1/17/17

MEXICO SEMI FINAL SERIES Game 1: Hermosillo 7, Mexicali 8
Game 2: Hermosillo 6, Mexicali 16
Game 3: Mexicali 1, Hermosillo 2
Game 4: Mexicali 1, Hermosillo 4
Game 5: Mexicali 6, Hermosillo 1
Aguilas de Mexicali leads series 3-2
Game 6: 01/18 7:30 p.m.
Game 7: 01/19 7:30 p.m.

[ SUMMARY TO FOLLOW ]
Pena, Aguilas top Hermosillo, 6-1, to take LMP semifinal series lead

Mexicali 6-11-1, HERMOSILLO 1-6-2

The Mexicali Aguilas knocked Hermosillo starter Juan Pablo Oramas out of the game in the second inning and went on to beat the Naranjeros, 6-1, Tuesday to take a 3-games-to-2 lead in their Mexican Pacific League semifinal series. A near-sellout crowd of 15,932 watched the contest at Hermosillo's Estadio Sonora as Mexicali pitcher Miguel Pena (pictured) turned in a strong 6.1 innings of work on the mound, throwing 67 of his 88 pitches for strikes.

The Aguilas staked Pena an early 2-0 lead by scoring twice in the top of the first inning. Chris Roberson and Ramon Rios led the game off with back-to-back singles off Oramas, with Robo moving to third on Rios' safety. After Oramas struck out Yuniesky Betancourt and got C.J. Retherford to pop out to first, MexPac batting champ Luis Juarez singled up the middle to bring Roberson in from third. Agustin Murillo then lifted a fly ball to center that dropped in for a single to plate Rios from second, giving Pena a cushion before ever taking the hill.

Pena, a Texan who spent four years in the Red Sox system, recorded a 1-2-3 bottom of the first before his teammates provided him an added pillow by scoring twice more in the second. Yordanys Linares led off with a bunt toward the mound and was able to reach second when Oramas threw the ball past first sacker Efren Navarro. After Pena walked Roberson with one out, Naranjeros manager Lorenzo Bundy replaced him with Pablo Ortega, a 40-year-old veteran who was the Mexican League Pitcher of the Year in 2009 with Quintana Roo. Rios greeted Ortega by lining a first-pitch single to left that brought Linares in and moved Roberson to second. After a Betancourt single loaded the bases, Retherford sent a sacrifice fly to right that allowed Roberson to score from third, giving the Aguilas a 4-0 advantage. O'Koyea Dickson led off the bottom of the second with a homer to right that put the Naranjeros on the scoreboard, but that was the only mistake Pena would make all night.

Hermosillo's Tim Torres made things interesting in the bottom of the fifth by protesting a called third strike, which earned him an early shower courtesy of home plate umpire Jaime Gutierrez, but that proved to be the last time the Orangemen would be heard from. Mexicali scored insurance runs in the eighth and ninth, including a Retherford homer to straightaway center, but they weren't really needed as Pena and three relievers combined to scatter six Hermosillo hits, walking none and registering a combined seven strikeouts. Aguilas closer Jake Sanchez whiffed Dustin Martin swinging to end the tilt and give the visitors the lead in the series, which now shifts back to Mexicali for Game Six.

Pena earned his second win of the playoffs (and first of the series) while Oramas, who just missed winning the regular season ERA title, was tagged with the loss as his postseason ERA ballooned to 9.64. Ortega settled down to put in 6.2 innings for Hermosillo, allowing no earned runs on five hits while striking out six. Betancourt finished with three hits for the Aguilas while Roberson and Rios each chipped in with two. Hermosillo had two-hit nights from Jose Amador and Sergio Burruel.

Since the series had been pushed back one day due to Saturday's rainout in Hermosillo, there will be no travel day break as the two teams play tonight in Mexicali. Los Mochis hosts Culiacan for Game Six of their Final Four series with Culiacan Wednesday, with the Caneros holding a 3-games-to-2 edge in that set.

1/18/17

PUERTO RICO LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Game 1: Caguas 1, Santurce 0
Game 2: Santurce 6, Caguas 3
Game 3: Caguas 4, Santurce 2
Game 4: Santurce 4, Caguas 1
series tied 2-2
Game 5: 01/19 7:15 p.m.
Game 6: 01/21 7:15 p.m.
Game 7: 01/22 4:15 p.m.
Game 8: 01/25 7:15 p.m.
Game 9: 01/26 7:15 p.m.
Cangrejeros Tiel the winter baseball finals

The series has been dominated by the visiting teams in the first four games of the championship series.


The Caguas Criollos fell for the second time in the final series of winter baseball against the Cangrejeros de Santurce, this time by a 4-1 score, in Yldefonso Solá Morales stadium, home of the Caguas team.

The series, which evened at two wins per side, has been dominated by visiting teams in the first four gamesl.

For the second time in the series, the Cangrejeros took control of the game in the top of the seventh. With the game tied at 1-1. Santurce lead off the inning with a double by Christian Vazquez and then scored on a single by José Lozada. In the ninth inning, Lozada batted in the fourth run for his team with single that brought to the plate to Ismael Salgado.

Lozada was the hottest hitter for the Cangrejeros going 3-3 and scored three of the four runs.

Santurce scored their run in the sixth inning on a homer by Rusney Castillo. Castillo connected for three of Caguas's six hits.

The righty Andrés Santiago won the game in relief, with two and a third innings of work. Fernando Cabrera claimed his fourth save of the postseason. John Brownell took the loss by giving three runs and five hits in six innings and a third.

1/18/17

CUBAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

1/18/17

CUBAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
THE RUNS:

2nd Y.Fiss flied out to right.
2nd O.Vazquez homered to left. (1)
2nd D.Duarte singled to center.
2nd F.Morejon commits an error. D.Duarte steals second and advances to third by error.
2nd Y.Charles singled to right. D.Duarte scored. (2)
2nd Y.Borroto singled to right on rolata. Y.Charles to third.
2nd R.Gonzalez hit center wide. And he is out. Y.Charles scored. (3)
2nd R. Gonzalez is caught stealing. Granma 0 Ciego de Avila 3.

8th O.Abreu singled.
8th R.Santos flied out to left.
8th Y.Manduley doubled to right. O.Abreu scored. (1)
8th R. Martinez relieved V.Garcia.
8th Y.Paumier walked.
8th A.Despaigne struck out swinging.
8th D.Laza singled to shortstop. Y.Paumier to second. Y.Manduley to third.
8th C.Benitez singled to center. D.Laza to third. Y.Paumier scored. Y.Manduley scored. (2), (3).
8th G.Aviles struck out. Granma 3 Ciego de Avila 3.

10th Y.Manduley popped out to shortstop.
10th Y.Paumier popped out to shortstop.
10th A.Despaigne homered to right. (4)
10th D.Laza walked.
10th C.Benitez walked. D.Laza to second.
10th L.Glez relieved R.Martinez.
10th A.Arias struck out. Granma 4 Ciego de Avila 3 Despaigne hits game winning home run and Granma scores 4-3 for first win in Cuba baseball finals.

Alfredo Despaigne smashed a monster home run in the tenth inning and Granma defeated Ciego de Avila 4-3 in the first game of the championship series.

Until the moment of the connection, the Granma slugger - also in the Professional League of Japan - was 0-3, with two strikeouts and a walk.

Ciego de Avila are the defending champions of Cuba claiming the titles in 2012, 2015 and 2016, always under the command of the manager Roger Machado.

The duel between right-handers Vladimir Garcia, and Yoelkis Cruz, for the challengers, had their first battle in the second stage of the playoffs. The home team, Ciego took charge with an early 3-0 lead in the second inning on a solo home run by Osvaldo Vázquez, an rbi hit by Yorelvis Charles and scored on a hit by Raul Gonzalez.

From that moment on, except for sporadic threats, the pitchers controlled the action and the game took a fast pace, especially for García, who until the seventh inning had barely allowed a hit, with six strikeouts.

Indeed, at the end of the seventh inning, the Avilanians threatened to extend the lead, but Granma's manager Carlos Martí removed Yoelkis Cruz and instead put leandro Martinez on the mound to quell the "fire." Martinez responded firmly to the confidence of his manager when he dominated Julio Pablo Martinez in a harmless fly to the center.

Then the Granma bats woke up and began to believe in the comeback, although most of the 10 thousand fans who packed the stadium were fully confident that their champion Tigers would subdue any comeback attempts.

In the beginning of the eighth, the granmenses scored a run on Yordan Manduley double, that caused the explosion against Garcia.

Machado immediately summoned to the mound the flamethrower Raidel Martinez, who gave up a walk to Yunior Paumier. Dennis Laza singled following a strikeout by Alfredo Despaigne to fill the bases. Then, Carlos Benitez, one of Granma's best hitters in this postseason, fired a single into the center field and batted in two teammates which tied the score 3-3.

The score on the board made the atmosphere in the baseball park quite thin. The impetus of Ciego de Ávila faded and Granma carried the gallons of oxygen. The final was expected to be great, spectacular !

And it could not be less apectacular. Despaigne fired a massive solo homer at the start of the tenth inning and defined an unexpected comeback.

In the closing tenth, Julio Pablo Martinez opened with a single to the right, but was doubled up largely because of the superb play by Alesquemer Sánchez.

In the end, Garcia and Cruz left without decisions. The victory went to Miguel Lahera, Granma's third pitcher in the game, after throwing two complete innings without allowing runs.

This series will be like this from beginning to end. Everything will be decided by fundamentals. The series will reach the sixth or the seventh game. Lahera stated in dialogue with the press, recalling that Granma reached this final after eliminating the heavily favored Matanzas club.

These teams will return tomorrow in the same stage from 19:15 local time, with an alleged duel between right handers Bladimir Baños and Noelvis Entenza, although Martí could use his main pitcher, Lázaro Blanco, with four days rest.

Alfredo Despaigne is my favorite Cuban ball player right now. He's the last of the top five players in the country. Jose Abreu, Yoenis Cespedes, Yasiel Puig, and Yulieski Gurriel have defected to the USA. Despaigne sacrificed millions of dollars by not defecting. Remember, the Serie Nationale is a league in which the median salary is $125 per month in 2015. The salaries may be a little more today. Cuban officials permit their players to seek work in other leagues. In Despaigne's case, he first played in the Mexican Summer League. The past two seasons, he's been working in Japan. Compared to his Cuban League salary, he's making his fortune in Japan. Despaigne's Japanese salary last year was 2.3 million dollars which pales in comparison with his defectors. Alfredo Despaigne is still pretty young and can still make his fortunes in the USA. In 2016 he turned 30 years old.

1/18/16

MEXICO SEMI FINALS - GAMES STILL IN PROGRESS

1/18/16

MEXICO SEMI FINALS
Game 1: Culiacan 0, Los Mochis 5
Game 2: Culiacan 2, Los Mochis 14
Game 3: Los Mochis 3, Culiacan 7
Game 4: Los Mochis 1, Culiacan 4
Game 5: Los Mochis 3, Culiacan 2
Game 6: Culiacan 9, Los Mochis 2
Series tied 3-3
Game 7: 01/19 7:30 p.m.

Game 1: Hermosillo 7, Mexicali 8
Game 2: Hermosillo 6, Mexicali 16
Game 3: Mexicali 1, Hermosillo 2
Game 4: Mexicali 1, Hermosillo 4
Game 5: Mexicali 6, Hermosillo 1
Game 6: Hermosillo 7, Mexicali 2
Series tied 3-3
Game 7: 01/19 7:30 p.m.

Culiacan, Hermosillo both win, Game Seven semis set for Thursday

Both Culiacan and Hermsosillo had to win road games Wednesday to stay alive in their respective Mexican Pacific League semifinal series. The Tomateros and Naranjeros responded to the "Win-or-go-home" challenges by copping victories to extend each set to a seventh and deciding game Thursday night. Ramiro Pena's three-run homer highlighted a six-run outburst in the sixth inning, propelling Culiacan to a 9-2 triumph in Los Mochis as a standing-room crowd of 11,192 watched at Estadio Emilio Ibarra Almada. Hermosillo likewise won big, 7-2, in Mexicali as Dodgers farmhand O'Koyea Dickson (pictured) walloped two homers in front of a full house of 17,000 at the Aguilas' Estadio B'Air.

Thursday's Game Sevens in Los Mochis and Mexicali will both get underway at 7:30PM Mountain Time.
Culiacan 9-13-1, LOS MOCHIS 2-5-0

As seems his wont, Hector Daniel Rodriguez has brought his "A" game to the postseason for Culiacan. The Tomateros' homegrown lefty went 4-6 with a 3.50 ERA in 13 starts during the regular season, a subpar winter for him. Since the playoffs began, however, the 32-year-old lefty has kicked into overdrive and the result is a 4-0 record with a 2.52 ERA, including Wednesday's 9-2 win at Los Mochis. Rodriguez allowed one run while scattering five hits in six innings for the Tomateros, striking out nine Caneros batsmen and walking two. Sixty of his 93 pitches went for strikes before leaving the game with a 6-1 lead. Rodriguez has earned a reputation as a big game pitcher, winning the MVP award at last winter's Caribbean Series as a reinforcement pickup of the champion Mazatlan Venados.

The contest was competitive for the first few innings. Culiacan drew first blood by scoring a run on a Joey Meneses sacrifice fly to center in the top of the second that brought in Ronnier Mustelier. Mochis tied it up at 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth when vet Saul Soto doubled in Leandro Castro from first. One of the ageless wonders of Mexican baseball, the 38-year-old Soto is hitting .343 in the playoffs while, like Rodriguez, playing for his hometown team. Culiacan broke the tie with two runs in the fifth as Caneros starter Luis Niebla self-destructed by giving up two hits, walking two more batters and hitting a batter before he was mercifully lifted for Isaaac Jimenez, who got Issmael Salas to fly out with the bases loaded to keep the floodgates from opening. That happened in the sixth, when six more Culiacan runners crossed the plate to make it 8-1. Pena's three-run bomb was the deepest cut as eleven Tomateros strode to the plate against four Mochis pitchers. From that point it was acamedic, although the Caneros did score one final run in the seventh.

Mustelier finished the night with three hits, two runs scored and one driven in for Culiacan, who also got two hits each from longtimers Jose Manuel Rodriguez and Oscar Robles. Niebla took the loss for Mochis, although special mention should be given to reliever Lenix Osuna, who faced five batters and allowed four runs (including Pena's blasted) without retiring a batter. Onetime Red Sox minor leaguer J.C. Linares had two of the Caneros' five hits, including a double, while throwing out Culiacan's Ryan Lollis at the plate from center field to end the third inning.
Hermosillo 7-12-0, MEXICALI 2-12-2

Dickson had a huge game at the plate for the Naranjeros, going 3-for-4 with two homers, four RBIs and a pair of runs to pace Hermosillo's must-win 7-2 road triumph at La Nida in Mexicali. It was a forgettable night for both starting pitchers, with Travis Blackley of Hermosillo and Mexicali's Hector Velazquez combining to cough up 15 hits and six runs over eight innings between them. It was left to unsung Jose Samayoa to relieve Blackley and hold the fort until the Orangemen offense found its bearings.

The Naranjeros got on the board in the top of the first via a two-out Dickson solo homer off Velazquez to left. Xorge Carrillo scored on a force out in the second to pull Mexicali even. Hermosillo responded by adding a run in the third when Jason Bourgeois came in on a Dickson groundout, but the Eagles came back again to knot the score at 2-2 in the bottom of the third as Luis Juarez doubled off Blackley and then scored on an Agustin Murrillo single up the middle. Hermosillo effectively put the game away with two runs in the fifth on Dickson's second homer (with Carlos Gasteul on base) and two more in the sixth when a Bourgeois single and an error by Naranjeros centerfielder Chris Roberson plated Sergio Burruel and Jorge Flores to make it a 6-2 tilt. Hermosillo added a final run in the ninth, but it was superfluous by then.

Blackley struggled into the fourth frame, when he was relieved by Samayoa with two on and one out. It took two pitches for Samayoa to get Ramon Rios to ground to third for a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning. Samayoa, a Hermosillo product who spent time in the Rangers system, got the win after throwing four innings of shutout ball, giving up three hits and two walks while striking out two. Velazaquez took the loss for the Aguilas as the Pitcher of the Year candidate's playoff miseries continued, giving up four runs on seven hits and two free passes to see his postseason ERA rise to 8.38. Rafael Martin got his fifth save in January for the Naranjeros. Besides Dickson, the Hermosillo bats were also led by Gastelum's two hits and two runs plus Bourgeois' two hits, a run and RBI. Yordanys Linares (no relation to Mochis' J.C., although both are Cubans) went 4-for-4 for Mexicali, but neither scored nor drove in a run.

Joe Colon throws another scoreless outing

Joe Colon continues to impress in winter league playoff action...

PUERTO RICO WINTER LEAGUE

Joe Colon (RP, Cangrejeros de Santurce): 1.0 P, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K. Colon made his fifth appearance in the PWL playoffs, and his sixth overall if you include his lone appearance the last week of the season on December 30th to get prepared for the postseason. In his six appearances he has totaled just 4.0 innings and has yet to give up a hit and has 3 strikeouts, though he has allowed one run (earned) thanks to a wild outing on Sunday when he allowed three walks. Aside from that one hiccup in his performance, he's been very strong in the small sample size of outings he has pitched this offseason. For a pitcher that is in the running to win the last bullpen spot for the Indians this coming spring, it may seem odd to see the Indians expose him to any kind of workload prior to reporting for spring training on February 12th, but the exposure is limited and he may only pitch around 8-12 innings maximum in the PWL playoffs and potentially the Caribbean Series if his team makes it or he is drafted onto the team that represents Puerto Rico.

<
The Cubans celebrating the victory in the
Caribbean Baseball Series in 2015.

The Cuban baseball team could be expelled
from the Caribbean Series in 2018

The presence of Cuba in the Caribbean Baseball Series will be removed after version 59 (2017) to be held in Culiacan, Mexico, from February 1.

Juan Carlos Puello Herrera, Caribbean baseball commissioner, said that after this next series, Cuba will close the cycle of the island's participation. The Island has appeared in the past three events on a "special invitation" basis only. In 2015, Cuba was proclaimed Champions of the classic as a "special invite". [ Just guessing, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Mexico don't feel like getting embarrassed again by an "Amateur" team. ]

The Island does not have a professional baseball league and this event has been performed by "invitation" only, which, in the past, has always had the consent of the commissioning body of the Major Leagues.

"The Cubans have participated as "guests", but they are not a part of the structure of the Caribbean Baseball Confederation, so they will not continue to participate, unless they meet the requirements of becoming a professional league equal to the others," explained Puello .

He also noted that the Caribbean Baseball Confederation will have to change other issues, such as the dates to be changed by the end of the year, to be completed by the beginning of February and not coincide with Major League spring training.

"That will mean that we will have to start the tournaments in early October, let's say day one, to finish long before each championship," said Puello, who has been commissioned since 1992.

He added that the Caribbean Series will also have to expand its membership, citing Nicaragua, Panama and Colombia as the countries that play professional baseball and with greater possibility of integration than Cuba.

He further clarified that they are speaking with the International Baseball Federation to hold a Caribbean tournament with "guests" from the Asian countries, including Taiwan, Korea and Japan.

"Something will happen, we do not know what, but we are on track to expand our structure. I do not think the Caribbean Series will disappear, but we have to make changes," he said.

According to the newspaper, "they expect 2018 to formalize their admission to the Confederation".

<
An analysis and a forecast

The Ciego de Avila Tigers want to spin three consecutive titles in a row, while the Granma Alazanes pretend to be strong contenders to taste the nectar of their first title in four decades. On that note, will continue the finals of the 56th National Series of Baseball this Wednesday in Estadio José Ramón Cepero in Ciego de Ávila.

Gallop or claw?

Ciego de Avila and Granma have measured their strengths in 16 games in recent years. In 12 of those series, the Tigers have been the winners in each of the three, all in the semi-finals: 4-2 in 2011 and 4-1 in 2012 and 2015. In other words, the Avilanians have done their thing to isolate Granma from their dream for a championship. That's why, without a doubt, the Granma manager Carlos Martí - with his experience of 29 seasons - was "content" to be the fourth place to play versus Matanzas, and not against the reigning champions. His purpose: to play for the championship and end the drought of four long decades. We have nothing to lose anymore, and there is much to gain.

Tell me who's leading, and I'll tell you ...

It is said, rightly, that in baseball, when you have a stellar team, "sometimes" managing makes the art of the game a lot easier. Taking that statement into account, being the manager of Ciego de Avila's, Roger Machado, it is now a privilege, since Machado manages the team favored to "win it all". The Avilanian is a manager who has matured a lot, and who knows how to maintain the chemistry within the team, always acknowledging the manager-player differences.

In the opposite dugout, Carlos Martí usually much more methodical, also revitalizing. In his nearly three decades as a manager, there is nothing more to know about the game.

Each manager reinforced their teams to make them winners and not wanting to load the roster, as happened to Victor Mesa, who chose three postseason pitchers when he saw an iceberg of errors coming in the left side of the infield. The difference between Ciego de Avila, Granma, and Matanzas was there.

Machado set up his strengths reinforcing the backbone of his lineup with Julio Pablo Martinez and reinforcement Dainier Gálvez. Gálvez batted second in the lineup while Martinez was third behind Gálvez. Erlis Casanova was selected pitcher of the week several time during the championship season and should bear fruit as a starter or relief pitcher.

Marti, for his part, strengthened his weeknesses by reinforcing the hot corners with two Holguiners: Yunior Paumier and Yordan Manduley. And in his last option he selected Noelvis Entenza, a pitcher who can go six innings on average per opening. Tell me who manages, who organizes and who moves the chips as if baseball was a game of chess, and I'll tell you how far you can go.

Where do the seams come from?

Pitching is 75% of a ball game, I have listened to stars like Luis Tiant and Pedro Luis Lazo tell me so. So, when it comes down to batter vs pitcher, the battle is to win. Ciego de Avila has a trio of pitchers who could put a stop to any lineup. Vladimir Garcia (14-3), Vladimir Baños (8-6) and Dachel Duquesne (5-5), jointly combined for a record of (27-14). They must face these three horses: Lázaro Blanco (6-4), Yoelkys Cruz (10-10) and Noelvis Entenza (2-10), who do not have the sweetest record (18-24) when it comes to meeting their rival, the Tigers.

A wall called Vladimir

The first step for Granma was to start the series on a happy note. They had to beat Vladimir Garcia in game 1. Mission accomplished. The Alazanes have started winning the first game in two of the three postseason series against Ciego de Ávila, but then, between games two and four, the Avilanians recorded a record of (7-2). Granma has to reverse this trend in the next three games.

Statistics: Alazanes vs Tigres

Who wins the series? In postseason play: Tigres (12-4). Last 5 years: Tigers (33-15). For life: Granma (129-109). In the present campaign, Ciego de Avila (9-3).

Forecast: Ciego de Avila, champion in six games.

1/19/17

PUERTO RICO LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES Game 1: Caguas 1, Santurce 0
Game 2: Santurce 6, Caguas 3
Game 3: Caguas 4, Santurce 2
Game 4: Santurce 4, Caguas 1
Game 5: Caguas 1, Santurce 3
Santurce Crabbers lead series 3-2
Game 6: 01/21 7:15 p.m.
Game 7: 01/22 4:15 p.m.
Game 8: 01/25 7:15 p.m.
Game 9: 01/26 7:15 p.m.
Santurce takes advantage in the Final Series

The Cangrejeros beat Caguas 3-1 and now dominate the series 3-2

Santurce defended yheir 'cave' for the first time in the championship fight.

A three-run double in the fourth inning was enough for the local Cangrejeros to win 3-1 over the Caguas Creoles in the fifth clash of the finals at Hiram Bithorn Stadium.

With the win, Santurce took the lead (3-2) for the first time in the series. Also the local team defended their house for the first time in the series. The Cangrejeros were placed within two victories to reach their third consecutive title.

The series is a maximum of ninegames, will rest on Friday and will continue on Saturday at Yldefonso Solá Morales Stadium. Santurce will send southpaw Darin Downs and Caguas Andrew Barbosa to the mound.

Santurce scored three runs with just five hits on the night. And for the second consecutive night, Christian Vazquez and José Lozada were the producers of the runs. Vázquez batted in two runs and Lozada one. Both batted in the four runs the night before.

Caguas, meanwhile, had nine hits against the Cangrejeros pitching, but they lacked the clutch hitting. The Creoles left 10 runners on base and just batted 2-12 with runners in scoring position. For the second game in a row, Caguas scarcely scored a run offof the Crebber's pitching.

The Cangrejeros right hander, Adalberto Flores, scored the win by completing five innings and conceding a run with seven hits. He also struck out five. Five other pitchers preserved the Cangrejeros' lead. Juan Carlos Romero and Luis Santos helped in a critical moment, and Fernando Cabrera closed the ninth inning to sign up for the save.

Orlando Román was the loser for the Creoles by allowing three runs - one unearned - in just three innings.

Caguas scored the first race of the game in the upper part of the fourth inning off of the pitches of Flores. Rusney Castillo opened the inning with a double and scored on another double by veteran Rubén Gotay to take the advantage for the visitors.

Santurce reacted immediately in the bottom of the same inning off of Roman. The Cangrejeros scored three runs and Christian Vazquez's bat again made itself felt this night.

Reymond Fuentes and Neftalí Soto opened with singles and Juan Silva sacrificed but was safe at first that filled the bases without outs. It was Vazquez's turn, who entered the game with a robust .583 average, and he remained hot. Maybe it was not the strongest shot of the night, but it traveled far enough to score Fuentes and Soto to give the Crabbers a 2-1 lead.

On the play, Silva took advantage and advanced to third base. Then José Lozada grounded to first base and Silva scored on the fielder's choice increasing the advantage 3-1.

Caguas squandered a golden opportunity in the second inning when they filled the bases no outs. Flores, however, forced David Vidal to roll to third base and force Castillo at the plate. Flores then struck out Jonathan Morales and got Jack Lopez to ground out to short to close the inning and give his fans a reason to cheer. Flores also celebrated the big zero in the inning.

And in the seventh, Caguas threatened again with runners at third and second base without outs against Fernando Cruz. Left-hander Juan Carlos Romero relieved and fanned Henry Ramos and Rey Navarro to leave the mound with two outs. The righty Luis Santos entered for Romero and forced Castillo to roll out shortstop to first to close the inning. Frustration increased for the visitors' side.

1/19/17

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES 3B: Rodriguez, Ro (1, Flande)
RBI: Rodriguez, Ro (6)
[ Looks Like the 4 Day 4 Game Absence Did Ronny Some Good ]
[ Josh Judy Is Something Else! Another Save! ZERO runs on the Winter! ] Game 1: Licey 3 Aguilas 4
Aguilas Cibaenas lead series 1-0
Game 2: 01/20 7:30 p.m.
Game 3: 01/21 5:00 p.m.
Game 4: 01/22 4:00 p.m.
Game 5: 01/24 8:00 p.m.
Game 6: 01/25 7:30 p.m.
Game 7: 01/26 8:00 p.m.
Game 8: 01/27 7:30 p.m.
Game 9: 01/28 8:00 p.m.

The Licey and the Eagles Draft Reinforcements For Championship Series

Licey was the first to choose in the first round they selected right-hander Austin Fleet, from the Lions of Escogido.
Aguilas opted for the Escogido's Chesny Young.

Licey was the first to choose in the second round and they selected left-handed pitcher Colt Hynes of the Cibao Giants
Aguilas opted for left-handed pitcher Irwin Delgado.
The Aguilas lead in the Final Series, beat the Tigers 4 by 3

SANTIAGO

Zoilo Almonte homered with one on board and Francisco Peña picked up the winning hit, and the Eagles got their first win in the Final Series by defeating Licey in the opening game of the 2016-2017 Final Series tournament of Dominican Winter League baseball.

The game witnessed by more than 15 thousand spectators and it was the classic confrontation by the Aguilas and Licey, coming with suspense and strategies, with the players of both teams giving their best.

The victory was the sixth in a row by the Eagles over their arch-rivals, including five in the semifinal series.

The Aguiluchos came from behind when they were behind 1-3 on with Zoilo Almonte's homer with Juan Carlos Perez on base in the sixth inning to tie the game 3-3. A run in the seventh sealed the win when manager Manny Acta used his bench and the combination of Jose Constanza and Francisco Peña Produced the winning hit.

Relief then left the Tigers scoreless in 4.2 innings, the key to success.

Chris O 'Grady started for the Eagles, who worked 4.1 innings yielding 8 hits, no walks and two strikeouts. He was followed in the box by Efrain Nieve (5), Edgar Garcia (5), Juan Grullón (7), Richard Rodriguez (8) and Josh Judy who scored the save. [ What New ?? ]

The Tigers started Yohan Flande, who gave up three runs on seven hits 5.2 innings, three runs, no walks and struck out six. He was replaced by Austin Fleet (6), Marlon Arias (7), Marco Dimok (7)

Juan Grullón was the winner, whereas Austin Fleet, was the defeated one.

1/19/17

CUBA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES THE RUNS

1st R.Santos struck out.
1st Y.Manduley doubled to left.
1st Y.Paumier singled to right. Y.Manduley scored. (1)
1st A.Despaigne struck out swinging.
1st D.Laza missed rolata to second. Granma 1 Ciego de Avila 0

7th A.Despaigne walked.
7th D.Laza doubled to right. A.Despaigne to third.
7th C.Benitez singled to right. D.Laza scored. A.Despaigne scored. (2), (3)
7th E.Casanova relieved B.BaÑos.
7th G.Aviles struck out.
7th F.Morejon singled to right. C.Benitez to second.
7th Y. Cespedes struck out.
7th R.Santos flied out to center. Granma 3 Ciego de Avila 0

8th A.Civil walked.
8th D.Leiva replaces A.Civil and runs at first.
8th Y.Borroto singled to right. D. Leiva to second.
8th M.Lahera relieved N.Entenza.
8th R.Gonzalez grounded out.
8th J.Mrtinez grounded out. D.Leiva to third.
8th D.Galvez flied out to shortstop. Y.Manduley commits an error. J.Mrtinez to second. D.Leiva scored. (1)
8th R. Echemendia replaces D.Galvez and runs at first.
8th D.Duarte singled to right. R.Echemendia to third. J. Martinez scored. (2)
8th E.Silva missed rolata to second.
Entenza pitched a great game Granma takes a 2-0 series lead

Granma is coming home riding in the front seat of the car!

Very few expected it ! But it happened ! Carlos Martí's Granma Alazanes claimed a 3-2 win in the second game of the series filled with tension and picked up two victories on the road against the champions of a National Series.

Very few expected. But it happened. Carlos Martí's Los Alazanes were once again beaten 3-2 in a second game filled with tension to get two wins to become champions of a National Series for the first time in baseball history.

Granma took the lead in the opening inning thanks to the offensive of his two Holguin reinforcers, Yordan Manduley and Yunior Paumier, the first with a double and the second batting in his partner with a single, off the offerings of the starter Bladimir Baños. From then on, Baños was involved in a close pitching duel with Noelvis Entenza, the two hanging zero after zero during the first two thirds of the game and the Industrialist reinforcement reached the seventh with only three hits allowed.

But Granma arrived in the aptly named " lucky inning" with the main character being Carlos Benitez, who again proved to be a clutch hitter when he batted in two decisive runs with a single to right field. Alfredo Despaigne walked leading off the inning which brought his total number of walks this post season to 16. Dennis Laza doubled and Despaigne advanced to third. Both scored on Benitez's single.

Encouraged by home fans throughout the game, the Tigers rallied in the eighth with a walk to Abdel Civil and a single by Yorbis Borroto. M.Lahera relieved N.Entenza. R.Gonzalez and J.Martinez grounded out. D.Leiva to third. D.Galvez flied out to shortstop. Y.Manduley commited an error allowing Martinez to advance to second and Leivato score. Echemendia pinch ran for Galvez. D.Duarte singled to right. Echemendia advanced to third while Martinez scored. E.Silva grounded out ending the threat.

At the beginning of that same inning, the granmenses were about to pound the nail into the coffin when Paumier walked to leadoff the inning. Alfredo Despaigne hit a huge fly ball to center field with a home run tag, but Julio Pablo Martinez stole the homer in what has been the most spectacular play of these playoffs.

This Friday will be a travel day and Saturday, starting at 4:00 pm, the Martyrs of Barbados will host the third third game, with Lázaro Blanco on the mound for the home team and Dachel Duquesne for the Avilanians.

SO FAR IT'S BEEN A WILD RIDE FOR THE GRANDMANESE. A CINDERELLA STORY SO FAR. NO ONE EXPECTED THIS ONE. JUST TWO WINS AWAY FROM THEIR FIRST EVER LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP. STILL A LONG WAY TO GO. CIEGO DE AVILA IS STILL THE DOUBLE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS AND THEY STILL HAVE THE BEST ALL AROUND TEAM IN THE LEAGUE. IT AIN'T OVER TIL IT'S OVER...... BUT............

1/19/17

MEXICO SEMI FINAL SERIES Game 1: Culiacan 0, Los Mochis 5
Game 2: Culiacan 2, Los Mochis 14
Game 3: Los Mochis 3, Culiacan 7
Game 4: Los Mochis 1, Culiacan 4
Game 5: Los Mochis 3, Culiacan 2
Game 6: Culiacan 9, Los Mochis 2
Game 7: Culiacan 1, Los Mochis 3
Caneros de los Mochis win series 4-3

Game 1: Hermosillo 7, Mexicali 8
Game 2: Hermosillo 6, Mexicali 16
Game 3: Mexicali 1, Hermosillo 2
Game 4: Mexicali 1, Hermosillo 4
Game 5: Mexicali 6, Hermosillo 1
Game 6: Hermosillo 7, Mexicali 2
Game 7: Hermosillo 3, Mexicali 4
Aguilas de Mexicali win series 4-3

Los Mochis, Mexicali win classic Game Sevens, will play for LMP pennant

Sebastian Valle's two-run double was the key blow in a three-run seventh inning as Los Mochis punched their ticket to the Mexican Pacific League championship series Thursday night with a 3-1 home win over Culiacan. The Caneros will face Mexicali, who reached the title series thanks to a Herculean performance from closer Jake Sanchez (pictured), who pitched 7.2 innings of scoreless relief as the Aguilas outlasted Hermosillo, 4-3, in 16 innings.
LOS MOCHIS 3-6-1, Culiacan 1-8-2

This one was a pitcher's duel all the way, as Caneros starter Roy Merritt locked horns with his Culiacan counterpart, Zack Dodson as the two Texans traded zeros on the scoreboard through five innings. Tomateros rightfielder Joey Meneses led off the third with the game's first hit on a single, but died there as Merritt retired the next three batters in order. Culiacan finally broke through with the first score of the night in the top of the sixth. Veteran Jose Manuel "Manny" Rodriguez started things off with a one-out single, then moved to third when Ramiro Pena lashed a double to third. After intentionally walking Eugenio Velez to load the bases, Merritt was replaced by Isaac Rodriguez, who plunked Issmael Salas with his first pitch to give Rodriguez an easy stroll home to put the Tomateros ahead, 1-0. That was all it took for Mochis manager Luis Sojo to yank Salas and bring in Santiago Gutierrez. After Gutierrrez got Oscar Robles to pop out in foul territory, Sojo then waved Jon Sintes in from the bullpen to end the inning on a Meneses fly out.

Dodson carried the lead into the bottom of the seventh, when the game turned. After giving up a leadoff single to Leandro Castro on his 87th pitch of the night, Dodson was pulled by Cuiliacan skipper Che Reyes in favor of middleman David Goforth. The Brewers righty was able to get Saul Soto to foul out to leftfielder Ryan Lollis but then walked Yosmany Guerra on five pitches to put two men on with Valle coming up. The newly-acquired Mariners farmhand drilled a 2-and-1 Goforth offering into right field for a two-bagger to bring in Castro and Guerra, giving the Caneros the lead, with Valle advancing to third on a Rodriguez throwing error. That was enough for manager Reyes, who called in MLB vet Oliver Perez to face pinch-hitter Sergio Garcia. The Nationals right-hander struck out Garcia for the second out but was then tagged for a triple to right by Velez, with Valle crossing the plate to make it a 3-1 Mochis lead and that was all she wrote for the visitors. Sergio Romo tossed two scoreless innings for his fifth playoff save to end the game and close the series for the Caneros.

Sintes was credited with the win for his perfect one-and-a-third innings of pitching, but the table was more than set by Merritt's 5.1 opening innings of work. The seven-year Mets minor leaguer let up six hits with one runner scoring in a solid performance. As good as the 31-year-old lefty was, Dodson may have been a little better as the one-time Pirates fourth-rounder allowed just two hits and two walks in six frames, allowing one run and striking out four. Goforth took the loss for the Tomateros as another sellout crowd of 11,132 at Estadio Emilio Ibarra celebrated the Caneros moving one step closer to their first pennant since 2002-03.
MEXICALI 4-18-1, Hermosillo 3-12-1

The "other" semifinal was likewise a pitching-dominated matchup as Hermosillo and Mexicali took their fight into double overtime before the Aguilas finally shook off the Narajeros, 44-3, in 16 innings. The contest looked like it might turn into a slugfest as both teams scored twice in the first inning. Hermosillo got on the board when O'Koyea Dickson singled in Jason Bourgeois and Carlos Gastelum came in on a Jose Amador safety, both off Aguilas starter Kameron Loe. The Aguilas punched back when Chris Roberson led off the bottom of the first with a double and scored on a Yuniesky Betancourt double one out later. Betancourt subsequently moved to third on a C.J. Retherford single and scored when Luis Juarez hit a sacrifice fly to right.

The 2-2 score held until the top of the fifth, when Dickson lofted his third homer in two nights into the left field bleachers off a Barry Enright serving, but the hosts came back in the seventh on Yordanys Linares' two-out single to left that plated Ramon Rios. Linares tried taking second on the hit but was thrown out by Dickson in left. After that, it was nothing but goose eggs on the board inning after inning as the game ended at 2:33AM local time. The contest finally concluded in the bottom of the 16th, beginning with Roberson's leadoff single off Hector Galvan. The ex-Phil then advanced to second on a Jon Del Campo sacrifice bunt, took third when Betacourt singled and eventually scored the semi-winning run when LMP bat champ Luis Suarez poked a bases-loaded single to right off Hermosillo reliever Wilmer Rios.

Loe was touched for five hits and two runs in the first, only getting one batter out. One-time Braves prospect Edgar Osuna pitched 3.1 innings of one-hit shutout ball after relieving Loe, but it was closer Jake Sanchez who reached back for Mexicali with an outing that legends are made of. The 2013 Pioneer League Pitcher of the Year entered the contest in the top of the eighth and pitched into the 15th, blanking the Orangemen over 7.2 frames on two hits and two walks while racking up eleven K's in a 116-pitch performance. Javier Solano took over for Sanchez and was credited with the win, but the mound belonged to the Cal Baptist product Thursday night as 13,110 fans were in the stands at Estadio B'Air when the game began.

Enright had a fair start for Hermosillo, giving up three runs in 6.2 innings with no walks. Six relievers combined to held the Aguilas scoreless until the end. Galvan suffered the loss despite 3.1 otherside good innings in which he let up only two hits and struck out two. Betancourt and Juarez each had four of the Aguilas' 18 hits while Amador finished with four hits of his own.

GAME 2 GRANMA 3 CIEGO DE AVILA 2

HIGHLIGHTS 0:0 TO 19:12 MIN MARK

INTRODUCTION OF PLAYERS AT THE 19:12 MARK

NATIONAL ANTHEM AT THE 20:22 MARK

LINEUPS AND GAMETIME AT THE 23:30 MARK

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TT--qNaNuoY