Serie Del Caribe 2021: Day Two Results

From the desk: FANÁTICO DEL BÉISBOL DE INVIERNO

DAY TWO

February 1, 2021

 

• Serie del Caribe 2021 Tournament Preview
• DAY ONE

⚾

Federales de Chiriqui  vs.  Caimanes de Baranquilla

(2-0) PANAMA         9

(0-2) COLOMBIA     5

FINAL

BOXSCORE 2/1/21 - Reminiscent of 2019, Panama enters the Serie del Caribe like a wrecking ball.  Los Federales de Chiriqui are now 2-0 after Monday's victory over Colombia.  With a seven-run outburst in the third and two more runs in the ninth, Panama offers no quarter.  Try as they might, Los Caimanes rallied for four runs in the sixth but fall by a 9-5 final score.  Leading the attack is shortstop Jonathan Arauz with three hits and two runs batted in.  Designated hitter David Rodriguez doubles in three times at bat with three runs batted in.  Right fielder Willy Garcia and first baseman Carlos Quiroz each drive in a run apiece.  Caimanes designated hitter Jordan Diaz goes 3 for 4 with a double and two runs batted in.  Panama starter Manuel Campos opens the game with three scoreless innings allowing just one hit and a walk with two strikeouts.  Southpaw Davis Romero earns the victory in relief, pitching the final three innings with five strikeouts.  Colombia's bullpen limits Panama to a pair of runs on three hits with nine strikeouts over the final 6.1 innings, but the damage was already done.  Playing in their second straight tournament, Colombia is still seeking their first-ever victory in Caribbean Series play.

⚾

Caribes de Anzoátegui  vs.  Criollos de Caguas

(0-2) VENEZUELA        0

(1-1) PUERTO RICO     3

FINAL

BOXSCORE 2/1/21 - With Yadier Molina starting his first Winter game behind the plate, Puerto Rico southpaw Hector Hernandez toes the rubber opposed by Raul Rivero for Venezuela.  Caguas opens the scoring in the bottom of the third on a run batted in by left fielder Henry Rodriguez.  Hector Hernandez's work is done after five, allowing no runs on just two hits and four walks with five strikeouts.  He exits on the winning side of a one-run game.  Afterwhich, Caguas center fielder Jarred Duran draws a walk leading off the bottom half of the sixth, then with one out steals second.  Yadier Molina follows, giving Puerto Rico much needed insurance with a home run to left against Raul Rivero for a 3-0 lead.  Right-hander Anthony Maldonado yields no hits in a scoreless sixth.  Southpaw Zach Muckenhirn hurls a scoreless seventh with three strikeouts, and Rayan Gonzalez tosses a scoreless eighth.  Fernando Cruz throws a scoreless ninth inning for the save.  Jarred Duran ends the game with a fine running catch in the center/left gap.  Five Caguas pitchers, received by Yadier Molina, join together to hurl a gem.  Together they limit Venezuela to just two hits and six walks with eleven strikeouts.  The bullpen accounts for no runs and no hits with six strikeouts; Hector Hernandez earns a well-deserved win.  Molina set the tone right away with a strike 'em out/throw 'em out double-play in the first inning, nailing Ali Castillo's attempted steal of second.

⚾

Aguilas Cibaeñas  vs.  Tomateros de Culiacan

(2-0) DOMINICAN REPUBLIC   4

(1-1) MEXICO                             1

FINAL

 

BOXSCORE 2/1/21 - In the battle of the undefeated, Cesar Valdez climbs the hill for Cibaeñas and is opposed by Culiacan right-hander Hector Velazquez.  In the third inning, Aguilas first baseman Ronald Guzman drives home Melky Cabrera for the game's first run.  Valdez faces just two over the minimum through four complete.  In the top of the fifth, Hector Velazquez issues a two-out walk to Juan Lagares, and off to the showers he goes.  Southpaw Arturo Lopez is brought into the game to face lefty-swinging Robinson Cano, who grounds out, second to first.  Designated hitter Jesse Castillo with one out in the bottom half of the fifth lines a single to right, only the second hit of the game for Mexico.  Tomateros batters struck out to end the first, third, fourth, and fifth innings.  With two outs in the top of the sixth and Ronald Guzman on first, Aguilas left fielder Junior Lake launches a double over the head of center fielder Jose Cardona giving the Dominican Republic a 2-0 lead.  Cesar Valdez sets down Los Tomateros in order in the bottom of the sixth.  Los Aguilas strike for another clutch two-out hit in the seventh, a home run to right from Juan Lagares, who continues having an extraordinary Winter post-season.  Mexico strikes out again to end the eighth.  The Dominican Republic scores in the top of the ninth for good measure; shortstop Jonathan Villar doubles and scored on Melky Cabrera's hit to left for a 4-0 Cibaeñas lead.  With two outs and runners on first and second in the bottom of the frame, Mexico ruins the shutout against  Fernando Abad on runs batted in from Jesse Castillo and catcher Julian Leon making it a 4-2 deficit for Los Tomateros.  Jhan Marinez is called upon to secure the final out for the save.  Starter Cesar Valdez throws six scoreless innings on just two hits and six strikeouts for the victory.