1/22/17

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
Game 6: Santurce 1, Caguas 12
Game 7: Caguas 4, Santurce 1
Caguas Criollos lead series 4-3
Game 8: 01/25 7:15 p.m.
Game 9: 01/26 7:15 p.m.
Reynaldo Navarro de los Criollos.

Another magnificent performance by the pitchers and a solid offensive have the Caguas Creoles at the doors of the national championship

The Caguas Creoles blasted away for a second consecutive game and the offensive streak could not have come at a better time, as the cagüeña defeated the two-time Cangrejeros de Santurce, 4-1, in the seventh game of the final series of the Professional Baseball League Roberto Clemente (LBPRC) and took advantage of the series at 4-3.

The Creoles will return Wednesday to their home, the Yldefonso Solá Morales stadium, with the opportunity to finish the series before their fans. John Brownell threw three full innings and allowed five hits and one run for the Creoles, but the win went to William Oliver in two and a third innings without allowing hits or runs, while striking out two.

For the second straight game, Caguas had good run production and very effective combined pitching. Miguel Mejia won the game and Ricardo Gómez saved the game.

"We know we have a good offense but, as I've always said, we have to give the credit to Santurce pitching. But in a long series you see the pitchers constantly and make adjustments. That is what we are doing and we are taking advantage of the at bats. There is no better scenario; We are in our house, the fanatics be here on Wednesday and the players are more than ready to arrive that day, "said the manager of the Creoles, Luis Matos.

The Creole bats took the pulse of Hiram Burgos immediately, as Jorge padilla and Rey Navarro had consecutive hits to open the inning. Rusney Castillo became the first out but Randy Ruiz followed him with a ground rule double that brought home Padilla.
Veteran Ruben Gotay kept the inning alive thanks to a single to center that scored Navarro. A double play finished the threat for Burgos and the Cangrejeros. However, Caguas resumed scoring in the top half of the second with a double after an out.

Jack Lopez doubled (2). Jonathan Morales tripled (1) and Jack Lopez scored. Jorge Padilla hit a sacrifice fly that brought hom Jonathan Morales with the second run of the inning extend the Caguas lead to 4-0.
Rey Navarro singles on a ground ball to center fielder Reymond Fuentes.

The first run for the Cangrejeros came in the bottom of the second, thanks to a triple by Juan Silva and a sacrifice fly by Christian Vázquez.

Santurce had another golden opportunity in the fourth inning when Silva doubled and Christian Vazquez walked against Brownell. Matos brought Justin Wright to relieve Brownell, who allowed Danny Ortiz to single loading the bases. Oliver striking out Jiménez, then Gotay was forced out at the plate. Roberto Andino struck out to end the threat.

Padilla went 3-4 with an rbi and a run, followed by Navarro who also went 3-4 with a run. Burgos collected the defeat working one and two thirds of innings. Ortiz hit 3-4, and Silva, 2-4 with a double, a triple and a run.

1/22/17

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES Game 1: Licey 3, Aguilas 4
Game 2: Aguilas 2, Licey 4
Game 3: Licey 4, Aguilas 11
Game 4: Aguilas 6, Licey 9
Series tied 2-2
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 Tigers beat the Eagles 9-6

SANTO DOMINGO.-

Sergio Alcántara hit a two run double in the seventh inning leading the Tigres del Licey to a 9-6 victory over the Cibao Eagles 9-6 in the fourth game of the final series of the Dominican winter baseball tournament.

Alcantara hit a pair of doubles with two RBIs and two runs scored against the Eagles pitchers.

The game was staged at Estadio Quisqueya / Juan Marichal stadium, where posthumous homage was paid to Yordano Ventura and Andy Marte, who died in traffic accidents that occurred on Sunday morning, January 22, 2017.

The series continues on Tuesday when the Tigers visit the Eagles at Cibao Stadium in Santiago for the celebration of the fifth game, starting at 8:00 p.m.

Javier Arturo López started on the mound for the Tigres del Licey and the Eagles started Irwin Delgado.

Lopez threw 5.0 full innings, four hits, two runs, three strikeouts and allowed a homer; Was followed in the blue box by Wander Suero, Warner Madrigal, Tim Hill, Michael Dimock and Jairo Asencio.

Delgado went 4.0 innings, eight hits, four runs, one walk and three strikeouts. After him, Samuel Deduno, Juan Grullón, Richard Rodríguez, Fernando Abad, Neifi Ogando, and Juan Sandoval climbed the mound for the Aguilas.

Dimock was the winning pitcher and Abad lost.

1/22/17

MEXICO LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES Game 1: Mexicali 1, Los Mochis 3
Game 2: Mexicali 7, Los Mochis 2
Series tied 1-1
Game 3: 01/24 7:30 p.m.
Game 4: 01/25 7:30 p.m.
Game 5: 01/26 7:30 p.m.
Game 6: 01/28 6:00 p.m.
Game 7: 01/29 5:00 p.m.

SUMMARY TO FOLLOW

Velazquez, Retherford lead Aguilas to win; LMP title set tied

Reinforcement pickup pitcher Hector Velazquez took a shutout into the eighth inning and C.J. Retherford cracked a two-run homer to lead the Mexicali Aguilas to a 7-3 victory over the Los Mochis Caneros Sunday night as 10,835 spectators nearly filled Mochis' Estadio Emilio Ibarra Almada. The Mexican Pacific League championship series is now tied at a game apiece as the teams head north to Mexicali for the next three scheduled games.

Mexicali 7-11-1, LOS MOCHIS 2-7-1
Velazquez, who won the MexPac wins and strikeouts titles during the regular season, and Los Mochis opener Manny Barreda, who tossed the LMP's sole no-hitter, kept the contest scoreless until the top of the third, when Mexicali pushed three runs across the plate. Ramon Rios led off with a single to left against Barreda, then moved to third when Chris Roberson lined a ground-rule double over the fence in right center. After Jason Bourgeois struck out swinging for the first out, Yuniesky Betancourt hit a sacrifice fly to Eugenio Velez in left, bringing Rios in with the first run of the game while Robo stayed put at second. That brought up Retherford, who belted Barreda's first pitch over the left field wall for a two-run homer to open the Aguilas' lead to 3-0. Luis Juarez struck out to end the inning, but the early lead ended up good enough with Velazquez having his way with the Mochis lineup.

Barreda lasted into the top of the seventh, when Caneros manager Luis Sojo brought in Isaac Jimenez after Manny opened the inning by walking Yordanys Linares on five pitches and (after whiffing Xorge Carrillo) issuing another free pass to Rios. Jimenez then walked Roberson to load the bags before a Bourgeois sac fly forced in Linares from third, bringing the score to 4-0 in favor of the visitors. The entrada ended on a Betancourt fielder's choice groundout to third. Velazquez left the game after striking out Sebastian Valle to open the eighth with the shutout intact. 2016 LMB Rookie of the Year Isaac Rodriguez later hit a two-run homer off off Jose Manuel Lopez to bring Los Mochis to within two, but Mexicali came back to post three more runs in the top of the ninth to put the contest out of reach for good with RBI singles by Bourgeois and Retherford and a run-scoring double by Juarez to give the Aguilas a 7-2 lead. Mexicali skipper Roberto Vizcarra sent three different pitchers to the mound in the bottom of the frame, with 2015-16 LMP Pitcher of the Year Javier Solano coming in to record the final two outs, striking out Juan Carlos Gamboa swinging to end the game.

Velazquez was superb for the Aguilas, letting up just four hits and no walks while striking out 10 Mochis batters in 7.1 innings for his second win of the postseason. Sixty-eight of his 88 pitches went for strikes. Barreda took the loss, allowing four runs on four hits, four walks and a hit batsmen over 6.1 frames. Bourgeois finished 2-of-4 with three RBIs, Roberson had two hits and scored twice and Retherford added a single to his two-run bomb for Mexicali. Rodriguez and Saul Soto each had two hits for the Caneros.

Monday will be a travel day, with Game Three of the title series set for Tuesday night at 7:30PM PST (0330 UTC) at Mexicali's Estadio B'Air.

1/23/17

ONLY ONE GAME SCHEDULED TONIGHT
VENEZUELA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
LARA AND ZULIA ARE TIED 7-7 IN THE 10TH
GAME IS IN A RAIN DELAY
ZULIA LEADS SERIES 2-0
1/23/17

VENEZUELA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Game 1: Zulia 12, Lara 2
Game 2: Zulia 11, Lara 1
Game 3: Lara 7, Zulia 8
Aguilas del Zulia lead series 3-0
Game 4: 01/24 7:00 p.m.
Game 5: 01/25 7:00 p.m.
Game 6: 01/27 7:00 p.m.
Game 7: 01/28 7:00 p.m.
Castillo Buries Cardenales; Eagles is one step away from the title

Maracaibo

Ali Castillo decided the victory of the Eagles over the Cardenales 8-7 and ended the third game of the finals of the LVBP 2016-2017 and left the Raptors just one win from the title.

Following the resumption of the game between zulianos and red birds, it took only two pitches for Castillo to collect the game winning RBI hit against the Cardinals.

The game was declared suspended on Tuesday morning. With the score tied at seven in the bottom of the tenth inning, two outs and two men in scoring position ( Ronny Cedeno at second and jordany valdespin third), Castillo ripped a violent liner to right that Paulo Orlando could not handle despite his slide, and Valdespin stepped on the plate to score the decisive eighth run.

Francisco Butto took the win in only a third of an inning of work, while Hassan Pena was charged with the loss by allowing three runs that produced the Zulia victory in the bottom of the tenth episode.

1/24/17

VENEZUELA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES Game 1: Zulia 12, Lara 2
Game 2: Zulia 11, Lara 1
Game 3: Lara 7, Zulia 8
Game 4: Lara 3, Zulia 1
Aguilas del Zulia lead series 3-1
Game 5: 01/25 7:00 p.m.
Game 6: 01/27 7:00 p.m.
Game 7: 01/28 7:00 p.m.
Cardinals win first vs Eagles and breathes oxygen in the final

Lara Cardinals breathed some oxygen in the finals after winning a tight game against the Eagles of Zulia by a score of 3-1 and got their first win of the final series still dominated by the Eagles 3-1l.

The opening score came in the top of the second inning with a solo homer to Carlos Rivero, however Zulia responded and scored in the lower half of the fourth inning. Mario Lisson hit an RBI double. Jose Pirela scored.

The game was characterized by strategy between the two managers using their pitchers effectively against the power packed lineups of both teams. Starters Rolando Valdez for Zulia and Omar Bencomo for Lara who worked 6 and 5 innings respectively maintaining the tension between all present in the stadium.

The game remained tied until the ninth inning so it was necessary to go to extra innings to define a winne. In the upper part of the 11th inning Ildemaro Vargas hit a two run single to break the tie. Then in the bottom of the 11th inning, Hassan Pena put the padlockon the victory retiring the Zulian offensive in order.

The winning pitcher was Pedro Rodriguez while the defeat went to Wilfredo Ledezma, Pena saved the game.

HIGHLIGHTS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnwdxOC0juA

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1/24/17

Dominican Republic League Championship Season
Game 1: Licey 3, Aguilas 4
Game 2: Aguilas 2, Licey 4
Game 3: Licey 4, Aguilas 11
Game 4: Aguilas 6, Licey 9
Game 5: Licey 7, Aguilas 0
Licey Tigers lead series 3-2
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 Tigers shutout the Eagles on the road and took the lead 3-2 in the Finals

SANTIAGO

Cesar Valdez sailed through 6.1 innings and received the support of Juan Francisco with a homer and three RBI's to lead the Licey Tigers to a 7-0 victory over the Cibao Eagles and 3-2 in the series.

It was the first victory by a visiting team in the final phase, where the home teams had triumphed in the first four games.

Valdez (1-0), who started hisr first game in the finals, retired 11 consecutively between the third and seventh innings and scored the win, while Chris O'Grady (0-1) in a brief performance was charged with the defeat.

On the mound for Aguilas were Chris O'Grady, Ulises Joaquin (2), Efrain Nieves (6), Al Albuquerque (6), Fernando Abad (8) and Juan Grullón (9).

In addition to César Valdez the Licey depended on Tim Hill (7), Michael Dimock (8) and Warner Madrigal (9).

The Licey offense was headed by Juan Francisco with a homer, double, single and three RBI's, Donovan Solano, double and two singles, Mel Rojas, double and single, Emilio Bonifacio, Engel Beltré and Sergio Alcántara, two hits each, Yamaico Navarro, a double and with a single Austin Wynns.

The eagle offensive was limited to four hits, distributed between Kennys Vargas and Zoilo Almonte with two each.

The Tigers took their claws to the Eagles and attacked opener Chris O'Grady in the second inning with three runs, a feat started by Juan Francisco's home run and the other two on the legs of Austin Wynns and Engel Beltré

The fourth blue run was made in the third against Ulises Joaquín on a double by Donovan Solano and after two outs, Mel Rojas hit an RBI single.

The fifth run came home in the seventh inning against Al Alburquerque, when after one out Sergio Alcántara singled, stole second and was batted in by Yamaico Nava's double.

1/24/17

MEXICO LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Game 1: Mexicali 1, Los Mochis 3
Game 2: Mexicali 7, Los Mochis 2
Series tied 1-1
Game 3: 01/24 7:30 p.m.
Game 4: 01/25 7:30 p.m.
Game 5: 01/26 7:30 p.m.
Game 6: 01/28 6:00 p.m.
Game 7: 01/29 5:00 p.m

LATE GAME
Game 1: Mexicali 1, Los Mochis 3
Game 2: Mexicali 7, Los Mochis 2
Game 3: Los Mochis 6 Mexicali 5
Los Mochis Caneros lead series 2-1
Game 4: 01/25 7:30 p.m.
Game 5: 01/26 7:30 p.m.
Game 6: 01/28 6:00 p.m.
Game 7: 01/29 5:00 p.m.
Caneros win 6-5 thriller in 11, take MexPac title series lead

Veteran Saul Soto punched a two-run single in top of the eleventh inning and MLB free agent reliever Sergio Romo survived a shaky bottom of the frame as the Los Mochis Caneros held off the Mexicali Aguilas, 6-5, in the border city to take a 2-games-to-1 lead in the Mexican Pacific League championship series Tuesday night.

Los Mochis 6-15-1, MEXICALI 5-9-0

Chris Roberson opened the scoring in the bottom of the first for Mexicali by reaching second after tapping a leadoff bunt and drawing a hurried throw by Mochis pitcher Roy Merritt that sailed past Soto at first for an error, then scoring when Yuniesky Betancourt lined a single to center. That's where the score stood halfwway through the seventh inning as Merritt and Aguilas starter Kameron Loe both contributed strong starts. After throwing 104 pitches, Loe gave way to reliever Jose Meraz in the top of the seventh.

Meraz was the first of four Mexicali pitchers to see duty in that inning alone, as the Caneros scored four runs to take the lead. Meraz got the first out before allowing a double to Eugenio Velez, after which Aguilas manager Roberto Vizcarra replaced him with Jose Manuel Lopez. Isaac Rodriguez greeted Lopez with a single that moved Velez to third, followed by an RBI single that drove in Velez with the go-ahead run. Lopez was yanked for Fautino de los Santos, who drilled J.C. Linares in the left arm on a 3-2 pitch to load the bases. Linares had to be replaced by pinch-runner Sergio Garcia. Leandro Castro then topped a dribbler back to the mound for an infield single that plated Rodriguez. Unnerved, de los Santos then threw a wild pitch to Soto, which resulted in Ford crossing the plate with another Caneros run. Soto went on to draw a walk, enough for Vizcarra to emerge from the dugout to wave in Manuel Chavez with the bases still loaded and only one out. Chavez got the final two outs, the first coming on a Yosmany Guerra sacrifice fly to right that brought in Garcia to make it a 4-1 Los Mochis lead.

That's where the score stood as Merritt put in one more inning on the hill for the Caneros before skipper Luis Sojo replaced him with Oliver Perez in the bottom of the eighth. Perez immediately found trouble by giving up a leadoff single to Jon Del Campo and walking Ramon Rios. After striking out Roberson for the first out, Perez allowed a Bourgeois triple to center, bringing in both Del Campo and Rios to close the Aguilas deficit to a one run. Sojo then called in reliever Isaac Rodriguez, who got the second out before C.J. Retherford lined a double to left that scored Bourgeois with the tying run. Luis Juarez then hit an inning-ending flyout to Velez in left.

Neither team scored in the ninth to send the game into extra innings, followed by a scoreless tenth. The eventful eleventh opened with Edgar Osuna on the hill for Mexicali after usual closer Jake Sanchez gave the Aguilas two scoreless frames. Rodriguez (the second baseman, not the reliever) laid down a bunt in front of the plate and beat Osuna's throw to first for a single. After a Ford bunt moved Rodriguez to second, Sergio Garcia toppled a first-pitch comebacker to the mound for the second out as Rodriguez stayed put on second. Osuna intentionally walked Castro to set up a force play at all three bases, but that strategy was scuttled when Soto rapped a full-count offering into left field to score both Rodriguez and Castro to give the visitors a 6-4 lead. Guerra grounded out to Retherford at first to end the frame for Mochis.

Romo then emerged from the bullpen to replace Santago Gutierrez, who'd tossed two perfect innings for Mochis. Things didn't start off well for the three-time World Series champ, as he allowed a leadoff single to Betancourt, threw a wild pitch to Retherford to advance Bentacourt to second and then coughed up a Retherford line-drive single to left that brought Betancourt in with the Aguilas' fifth run. Sergio settled down after that, retiring Agustin Murillo on a line drive to Velez and inducing pinch-hitter Emmanuel Avila into a groundout to second to end the game with Mochis the victors by a 6-5 count.

Gutierrez got the win for the Caneros to go to 2-0 in the postseason and Romo recorded his seventh playoff save while Osuna was tagged with the loss to even his playoff record at 1-1. Merritt allowed one run on four hits with five strikeouts for Mochis in another strong outing for the Southern University product, while the 6'8" Loe (a former Texas Rangers starter) scattered seven hits and struck out eight Caneros batters in his six innings of shoutout pitching for Mexicali. Six Caneros batsmen recorded two hits each in the Caneros' 15-hit attack as Soto's pair of singles raised his playoff batting average to .340. Retherford, Murillo and Betancourt each had two hits for the Aguilas, with the latter's postseason average going up to .347 via his two safeties.

A crowd of 17,000 packed the stands at Mexicali's Estadio B'Air, which will be the site of Game Five Wednesday night at 7:30PM PST (0330 UTC). Luids Niebla will get the start for the Caneros while Javier Solano takes the mound for the Aguilas.

1/25/17

VENEZUELA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES Game 1: Zulia 12, Lara 2
Game 2: Zulia 11, Lara 1
Game 3: Lara 7, Zulia 8
Game 4: Lara 3, Zulia 1
Game 5: Lara 2, Zulia 5
Aguilas del Zulia WINS series 4-1
Game 6: 01/27 7:00 p.m.
Game 7: 01/28 7:00 p.m.
ZULIA ARE THE CHAMPIONS

Águilas won his sixth title in the LVBP

CARACAS.-

The Eagles of Zulia won their sixth championship in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League, winning 5-2 against the Lara Cardinals at Luis Aparicio in Maracaibo.

Starter Mitch Lively scored his second win of the season by throwing seven full innings, 2 hits, one run, five strikeouts, ending with a 1.93 ERA in the finals.

Two of the raptor runs arrived in the first inning on a homer by Jose Pirela; One more in the fifth inning after a triple by Castillo and a run producing single by Endy Chávez.

At the end of the eighth inning they scored two more, scored by Freddy Galvis and Mario Lissón and batted in by Lissón and Jesús Flores.

Jesus Montero and Carlos Rivero homered producing the two red bird scores in the game.

Leonel Campos and Silvino Bracho took the last six outs of the game and Raul Rivero lost for the second time in the series.
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HIGHLIGHTS

https://youtu.be/NlH6EPX6kkA


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TOO BAD GIOVANNY URSHELLA COULDN'T BE THERE
HE WAS A VITAL COG IN THE WHEEL DURING THE
REGULAR SEASON PHASE

1/25/17

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES Game 1: Licey 3, Aguilas 4
Game 2: Aguilas 2, Licey 4
Game 3: Licey 4, Aguilas 11
Game 4: Aguilas 6, Licey 9
Game 5: Licey 7, Aguilas 0
Game 6: Aguilas 2, Licey 5
Tigres del Licey lead series 4-2
Game 7: 01/26 8:00 p.m.
Game 8: 01/27 7:30 p.m.
Game 9: 01/28 8:00 p.m.
With their backs against the wall,
the Eagles lose 5-2 against the Tigers
Tigers lead best of 9 series 4-2

The Tigers of Licey shutout the the Aguilas Cibañas for eight innings before securing a 5-2, and now the Tigers are just one win away from being crowned champions of the Professional Baseball Tournament Winter Winter Dominican 2016-17. The Licey pitching staff blanked the Eagles last night 7-0

The Tigers increased their lead in the final round to 4-2 in the best of nine series.

It was a perfect combination of offense and pitching that made the difference for the Tigers. In the first inning, LIcey scored a run on a throwing error by Chesny Young.

The Tigers had a four run rally in the bottom of the eighth inning. The first run scored on Yamaico Navarro's solo homer. Mel Rojas Jr's two run homer scored Joege Bonifacio with the second and third runs of the inning. scores. The fourth run was the result of Sergio Alcantara's rbi single batting in Juan Perez for a 5-0 lead.

The Eagles rally fell short in the top of the ninth inning. Juan Perez opened the inning with a base hit. Zoilo Almonte followed with an rbi triple. Juan Perez scored. Chesny Young collected the third consecutive hit of the inning driving in Zoilo Almonte. Kennys Vargas flieds out, Robinzon Diaz grounds into a force out, and Johan Camargo pops out to end the threat. The final score was 5-2.

Tigers starter Evan MacLane (3-0) blew the Eagles away for 7.0 scoreless innings, four hits and two strikeouts, and the southpaw came up with the win.

He was relieved by Michael Dimock (0.2 innings), Marlon Arias (0.0, one walk) and Jairo Asencio closed the action by working 1.1 innings, three hits, two earned runs to take his eighth playoff save.

The Aguilas defeat was charged to starter, left-hander, Tyler Alexander (0-1), after a 5.2 innings of work, after three hits, an unearned run, a walk and five strikeouts.

Also on the mound were Edgar Garci'a (1.1, a hit, a walk and a strike out), Richard Rodriguez threw only 0.2 innings of three hits, four four earned runs (three of them on homers by Navarro and Rojas Jr.) and two walks , And Angel Castro (0.1, a hit and a strike out).

The blue offense was led by Rojas Jr. with his two run homer and Navarro's solo homer, Alcántara hit two hits and drove in a run, and Emilio Bonifacio linked three hits.

For the Eagles, Zoilo Almonte (a triple) and Chesny Young achieved two hits each.

1/25/17

PUERTO RICO LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES Caguas Bottom of the 6th
Pitching Change: Joseph Colon replaces Andres Santiago
Rey Navarro singles, Henry Ramos scores
Christian Vazquez picks off Rey Navarro at 1st

Caguas Bottom of the 7th
Rusney Castillo singles
Randy Ruiz strikes out swinging.
Pitching Change: J. Romero replaces Joseph Colon. 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
Game 6: Santurce 1, Caguas 12
Game 7: Caguas 4, Santurce 1
Game 8: Santurce 5, Caguas 6
Criollos de Caguas WINS series 5-3
Game 9: 01/26 7:15 p.m.
Criollos Proclaimed Winter Baseball Champions
Caguas seizes seventeenth crown

The Caguas Criollos were tonight were proclaimed the new champions of the Professional Baseball League Roberto Clemente (LBPRC) after overcoming the Cangrejeros de Santurce in the eighth game of the final series staged at the Yldefonso Solá Morales stadium.

Caguas won the winter baseball championship by beating Santurce 6-5 in the twelfth inning with Henry Ramos' single.

In this way, the Creoles achieved their seventeenth (17) crown in the Puerto Rican winter baseball. For their part, the Cangrejeros de Santurce failed to achieve their third consecutive championship.

It was a special evening for the fans of the Creoles. Before the game, the Caguas franchise retired the number 7 of their ex-player Ivan Rodriguez, who last week was selected to the Hall of Fame of Baseball in Cooperstown, New York.
.

In the game both teams went head to toe with give and take baseball with solid contact. In the end, Caguas won their ticket for a return trip to Mexico. To be more specific, the state Culiacán.

The last time Caguas represented Puerto Rico in a Caribbean Series was Hermosillo in 2013.

THE RUNS

Santurce Top of the 1st
Drew Ferguson doubles (2) on a line drive to center fielder Henry Ramos deflected by right fielder Jorge Padilla.
Drew Ferguson out at 3rd, center fielder Henry Ramos to second baseman Rey Navarro to third baseman David Vidal.
Reymond Fuentes singles on a line drive to left fielder Rusney Castillo.
Christian Vazquez singles on a line drive to left fielder Rusney Castillo. Reymond Fuentes to 2nd.
Juan Silva walks. Reymond Fuentes to 3rd. Christian Vazquez to 2nd.
Neftali Soto out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Henry Ramos. Reymond Fuentes scores.
Danny Ortiz flies out to left fielder Rusney Castillo.

Caguas Bottom of the 5th
Henry Ramos singles on a line drive to right fielder Juan Silva.
Jack Lopez out on a sacrifice bunt, first baseman Neftali Soto to second baseman Jose Lozada. Henry Ramos to 2nd.
Jonathan Morales walks. Wild pitch by pitcher Adalberto Flores. Henry Ramos to 3rd.
Pitching Change: Luis Santos replaces Adalberto Flores.
Jorge Padilla hit by pitch. Jonathan Morales to 2nd.
Rey Navarro out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Reymond Fuentes. Henry Ramos scores. Jonathan Morales to 3rd.
Rusney Castillo strikes out swinging.

Santurce Top of the 6th
Christian Vazquez flies out to right fielder Jorge Padilla.
Juan Silva walks.
Neftali Soto singles on a ground ball to third baseman David Vidal. Juan Silva to 2nd.
Danny Ortiz flies out to right fielder Jorge Padilla.
Ivan De Jesus Jr. singles on a soft fly ball to center fielder Henry Ramos. Juan Silva scores. Neftali Soto to 3rd.
Pitching Change: William Oliver replaces Jose De La Torre.
Jose Lozada singles on a line drive to center fielder Henry Ramos. Neftali Soto scores. Ivan De Jesus Jr. to 2nd.
Robert Andino flies out to right fielder Jorge Padilla.

Caguas Bottom of the 6th
Randy Ruiz singles on a ground ball to center fielder Reymond Fuentes.
Ruben Gotay singles on a ground ball to left fielder Danny Ortiz. Randy Ruiz to 2nd.
David Vidal doubles (1) on a line drive to left fielder Danny Ortiz. Randy Ruiz scores. Ruben Gotay scores.
Pitching Change: Andres Santiago replaces Luis Santos.
Henry Ramos walks.
Jack Lopez strikes out swinging.
Jonathan Morales walks. David Vidal to 3rd. Henry Ramos to 2nd.
Jorge Padilla grounds into a force out, shortstop Ivan De Jesus Jr. to second baseman Jose Lozada. David Vidal scores. Henry Ramos to 3rd. Jonathan Morales out at 2nd. Jorge Padilla to 1st.
Pitching Change: Joseph Colon replaces Andres Santiago.
Rey Navarro singles on a line drive to center fielder Reymond Fuentes. Henry Ramos scores. Jorge Padilla to 2nd.
With Rusney Castillo batting, Christian Vazquez picks off Rey Navarro at 1st on throw to Neftali Soto.

Santurce Top of the 7th
Pitching Change: Miguel Mejia replaces William Oliver.
Drew Ferguson called out on strikes.
Reymond Fuentes singles on a ground ball to second baseman Rey Navarro.
Christian Vazquez doubles (3) on a line drive to left fielder Rusney Castillo. Reymond Fuentes scores.
Juan Silva strikes out swinging.
Neftali Soto flies out to right fielder Jorge Padilla.

Santurce Top of the 8th
Danny Ortiz singles on a line drive to center fielder Henry Ramos.
Ivan De Jesus Jr. singles on a bunt ground ball to first baseman Ruben Gotay. Danny Ortiz to 2nd.
Jose Lozada out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Miguel Mejia to first baseman Ruben Gotay. Danny Ortiz to 3rd. Ivan De Jesus Jr. to 2nd.
Pitching Change: Ricardo Gomez replaces Miguel Mejia.
Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter Abiatal Avelino replaces Robert Andino.
Abiatal Avelino hits a sacrifice bunt. Danny Ortiz scores. Ivan De Jesus Jr. to 3rd. Abiatal Avelino to 1st.
Drew Ferguson pops out to first baseman Ruben Gotay.
With Reymond Fuentes batting, Abiatal Avelino steals (1) 2nd base.
Reymond Fuentes pops out to shortstop Jack Lopez.

Caguas Bottom of the 12th
Randy Ruiz grounds out to first baseman Neftali Soto.
Ruben Gotay grounds out, third baseman Abiatal Avelino to first baseman Neftali Soto.
David Vidal reaches on a fielding error by right fielder Juan Silva. David Vidal to 2nd.
Henry Ramos singles on a ground ball to right fielder Juan Silva. David Vidal scores.

1/25/17

MEXICO LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES Game 1: Mexicali 1, Los Mochis 3
Game 2: Mexicali 7, Los Mochis 2
Game 3: Los Mochis 6, Mexicali 5
Game 4: Los Mochis 1, Mexicali 6
series tied 2-2
Game 5: 01/26 7:30 p.m.
Game 6: 01/28 6:00 p.m.
Game 7: 01/29 5:00 p.m.

SUMMARY TO FOLLOW
Solano sharp in Aguilas win, title series tied after four games

Javier Solano (pictured) took a shutout into the seventh inning and Jason Bourgeois collected three hits, including a key two-run single, as the Mexicali Aguilas tied the Mexican Pacific League championship series after four games with a 6-1 home win over Los Mochis on Wednesday. For the second night in a row, a full house crowd of 17,000 was on hand in Mexicali's Estadio B'Air.

MEXICALI 6-12-0, Los Mochis 1-6-2

Mexicali broke the ice by scoring a run in the bottom of the second inning. Regular season bat king Luis Juarez led off with a single off Caneros starter Luis Niebla. After After Agustin Murillo flew out to J.C. Linares, a Yordanys Linares (no relation) fly ball to left was botched by Eugenio Velez, resulting in Juarez making it to third base and Linares the batter ending up on second. Xorge Carrillo then hit a grounder back to Niebla, who made the throw to first for the out as Juarez scored from third.

The Aguilas carried their narrow 1-0 lead into the bottom of the fifth, where they put up three more runs on the board. Niebla was still on the hill for Los Mochis and had pitched well to that point. Ramon Rios led off for Mexicali with a grounder to third that Juan Carlos Gamboa was able to make the stop but couldn't get the throw to first in time as Rios beat out the infield single. Chris Roberson followed by bunting in front of the plate and Niebla plucked the ball off the ground and threw it into the outfield. By the time the ball was relayed back, Rios was on third and Roberson occupied second. Jason Bourgeois stepped up and lined a two-run single to center, bringing in Rios and Roberson to put the hosts up by three. Yuniesky Betancourt then drilled a double to right and the speedy Bourgeois motored in from first to bring the score to 4-0.

That spelled the end for Niebla, who was pulled for middleman Jon Sintes. A 30-year-old West Florida product who pitched for Tabasco last summer, Sintes went on to record three outs without further damage. The Caneros responded with their first score of the night in the top of the sixth. Velez led off by doubling to left off Solano, who was still working on a whitewash. Velez completed the atonement for his second inning defensive miscue by roaring in from second on Isaac Rodriguez' single up the middle, beating Roberson's throw from center and plating the run. Solano retired the next three batter to end the threat, then got the first two outs in the seventh before walking Sebastian Valle. Aguilas skipper Roberto Vizcarra came out, waved in Efren Delgado from the bullpen and Solano walked off the mound to cheers from the hometown crowd. Delgado got Gamboa to ground to second for the final out.

Mexicali added another run in the seventh when C.J. Retherford lined a double to center off Sintes to score Betancourt, and the Aguilas went up 6-1 in the eighth as Carrillo, Rios and Roberson hit consecutive two-out singles, with Robo's safety driving in Carrillo. Rios tried scoring on the same play but was nailed at the plate when Castro threw a strike from center to Valle, who applied the tag for the frame's final out.

Solano pitched 6.2 innings for the win, allowing one run on five hits. The former Dodgers minor leaguer has had a tough posteason for the Eagles, but looked good Wednesday in going to 2-3 in the playoffs. Niebla allowed four runs in as many innings on seven hits in absorbing his second loss in four January decisions, but two of the runs were unearned and walked none as 45 of the Rockies farrmhand's 65 pitches went for strikes. Bourgeois finished with three of the Aguilas' 12 hits, driving in two runs and scoring once. Saul Soto continued swinging the hot bat for the Caneros with the only two-hit game in the Mochis order.

Game Five is set for Thursday night in Mexicali at 7:30PM PST (0330 UTC). Julian Arballo will get the start for Los Mochis while Miguel Pena will open the game on the mound for the Aguilas.

Ronny Rodriguez has been non-stop baseball for a year

Ronny Rodriguez continues to play in winter ball and looks like he will have minimal rest heading into spring training with the Indians...


DOMINICAN WINTER LEAGUE

Ronny Rodriguez (1B, Aguilas Cibaenas): 0-for-4, K. Ronny-Rod continues to be a one man show here at IBI as he's one of only a small handful of Indians players still playing winter ball - and really the only one playing everyday. He's really struggled over the last week and had arguably his worst stretch of games all offseason and has seen his slash line in the playoffs drop to .276/.295/.368 in 18 games. He's only sporting a .092 isolated power in the playoffs as well, which is down from the .157 ISO he sported in 44 games during the Dominican regular season. Perhaps it is just a short slump, or maybe he's just worn out from 62 games of winter ball on top of 120+ games of ball he played stateside from April-September with Triple-A Columbus. He might well end up playing winter ball all the way through the Caribbean Series, which runs through the first week of February. He's a Major League invite to camp this year for the Indians and positon players report on February 16th, so he may only get a little over a week off before starting his long 2017 campaign. It will be interesting to see how his body holds up and how he does physically and mentally without any real down time in the offseason leading into what could be a big year for him as a pro.

PUERTO RICO WINTER LEAGUE

Joe Colon (RP, Cangrejeros de Santurce): 0.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K. Colon came on in the sixth inning with two outs and runners on first and third with three runs already in and promptly served up a single to allow an inherited runner to score. His team ended up losing in the 12th inning in walkoff fashion on a base hit that scored a runner from second who had reached with two outs on a fielding error by the right fielder. The error and hit not only won the game for Criollos de Caguas, but won the league championship as they won the best-of-nine series 5 games to 3.

[ Licey found a way to keep Josh Judy off the mound.......Go into the ninth inning with 5+ run leads. Judy hasn't appeared on the mound the last three games which coincided with the Licey 3 game winning streak. Aguilas Cibaenas have to win the next three games to win the championship series. Licey only needs one more win to take home the championship. Judy still hasn't given up any earned runs all winter. ]

Hope this link works. Video of big night for Rodriguez tonight, including walk off.

https://mobile.twitter.com/saladeportiv ... 8117085188

1/26/17

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES HR: Rodriguez, Ro 2 (2, 1st inning off Flande, 0 on, 0 out; 10th inning off Obispo, 0 on, 1 out).
RBI: Rodriguez, Ro 2 (9)

[ RONNY BREAKS OUT OF HIS 3-GAME HITLESS FUNK IN A HUUUUUUUUUGE WAY !
IF MEMORY SERVES ME CORRECTLY, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME RONNY HAS LEAD OFF ALL SEASON
LEAD OFF HOMER IN THE FIRST & ENDS IT WITH A WALKOFF HOMER IN THE 10TH;
DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S EVER BEEN DONE IN THE HISTORY OF BASEBALL ?!?!?!?!?!?!
SCORES ALL 3 RUNS; BATS IN 2; 2-4 WITH A WALK ]
[ FINALLY FIGURED OUT A WAY TO GET JOSH JUDY INTO A BALL GAME AFTER A 3 GAME DISAPPEARING ACT;
GET HIM INTO A TIE BALL GAME! JOSH CAME INTO TO KEEP HIS TEAM IN THE GAME AND KEEPS HIS ERA
CLEAN AT ZERO ON THE SEASON PITCHING A SCORELESS 8TH AND 9TH INNINGS. AGUILAS WINS IT IN 10.


Game 1: Licey 3, Aguilas 4
Game 2: Aguilas 2, Licey 4
Game 3: Licey 4, Aguilas 11
Game 4: Aguilas 6, Licey 9
Game 5: Licey 7, Aguilas 0
Game 6: Aguilas 2, Licey 5
Game 7: Licey 2, Aguilas 3.
Tigres del Licey lead series 4-3
Game 8: 01/27 7:30 p.m.
Game 9: 01/28 8:00 p.m.


THE RUNS


Licey Top of the 1st
Sergio Alcantara singles on a line drive to center fielder Juan Perez.
Donovan Solano singles on a line drive to center fielder Juan Perez. Sergio Alcantara to 2nd.
Yamaico Navarro flies out to right fielder Alfredo Marte. Sergio Alcantara to 3rd.
Juan Francisco strikes out swinging.
Mel Rojas Jr. singles on a line drive to center fielder Juan Perez. Sergio Alcantara scores. Donovan Solano to 3rd.
Diory Hernandez flies out to center fielder Juan Perez.

Aguilas Bottom of the 1st
Ronny Rodriguez homers (1) on a fly ball to left center field.
Chesny Young grounds out, shortstop Sergio Alcantara to first baseman Yamaico Navarro.
Juan Perez grounds out, second baseman Donovan Solano to first baseman Yamaico Navarro.
Zoilo Almonte grounds out, third baseman Diory Hernandez to first baseman Yamaico Navarro.

Licey Top of the 6th
Pitching Change: Edgar Garcia replaces Jarret Leverett.
Yamaico Navarro grounds out, shortstop Johan Camargo to first baseman Ronny Rodriguez.
Juan Francisco homers (2) on a fly ball to right field.
Mel Rojas Jr. lines out to center fielder Juan Perez.
Diory Hernandez lines out to center fielder Juan Perez.

Aguilas Bottom of the 6th
Francisco Pena strikes out swinging.
Ronny Rodriguez walks.
Pitching Change: Wander Suero replaces Yohan Flande.
Chesny Young flies out to right fielder Engel Beltre.
Juan Perez walks. Ronny Rodriguez to 2nd.
Pitching Change: Tim Hill replaces Wander Suero.
Zoilo Almonte singles on a ground ball to center fielder Emilio Bonifacio. Ronny Rodriguez scores. Juan Perez to 3rd.
Kennys Vargas strikes out swinging.

Aguilas Bottom of the 10th
Defensive Substitution: Yermin Mercedes replaces Jason Rogers, batting 8th, playing catcher.
Francisco Pena strikes out swinging.
Ronny Rodriguez homers (2) on a line drive to left field.

Walkoff! Ronny Rodriguez connects for two homers and decides the win for the Eagles against Licey; Final series gets to 4-3

Ronny Rodriguez greets and says goodbye to Tigers on home runs


SANTIAGO.-

Ronny Rodriguez hitting lead off for the first time, fired two homers, one to tie and the other to leave the Tigres del Licey on the field and the Eagles Cibaeñas are alive, by winning 3-2 last night and placing the Final Series 4-3 in the championship series.

Rodríguez who opened the game with a home run to tie the score, shut the door on the Tigers in the 10th inning with his walkoff homer.

The victory was Samuel Deduno's, whereas Wilfin Bishop suffered the loss.

The Eagles sent the southpaw Jarret Leverett to the mound , who worked five innings, in which he faced 20 hitters, allowed three hits, one run, walked two and struck out two to leave without a decision.

After Laverett entered Edgar Garcia (6), Juan Grullón (7), Josh Judy (8), Fernando Abad (10), Samuel Deduno (10)

The Tigers looking to put the final nail into the coffin, put the lefty Yohan Flande on the mound, who worked in 5.1 innings, facing 19 opponents, gave up four hits, two runs, one walk and six strikeouts, did not have a decision.

Flande was replaced by Wander Suero (6), Tim Hill (7), Iván Piñeyro (7), Warner Madrigal (8), Wilfin Obispo (9)

The offense of the Eagles was headed by Ronny Rodriguez, with two homers three runs scored, two batted in and walked; Johan Camargo, a triple; Chesny Young, Alfredo Marte, Zoilo Almonte and Orlando Calixte, each with a base hit.

Juan Francisco with a homer commanded the offensive of the Tigers, Mel Rojas, two hits; Sergio Alcántara and Donovan Solano, each with one hit.

The Tigers connecting for three hits in the first inning to take the lead, when Sergio Alcantara and Donovan Solano singled, Yamaico Navarro flied to right field and Alcántara moved to third, Juan Francisco struck out, but Mel Rodriguez connected for an rbi single.

The Eagles tied the game in the same first inning when Ronny Rodriguez did not hesitate and rocketed a 360-foot home run to left field.

Juan Francisco faced reliever Edgar Garcia in the sixth inning and sent a pitch to the bleachers in right field to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead.

The Aguilas tied the game in the same 6th inning, when after one out Flande walked Ronny Rodriguez, Chesny Young flied out to right with Wander Suero on the mound, who walked Juan Carlos Perez and was replaced by Tim Hill who was greeted by and rbi single by Zoilo Almonte to tie the game 2-2.

Then came the decisive 10th inning. Ronny Rodriguez connected for a dramatic solo homer in the tenth inning that decided the Eagles' triumph 3-2 over the Tigres del Licey during the seventh game of the Final Series held at Cibao Stadium in Santiago to cut Licey's series lead by 4-3 in the best of 9 series.

"To shoot a homer at this time, in this opportunity, in the situation we are in against Licey is something great," Rodriguez said after the game.


WALKOFF HOMER

https://youtu.be/mJ6dpD75eDo



FANS CELEBRATE

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https://youtu.be/D4eMDTxO8G4

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1/26/17

MEXICO LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES Game 1: Mexicali 1, Los Mochis 3
Game 2: Mexicali 7, Los Mochis 2
Game 3: Los Mochis 6, Mexicali 5
Game 4: Los Mochis 1, Mexicali 6
Series tied 2-2
Game 5: 01/26 7:30 p.m.
Game 6: 01/28 6:00 p.m.
Game 7: 01/29 5:00 p.m.

LATE GAME STILL IN PROGRESS
Game 1: Mexicali 1, Los Mochis 3
Game 2: Mexicali 7, Los Mochis 2
Game 3: Los Mochis 6, Mexicali 5
Game 4: Los Mochis 1, Mexicali 6
Game 5: Los Mochis 2, Mexicali 5
Aguilas de Mexicali lead series 3-2
Game 6: 01/28 6:00 p.m.
Aguilas hold on for Game 5 win, series moves to Mochis

Former White Sox farmhand C.J. Retherford (pictured) knocked in two runs with a fifth-inning single to give Mexicali the lead and the Aguilas bullpen combined to hold Los Mochis scoreless the rest of the way as the Eagles came away with a 5-2 victory Thursday in Game Five of the Mexican Pacific League championship Series. The third sellout crowd in as many nights at Mexicali's 17,000-seat Estadio B'Air saw the Aguilas take the lead in the best-of-seven series, 3 games to 2.

MEXICALI 5-6-0, Los Mochis 2-9-3

After both sides were set down in order in the first inning, Mochis put a run on the scoreboard in the top of the second for the early lead. With two out, J.C. Linares smoked a double to left off Mexicali starter Miguel Pena and came in to score when Eugenio Velez singled. However, Velez got caught in a rundown trying to take second for the third out.

After three good innings, Caneros starter Julian Arballo struggled early in the fourth by walking Mexicali leadoff hitter Yuniesky Betancourt and plunking Retherford. Both runners moved up a base on Luis Juarez' flyout to right for the first out. After Arballo walked Agustin Murillo to load the bases, Betancourt came in from third to score when Yordanys Linares topped a slow roller down to Mochis third baseman Rudy Amador, who had to throw to first for the sure out as Retherford and Murillo advanced 90 feet. Xorge Carrillo grounded to second for the final out of the frame.

J.C. Linares put Los Mochis back on top with a leadoff homer off Pena's third pitch in the top of the fifth, but the home side put another two runners across the plate in the bottom of the entrada. With one out, Arballo issued consecutive walks to Chris Roberson and Jason Bourgeois, followed by a two-strike Betancourt grounder to shortstop Yosmany Guerra, who mishandled the ball in an attempt to force Bourgeois at second to load the sacks for C.J. Retherford. The ten-year minor leaguer out of Arizona State stroked the first Arballo delivery into left field to plate Roberson and Bourgeois, giving Mexicali a 3-2 advantage. Caneros manager Luis Sojo then waved Isaac Rodriguez in from the bullpen to replace Arballo. Retherford was thrown out by catcher Sebastian Valle trying to steal second while Rodriguez was in the process of walking Juarez and the Aguilas' rally ended when Murillo grounded out to second.

After that, it was nothing but zeroes until the bottom of the eighth, when Mochis setup man Santiago Gutierrez allowed back-to-back singles to Murillo and Yordanys Linares with one out, with Missael German replacing Linares as a pinch-runner. Xorge Carrillo then reached base on a throwing error by first baseman Jesus Arredondo, who'd just replaced Saul Soto at the initial hassock after the latter doubled in the previous inning and was replaced by a pinch-runner. Ramon Rios then tapped a sacrifice bunt that Arredondo made yet another throwing error on to bring in Murillo and German with the final two runs of the game to give Mexicali a 5-2 lead. It was left to closer Jake Sanchez to retire the side in order on seven pitches in the ninth to finish the contest.

Pena pitched 5.1 innings for Mexicali to earn the win, allowing two runs on six hits and a walk. Arballo, who was coming off an outstanding start his last time out, struggled this time in being tagged with the loss as the Californian let in three runs (two earned) on three hits and four walks in 4.1 frames, striking out two. Sanchez retired all four batters he faced for his fifth playoff save. Velez had three hits and J.C. Linares two for Los Mochis, who outhit the hosts by a 9-6 margin, with Yordanys Linares the only Mexicali batter
with two hits. Errors cost the Caneros dearly, with three of the Aguilas' five runs recorded as unearned.

The two teams will take Friday off for travel before resuming the series with Game Six at Los Mochis' Estadio Emilio Ibarra Almada on Saturday at 6:00PM MT (0100 UTC). Hector Velazquez, who won his first start against the Caneros, will be on the mound for Mexicali while Manny Barreda will be on the hill for Mochis. The Aguilas have outscored Mochis by an aggregate score of 24-15 and stand one win away from their first MexPac pennant since 1998-99 under manager Francisco Estrada.