top two teams squared off for the winter league title and a shot at representing the host country in the Caribbean Series. Even Pablo Sandoval was given special permission from the SF Giants to return to Magallanes for the decisive Game 7 to DH and help his team win (he went 1-for-4). Unfortunately for Magallanes, Caracas’ Jason Standridge was too much as he went seven innings allowing an earned run on seven hits to lead Caracas to a 7-2 title-clinching win. Julio Manon, Orber Moreno, and Juan Gutierrez combined to go three no-hit innings in relief of Standridge. Caracas’ offense was also too much as they scored four runs in the top of the first inning and never looked back (they had 16 hits total). Maldonado went 4-for-5 with a double and two RBIs and outfielder Gregor Blanco (Braves) had a solo homerun and scored two runs to pace Caracas. Yurendell de Caster had two hits, drove in a run, and scored a run for Magallanes. It was Caracas’ first title since 2006 and over 16,000 fans were in attendance.

Aaron Bates

The Puerto Rican Winter League finals lasted just five games with another extra inning affair. Through seven innings, Mayaguez led 5-3 but Caguas stormed back to tie the game at 5-5 in the eighth inning. Cesar Nicolas and Aaron Bates (Red Sox) hit back-to-back homeruns to tie the game. Both teams scored a run in their half of the tenth, but in the eleventh Mayaguez scored two runs to win the game. Both Jesus Feliciano (Mets) and Randy Ruiz (Blue Jays) scored a run in the eleventh to take the championship series 4-1. Angel Sanchez went 4-for-6 with two runs scored and an RBI and Bates also doubled and scored two runs to pace Mayaguez to its first championship since 2005.

Mazatlan forced a decisive Game 7 in the Mexican Pacific League’s championship series by taking Game 6 4-3 over Hermosillo. Sergio Gastelum singled in the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth inning as well as compiling three RBIs. Veteran Ruben Rivera homered again for Mazatlan. Mazatlan squandered a 3-0 lead in the game. Veteran Vinny Castilla drove in two runs while fellow veteran Geronimo Gil had three hits for Hermosillo. Veteran Esteban Loaiza went 6.2 innings allowing eight hits and two runs for Mazatlan while minor league veteran Travis Blackley went 6 innings allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out three in the loss.

Outfielder Chris Roberson led off Game 7 for Hermosillo with a triple and scored the game’s only run on a Castilla double. Roberson also made the key defensive play of the game in the sixth inning as he made a sliding grab of Robert Saucedo’s fly ball and doubled Rivera off of second base to end Mazatlan’s best threat. Mexican League veteran Juan Delgadillo went 7.2 innings allowing six hits while striking out three to earn the 1-0 title-clinching win. The hard-luck loss went to Walter Silva who gave up just the one run on two hits over eight innings while striking out seven. Hermosillo won the title for the second time in four years.

Tags:

Aaron Bates, Angel Sanchez, Caribbean Series, Carlos Maldonado, Chris Roberson, Gustavo Chacin, Jason Standridge, Jose Lopez, Mexican Pacific League, Pablo Sandoval, Puerto Rican Winter League, Randy Ruiz, Ruben Rivera, Venezuelan Winter League, Vinny Castilla

In the Dominican, the championship series was heating up as Escogido, who was facing elimination, tied the best-of-nine championship series with Gigantes up at 4-4. This game had a dramatic ending as infielder Argenis Reyes doubled and scored the winning run in the 11^th inning to give Escogido a 4-3 walk-off win. Gigantes had taken the lead in the top of the ninth, only to see Escogido tie it in the bottom of the inning. Infielder Wilson Betemit hit his second solo homerun of the game in the ninth inning off of Santiago Casilla to give Gigantes the short-lived lead. DH Brayan Pena (Royals) added two hits for Escogido. This tie in the series forced a decisive Finals game with a trip to the Caribbean Series in Venezuela on the line.

Francisco Liriano

With the series all tied up in the Dominican Winter League championship, Escogido sent Minnesota Twins lefty Francisco Liriano to the mound. Liriano dominated, going five shutout innings allowing just one hit while striking out ten. This is just the dominant performance the Twins are hoping for in the 2010 season. Liriano improved to 3-1 with a 0.49 ERA in seven playoff games (37 innings) while striking out 47. Outfielder Wladimir Balentien (Reds) hit a solo homerun in Escogido’s three-run second inning. Infielder Joaquin Arias (Rangers) went 2-for-4 with an RBI single. Alex Valdez (A’s) drove in two runs and scored a run in the ninth inning, providing the necessary insurance for reliever Casilla, who threw a scoreless ninth inning for the save. Escogido won their first Dominican championship since 1992 (and 14^th overall) and move onto the Caribbean Series to represent the Dominican Republic.

In Puerto Rico, Mayaguez took a commanding 3-0 series lead over Caguas. However this game wouldn’t end until fourteen innings were complete. Jesus Feliciano (Mets) went 4-for-6 with an RBI triple and a run scored while Randy Ruiz (Blue Jays) had an RBI single in the 3-2 win. Bobby Cramer went 6.1 innings allowing one run on three hits while striking out four. Caguas came back to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth inning off of closer Fernando Cabrera. Benigno Cepeda went three no-hit innings for Mayaguez in extra innings. Saul Rivera threw four shutout innings allowing one hit while striking out four in extra innings for Caguas. Cesar Nicolas and Aaron Bates (Reds Sox) contributed two hits each in the loss.

Alex Cora with the Red Sox

Caguas held off elimination by handing Mayaguez a 9-2 loss. Carlos Rivera doubled twice and drove in three runs. Infielder Alex Cora (Mets) drove in two runs and Adrian Ortiz homered. Bates and Nicolas also contributed two hits a piece. Willie Collazo went seven innings allowing four hits and an earned run for the win.

Game 5 of the Mexican Pacific League finals went to Hermosillo by way of a rout, 9-0. Edgar Gonzalez tossed a complete game five-hit shutout over Mazatlan. He walked two and struck out five. Veteran Karim Garcia had a three-run homerun and Luis A. Garcia added a two-run homerun while scoring three times (and he had three hits). Leftfielder Nelson Teilon went 3-for-4 and catcher Geronimo Gil went 2-for-3. Shortstop Reid Brignac (Rays) had two of Mazatlan’s five hits in the loss.

Tags:

Alex Cora, Argenis Reyes, Bobby Cramer, Dominican Winter League, Edgar Gonzalez, Escogido, Francisco Liriano, Jesus Feliciano, Mexican Pacific League, Puerto Rican Winter League, Randy Ruiz, Willie Collazo

Chris Roberson with Ottawa

Mazatlan took a 2-1 series lead over Hermosillo in their Game 3 8-7 victory. Veteran Ruben Rivera continued to hit and hit for power as he homered and drove in three runs. Rivera’s homerun was the game winner, as he hit a two-run blast off of Mexican League veteran pitcher Jose Vargas in the top of the ninth inning. Outfielder Jon Weber also continues to hit, going 3-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI. Both teams had ten hits. Close to 13,000 fans turned out in Hermosillo.

Hermosillo tied the championship series up at 2-2 over Mazatlan in Game 4. Outfielder Chris Roberson fell a triple short of the cycle, going 4-for-5 with a homerun, two runs scored, and four RBIs. Mexican League veterans, catcher Geronimo Gil and shortstop Jose Luis Sandoval both went 2-for-4. Left-hander Juan Oramas went 6.1 innings allowing just two hits while striking out six. He allowed just one run in the win despite walking six batters. In the loss, Rivera hit another homerun, one of Mazatlan’s four hits. Over 13,000 fans were in attendance for Game 4.

Randy Ruiz

Game 1 of the Puerto Rican Winter League finals got underway and it took extra innings to declare a winner. Mayaguez won 7-6 over Caguas in ten innings. Andres Torres hit a game-tying two-run triple in the ninth inning for Mayaguez off of losing pitcher Joe Torres. First baseman Donny Leon and Angel Sanchez both collected three hits in the win. DH Randy Ruiz (Blue Jays) collected two doubles and scored two runs. In the loss, outfielder Eddy Martinez-Esteve (Giants) collected two doubles and an RBI. Also for Caguas, second baseman Jose Castro and DH Cesar Nicolas went 3-for-4. Veteran pitcher Mike Maroth started for Mayaguez, going 4.1 innings allowing seven hits, four walks, and three runs, while striking out three.

Game 2 was also a one run game that went to Mayaguez. Ruiz was the offensive hero as he went 2-for-3 with two doubles while he drove in all five of the team’s runs. In the 5-4 loss, Edgardo Baez had a three- run homerun. Winning pitcher Juan Padilla went 5.2 innings allowing five hits and three runs while striking out three, as he gave up Baez’ homerun. Veteran infielder Alex Cora went 2-for-3 and catcher Raul Casanova went 2-for-4 in the loss.

In the Venezuelan Winter League finals, Magallanes took a 3-2 series lead over Caracas to come within one win of the title and a trip to the Caribbean Series. Shortstop Elvis Andrus (Rangers) went 3-for-4 with a homerun and two runs scored in the 3-0 win. First baseman Yurendell de Caster continues hit hot-hitting as he went 2-for-4. Raul Valdes continued his playoff dominance as he went seven innings allowing just two hits and no runs while striking out four. Jean Machi and Francisco Rodriguez (who got the save) combined to go two one-hit innings in relief of Valdes. Veteran Ramon Ortiz went 5.1 innings allowing four hits and two runs while striking out five in the loss. Over 20,000 fans were in attendance.

Tags:

Chris Roberson, Eddy Martinez-Esteve, Elvis Andrus, Jon Weber, Mexican Pacific League, Puerto Rican Winter League, Ramon Ortiz, Randy Ruiz, Raul Valdes, Ruben Rivera, Venezuelan Winter League