Serie del Caribe 2018: Puerto Rico to Face Dominican Republic in Final

From the desk of:  Beisbol Invierno

Championship Game

Dominican Republic

Aguilas Cibeanas

vs.

Puerto Rico

Criollos de Caguas

Los Criollos de Caguas: Champs Return to Serie del Caribe Final in Grand Fashion.

With a come from behind victory in the semi-finals over Venezuela, los Criollos de Caguas advance, and will defend their Serie del Caribe title Thursday evening against Aguilas Cibaenas of the Dominican Republic.

Los Caribes de Anzoategui opened the scoring during Wednesday's elimination match against Puerto Rico with a run in the second inning.

After surrendering a lead-off single in the bottom of the fifth, Puerto Rico starting pitcher Orlando Roman was relieved by Fernando Cruz.  Los Caribes promptly greeted him with three straight hits, knocking Fernando out of the box.  Caguas manager Luis Matos then summoned reliever Luis Cruz whom put an end to Venezuela's threat, but not before Puerto Rico's deficit grew to four.

Caribes starting lanzador Daryl Thompson retired 15 of the first 16 Criollos batters he faced through five scoreless innings of work.

Thompson then opened the top of the sixth by fanning Criollos catcher Jonathan Morales.  But Caguas followed with a trio of hits to load the bases, and send Daryl Thompson to the showers.

Caribes manager Omar Lopez naturally followed up, bringing in reliever Nestor Molina to face Criollos number three hitter Anthony Garcia.  After swinging through a pair of pitches and looking at two others, Garcia deposited Nestor Molina's fifth offering over the left field wall for a game-tying grand slam home run.

Undeterred, Venezuela reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the seventh off Caguas reliever Robby Rowland.

However, los Caribes would unravel in the top of the eighth.  Suffice it to say, a pair of hits, a passed ball, a stolen base, an intentional walk, a wild pitch, and a catcher's throwing error later, and Caguas emerged with a one run lead, and ultimately, victory.

*

Los Aguilas Cibaenas, representing the Dominican Republic, overcame an early 0-3 deficit against Cuba to advance into the Caribbean tournament's finale against los Criollos.  Cibaenas waited to inflict their offensive damage upon Cuba late in the game, posting a pair of runs in the sixth, three in the seventh, and two more runs in the top of the eighth.  In response, all Cuba could muster was a run in the eighth, but no more.  The Cubans would ultimately fall by a 7-4 final margin.