Serie del Caribe 2021: Los Aguilas Cibaeñas Capture Caribbean Series Championship

From the desk: FANÁTICO DEL BÉISBOL DE INVIERNO

CARIBBEAN SERIES FINAL

FEB. 6, 2021

⚾

Criollos de Caguas  vs.  Aguilas Cibaeñas

(5-2) PUERTO RICO                 1

(7-0) DOMINICAN REPUBLIC  4

FINAL

BOXSCORE 2/6/21 - The battle to be crowned Caribbean Series champion features Puerto Rico southpaw Hector Hernandez who is opposed by right-hander Cesar Valdez for the Dominican Republic.  A double from shortstop  Ramon Torres leading off the first accounts for the only hit through the game's first four innings.  In the top of the fifth, designated hitter Juan Centeno singles for Los Criollos' first hit.  Centeno advances on a wild pitch, then scores on center fielder Jarren Duran's two-out hit through the right side.  But the lead does not last long.  With two outs in the bottom of the frame, third baseman  Johan Camargo ties the game at one with a home run to left.  Right-hander Luis Castillo relieves Cesar Valdez in the sixth.  Right-hander Anthony Maldonado likewise enters the game for Caguas.  Leading-off, Ramon Torres greets Maldonado with a single.  Center fielder Juan Lagares follows with a double scoring Torres all the way from first.  First baseman Ronald Guzman then singles driving home Lagares for a 3-1 Cibaeñas lead.  After hitting left fielder Junior Lake with a pitch, Maldonado is relieved by  Zach Muckenhirn, who strikes out Jonathan Villar swinging.  With one out in the bottom of the eighth, Ronald Guzman homers off reliever Fernando Cruz giving Los Aguilas a 4-1 lead.  Right-hander Jumbo Diaz retires Caguas to close out the victory and earn the save in order in the top of the ninth.  Luis Castillo earns the win.  Anthony Maldonado takes the loss.

AGUILAS CIBAEÑAS

⚾  CAMPEONES SERIE DEL CARIBE  ⚾

2020-2021

The Dominican Republic wins back-to-back titles and their tournament-leading 21st Caribbean championship overall.  Los Aguilas Cibaeñas now ranks second all-time with their sixth ever Caribbean title.  This is the second time (1998) Cibaeñas has gone on an undefeated run.  Only 13 teams have gone on undefeated runs in the 63-year history of the tournament.

Serie del Caribe 2021 Semifinals: Puerto Rico Outlasts Mexico to Advance Into Serie Finale

From the desk: FANÁTICO DEL BÉISBOL DE INVIERNO

SEMIFINALS

FEB. 5, 2021

• Serie del Caribe 2021 Tournament Preview
• DAY ONE
• DAY TWO
• DAY THREE
• DAY FOUR
• DAY FIVE

⚾

Tomateros de Culiacan vs. Criollos de Caguas

(3-3) MEXICO             1

(5-1) PUERTO RICO  2

FINAL

BOXSCORE 2/5/21 - After three scoreless innings, Mexico strikes in the fourth.  Left fielder Joey Meneses singles home second baseman Ramiro Pena with the first run of the game.  Caguas first baseman Jonathan Morales singles with one out in the bottom half of the frame.  Left fielder Rey Fuentes follows with a home to right off Culiacan starter Manny Barreda for a 2-0 Criollos lead.  Both starting pitchers are out of the game after five.  Barreda allows two runs on four hits and three walks with three strikeouts.  Criollos starter Luis Medina exits on the winning side after yielding just one run on two hits and two walks with four strikeouts.  The respective bullpens reengage in a pitcher's duel on through the eighth.  Caguas reliever Rayan Gonzalez returns to the hill for his second inning of work with the game on the line.  Mexico goes down in order.  Los Criollos bullpen accounts for four scoreless innings of one-hit ball.  Luis Medina gets the win; Rayan Gonzalez earns his first save.  Puerto Rico will next face the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean Series championship game.

• Semifinal: Dominican Republic vs. Panama

Serie Del Caribe 2021: Puerto Rico Triumphs Over Mexico

From the desk: FANÁTICO DEL BÉISBOL DE INVIERNO 

DAY THREE

Feb. 2, 2021

• Serie del Caribe 2021 Tournament Preview
• DAY ONE
• DAY TWO

⚾

Criollos de Caguas  vs.  Tomateros de Culiacan

(2-1) PUERTO RICO   6

(1-2) MEXICO              4

FINAL

BOXSCORE 2/2/21 - Puerto Rico achieves their second victory in the tournament.   Los Criollos jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the second on a two-run home run from shortstop Edwin Diaz.  But the lead is short-lived.  Los Tomateros tie the score in the bottom of the second.  With two outs, shortstop  Juan Carlos Gamboa and center fielder Jesus Fabela each drive in a run apiece.  Caguas then pulls away with three runs in the fifth.  Center fielder Jarren Duran tripled home a run and scored on a hit from second baseman Vimael Machin.  Behind the plate again, Yadier Molina scores on a sacrifice fly by left fielder Rey Fuentes.  Left fielder Henry Ramos knocks in Puerto Rico's sixth run with a two-out hit in the sixth.  Mexico plates two in the bottom of the seventh on a double by center fielder Jesus Fabela and a hit by right fielder Sebastian Elizalde but would score no more.  Criollos starter Hector Santiago allows four runs, but only two earned, on seven hits and one walks with five strikeouts over 6.1 innings for the victory.  Reliever Fernando Cruz pitches a scoreless ninth with two strikeouts for his second save of the tourney.  

DAY THREE:

• Dominican Republic defeats Panama
• Venezuela defeats Colombia

Serie Del Caribe 2021: Panama and Dominican Republic Win Opening Games

From the desk: FANÁTICO DEL BÉISBOL DE INVIERNO

DAY ONE

January 31, 2021

ICYMI: Serie Del Caribe 2021 Tournament Preview

⚾

Federales de Chiriquí  vs.  Caribes de Anzoátegui

(1-0) PANAMA           6

(0-1) VENEZUELA     3

FINAL

BOXSCORE 1/31/21 - Team Venezuela seizes the honor of scoring the first run of the 2021 Serie del Caribe.  With one out in the bottom of the first, third baseman Willians Astudillo doubles to left and scores on a base hit from left fielder Danry Vasquez.  Panama sends a quick reminder of who the 2019 Caribbean champions were.  Back-to-back doubles leading-off the top of the second from designated hitter David Rodriguez and third baseman Hector Gomez tie the game at one.  Venezuela retakes the lead in the bottom of the third on a lead-off home run from center fielder Herlis Rodriguez.  But, back comes Panama.  With two outs in the top of the fourth, consecutive hits from catcher Rodrigo Vigil, center fielder Jhonny Santos, and shortstop Jonathan Araúz knot the game at two.  Los Caribes once again retake the lead on catcher Jesus Sucre's home run to left, making it a 3-2 game in favor of Venezuela.  Once again, Panama strikes back.  Hector Gomez opens the bottom of the sixth with a double, then scored on a base hit back through the middle from first baseman Carlos Quiros.  Soon after, Jonathan Araúz singles home Rodrigo Vigil forcing a pitching change.  Second baseman Jesus Lopez greets Caribes reliever Andres E. Perez with a double to left scoring Araúz.  Two more consecutive hits from left fielder Allen Cordoba and clean-up batter Willy Garcia give Los Federales a 6-3 lead and the final margin of victory.  Panam starter Harold Arauz yields three runs on six hits and no walks with two strikeouts through 4.2 innings pitched but does not figure in the decision.  Southpaw  Austin Warner earns the victory with 2.2 scoreless innings pitched.  Right-hander Severino Gonzalez earns the save.  Caribes reliever Mayckol Guaipe suffers the loss.

⚾

Criollos de Caguas  vs.  Aguilas Cibaeñas

(0-1) PUERTO RICO                  1

(1-0) DOMINICAN REPUBLIC   5

FINAL

BOXSCORE 1/31/21 - Taking on last year's defending champion, Puerto Rico opens the scoring against the Dominican Republic.  Center fielder Jarren Duran singles, leading-off the game, then steals second.  After advancing to third, Duran scores on a single from designated hitter Jose Miranda.  In the bottom of the third, Caguas starter Luis Medina issues a one-out walk.  Right fielder Melky Cabrera follows with a single through the middle, and center fielder Juan Lagares clears the bases with a home run to left, giving Cibaeñas a 3-1 lead.  With two outs and two runners in scoring position in the bottom of the fourth, Juan Lagares again clears the bases with a line single to center for a 5-1 lead.  Luis Medina then issues a base on balls to Robinson Cano, and it's off to the showers he goes.  Puerto Rico loads the bases in the sixth on two walks and a hit-by-pitch.  That's enough for Cibaeñas to replace starter Carlos Martinez.  With two outs, reliever Luis Castillo induces third baseman Emmanuel Rivera into a groundball to third.  Yadier Molina doubles in the eighth for only Puerto Rico's fourth hit of the game.  Otherwise, Caguas fades with the setting sun.  Luis Medina takes the loss, allowing five runs, but only three earned, on seven hits and two walks with three strikeouts in 3.2 innings pitched.  Aguilas' starter Carlos Martinez earns the victory, yielding just one first-inning run on three hits and two walks with seven strikeouts through 5.2 innings pitched.  Three Cibaeñas relievers join in limiting Caguas to one hit and no walks through 3.1 innings pitched.  Southpaw Fernando Abad strikes out the side in the ninth to close out Los Aguilas' first victory of the tournament.

⚾

Tomateros de Culiacan  vs.  Caimanes de Baranquilla

(1-0) MEXICO        10

(0-1) COLOMBIA     2

LATE FINAL

BOXSCORE 1/31/21 - Mexico opens with a commanding 10-2 victory over Colombia.  After trading runs with Los Caimenes in the first, Los Tomateros strike for six runs in the fifth and another three runs in the ninth inning.   Designated hitter Jesse Castillo goes 2 for 3 with two runs scored, a home run, and three runs batted in.  Center fielder Jose Cardona and left fielder Joey Meneses each drive in two runs apiece.  Starter Manny Barreda yields two runs, just one earned, on five hits and one walk with five strikeouts through six innings for the victory.  Former New York Mets infielder Dilson Herrera and catcher Carlos Martinez drive in a run each for Colombia.

Winter Leagues Playoffs 2020-2021: Los Criollos de Caguas Win LBPRC Championship In Four

From the desk: FANÁTICO DEL BÉISBOL DE INVIERNO

2020-2021

Liga Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente

LBPRC CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

GAME FOUR

(4-0) Criollos de Caguas      7

(0-4) Indios de Mayaguez     6

FINAL

BOXSCORE 1/24/21 - Facing Mayagüez starter Nick Travieso, Caguas center fielder Jarren Duran leads off the game with a home run over the right field wall.  In the third, Nick Travieso pitches himself into more trouble by issuing a lead-off walk to Jarren Duran, yielding a double to left fielder Jay Gonzalez, and hitting Yadier Molina with a pitch to load the bases.  Travieso then walks first baseman Victor Caratini to force in a run.  Los Indios get one back in the bottom of the third on a run batted in from center fielder Jack Lopez.  Jay Gonzalez singles to lead off the fifth and promptly steals second.  Afterwhich, Yadier Molina is again hit with a pitch.  Third baseman Jose Miranda follows with a home run to left off Nick Travieso, giving Caguas a 5-1 lead.  Indios catcher Xavier Fernandez drives in a run on a sac-fly in the bottom half of the frame, scoring Christian Colon from third.  Caguas starter Giovanni Soto exits at this point after allowing two runs on three hits and two walks with six strikeouts through 4.2 innings pitched.  However, Nick Travieso is taken off the hook when Mayagüez takes the lead in the seventh with a four-run outburst featuring a double and a run batted in from Xavier Fernandez, a two-run base hit from right fielder Henry Ramos, and the go-ahead run-scoring sac-fly from Jack Lopez.  In the top of the ninth, Yadier Molina is hit by a pitch for the third time.  In fact, it's the second hit by pitch of the inning by right-hander Yacksel Rios.  Jose Miranda fanned swinging for the second out.  Still, with two runners on base, first baseman Víctor Caratini hit a comebacker off Yacksel Rios and reached safely; on the play, Jarren Duran scores from third base with the tying run.  Second baseman Vimael Machin then drives in the go-ahead run with a line-drive single to center.  Los Criollos call upon right-hander  Fernando Cruz to pitch the bottom of the ninth.  Cruz answers the call retiring the side in order,  striking out Henry Ramos to end the game.  Five Criollos relievers join to yield three earned runs on four hits and one walk with four strikeouts over the final 4.1 innings pitched.  New York Mets farmhand Joshua Torres earns the victory in relief.  Fernando Cruz earns his second save of the series.  The visiting Criollos clinch game four at Estadio Isidoro Cholo Garcia and sweep Los Indios de Mayagüez in four straight.  Established in 1938 as a founding member of LBPRC, Los Criollos de Caguas win their record 19th Puerto Rican championship and first since seizing back-to-back league titles during the 2016-2018 seasons.    Now it's onward to the Caribbean Series.

1. GAME ONE
2. GAME TWO
3. GAME THREE
   

REST IN PEACE

Henry Aaron

🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆

🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆

🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆

🏆 🏆 🏆

2020 🏆 2021

Winter Leagues Playoffs 2020-2021: Criollos de Caguas Take Commanding 3-0 LBPRC Championship Series Lead Against Mayagüez

From the desk: FANÁTICO DEL BÉISBOL DE INVIERNO

2020-2021

Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente

LBPRC CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

GAME THREE

(0-3) Indios de Mayagüez   3

(3-0) Criollos de Caguas     7

FINAL

BOXSCORE 1/23/21 - Seeking to climb back into this series after dropping two straight, Mayagüez jumps out to a first-inning lead on a run batted in from Ivan De Jesus.  Criollos catcher Jonathan Morales ties the game in the second with a single and run batted in.  Mayagüez starter Luis Medina's wild pitch allows  Jose Miranda to score from third for a 2-1 Criollos lead.  In the top of the seventh, Indios left fielder  Danny Ortiz doubles home the tying run.  Undeterred, Caguas continues answering back.  Center fielder Jarred Duran doubles home the go-ahead run, and Yadier Molina's sac-fly gives Los Criollos a 4-2 lead.  Right fielder Henry Ramos brings Los Indios within one with an RBI single in the eighth driving home Bronx native T.J. Rivera.  But Caguas is relentless.  Jarred Duran clubs a three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth, giving Los Criollos a commanding 7-3 lead and the final margin of victory.  Reliever Rayan Gonzalez retires Los Indios in order in the top of the ninth to close out Los Criollos' third straight victory over Mayagüez.  Right-hander Anthony Maldonado earns the victory in relief.  Jarren Duran is the big man on campus, going 2 for 5 with a double, home run, and four runs batted in.  Criollos starter Tommy Romero yields just one run on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts in a five-inning no-decision effort.  Top-seeded Caguas is one victory away from sweeping the series and advancing to the Caribbean Series being hosted this year by Mazatlán, Mexico.

1. GAME ONE
2. GAME TWO

Hiram Bithorn Stadium

Winter Leagues Playoffs 2020-2021: LBPRC, LVBP & LMP Championship Series Round-Up

From the desk: FANÁTICO DEL BÉISBOL DE INVIERNO

2020-2021

Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente

LBPRC CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

GAME TWO

(2-0) Criollos de Caguas      7

(0-2) Indios de Mayagüez    5

FINAL

BOXSCORE 1/22/21 - After two scoreless albeit active innings, Caguas breaks out for three runs in the top of the third.  Leading off, Mayagüez starter and Mets farmhand Joel Huertas plunks shortstop Edwin Diaz with a pitch then issues consecutive bases on balls to left fielder Rey Fuentes and to reigning league MVP and Mets product Johneshwy Fargas.  Center fielder Jarren Duran bounces into a (4 to 6) force play, with Diaz scoring on the play.  After which, Indios manager Luis Matos pulls Huertas from the game.  When play resumes with two outs, third baseman Jose Miranda singles home two runs.  Mayagüez gets one back in the bottom half of the frame on doubles by shortstop Jeremy Rivera and right fielder Jack Lopez making it a 3-1 game in favor of Caguas.  Indios second baseman Christian Colon is ejected by the home plate umpire for arguing a called third strike with one out in the bottom of the fourth.  That's when the saturated skies over Estadio Isidoro Cholo Garcia burst open, and down came the rain.  Caguas starter Hector Santiago does not continue after the delay.  He allows one run on two hits and a walk with three strikeouts through 3.2 innings pitched.  Pitching duties are handed off to Luis Cruz.  In the top of the fifth, Caguas catcher Jonathan Morales is issued a bases-loaded walk by Indios reliever Eric Stout who soon after unleashes a wild pitch allowing Jose Miranda to score from third for a 5-1 Criollos lead.  Mayagüez claws back with a run in the bottom of the fifth on a sac-fly from Ivan De Jesus Jr.  The teams repeat the cycle in the sixth; Caguas scores twice, and Los Indios answer with one.  Yadier Molina and Jose Miranda drive in runs for Caguas; Jeremy Rivera drives in one for Mayagüez.  Los Indios manufacture two more runs in the ninth but ultimately come up short against Los Criollos for a second straight game.  Six Caguas relievers join to yield four runs on seven hits and two walks over the final 5.1 innings.  Chris Muller earns the victory in relief.

1. GAME ONE 

Liga Venezolana Béisbol Profesional

LVBP CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

GAME ONE

(1-0) Caribes de Anzoátegui   6

(0-1) Cardenales de Lara         0

FINAL

BOXSCORE 1/22/21  Game one opens with a pitching duel pitting David Martinez of Anzoátegui against Logan Darnell for Lara.  The two traded zeroes for five innings.  Los Caribes finally break the scoreless tie in the sixth.  Darnell is removed from the game after yielding a lead-off single and issuing consecutive walks to load the bases.  Reliever Vicente Campos induces consecutive (six-to-four) force outs, but Los Caribes score each time.  Anzoátegui scores twice more in the seventh on runs batted in from right fielder Herlis Rodriguez and center fielder Rafael Ortega.  Not yet done, Los Caribes rally for yet another pair in the eighth on a run batted in from first baseman Tomás Telis and a bases-loaded walk issued to third baseman Niuman Romero for a 6-0 Caribes lead and the final margin of victory.  Caribes shortstop Luis Sardiñas finishes 4 for 4 with a double and a run scored.  Anzoátegui starter David Martinez allows no runs on four hits and two walks with two strikeouts through 4.1 innings but exits to a no-decision.  Long time Caribes veteran Jean Toledo earns the victory in relief.  Six members of the bullpen join in limiting Los Cardenales to no runs on just three hits and four walks with three strikeouts to preserve the shutout and close out their series-opening victory on the road.

• Game Two: Saturday

 

Liga Mexicana del Pacifico

LMP CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

GAME ONE

(0-1) Tomateros de Culiacan        1

(1-0) Naranjeros de Hermosillo    2

FINAL

BOXSCORE 1/22/21  The much-anticipated series between this season's top-seeded club versus the defending LMP champions is underway.  Hermosillo jumps out to a prompt 2-0 first-inning lead looking to unseat the still reigning title bearers.  Right fielder Yadiel Hernández doubles home the first Naranjeros run, then soon scores on a fielder's choice.  Tomateros starter JC Ramirez and Naranjeros southpaw Ryan Verdugo continue dueling; the score remains unchanged through the eighth.  The defending champs ultimately bow to Los Naranjeros but not before ruining the shutout on the run batted in by first baseman Efren Navarro.  JC Ramirez allows two runs on six hits and one walk with six strikeouts over six innings pitched in a bit of hard luck losing effort.  Hermosillo starter Ryan Verdugo yields no runs on five hits and no walks with five strikeouts through seven innings for the victory.  Fernando Salas earns the save.

• Game Two: Saturday

Winter Leagues Playoffs 2020-2021: Caguas Criollos Whitewash Mayagüez Indios in Game One LBPRC Championship Series

From the desk: FANÁTICO DEL BÉISBOL DE INVIERNO

2020-2021

Liga Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente

LBPRC CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

GAME ONE

(0-1) Idios de Mayaguez    0

(1-0) Criollos de Caguas   4

FINAL

BOXSCORE 1/21/21 - Criollos starter Jose De Leon pitches a gem in game one of the LBPRC championship series, allowing Los Indios no runs on just two hits and one walk with twelve strikeouts through six innings for the win.  In facing 21 batters, De Leon threw 48 pitches with a pinpoint of 44 (91%) going for strikes.  Relievers  Andy Maldonado,  Zach Muckenhirn, and Fernando Cruz join together for three scoreless innings of no-hit ball with no walks and three strikeouts to preserve the shutout and secure victory.  Caguas, playing in their first game since Jan. 7, waste no time getting ahead of the competition.  League MVP and Mets farmhand Johneshwy Fargas leads off the home first with a double, and center fielder Jarren Duran draws a walk.  Designated hitter Yadier Molina follows with a triple, then scored on a fielder's choice for an instant 3-0 lead.  Catcher Jonathan Morales drives in Los Criollos fourth run with a sac-fly in the eight en route to a 4-0 whitewashing of Mayagüez.  Indios starter Hector Hernandez yields three runs on six hits and four walks with four strikeouts in a seven-inning losing effort.

Website:

• CriollosCaguas.com
• IndiosMayaguez.com

Twitter:

• @LBPRC
• @CriollosCaguas 
• @MayaguezIndios

YouTube:

• Caguas Criollos TV

Winter Leagues Playoffs 2020-2021: LBPRC Championship Series Preview

From the desk: FANÁTICO DEL BÉISBOL DE INVIERNO

2020-2021

LIGA de BÉISBOL PROFESIONAL ROBERTO CLEMENTE

LBPRC 

CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

GAME ONE

Indios de Mayagüez

vs.

Criollos de Caguas 

The much-anticipated series between Mayagüez and Caguas commences Thursday.  Joining Los Criollos will be All-Star catcher Yadier Molina selected from Manatí in the draw from eliminated teams, and catcher/first baseman Victor Caratini who was reactivated to the roster.  Los Indios will be reinforced by New York Mets farmhand and southpaw Joel Huertas selected from RA12.  Los Criollos finished the regular season first overall, with Los Indios finishing just one game behind.  The two teams split their regular-season series at three wins apiece.  Both Caguas and Mayagüez are founding members of LBPRC, established in 1938.  Los Indios last won the championship in 2014, while Los Criollos last clinched back-to-back titles during the 2017 and 2018 seasons.  Both teams are tied for most league championships with eighteen flags each.  The winner of this series will become the LBPRC all-time leader in titles.

Website:

• CriollosCaguas.com
• IndiosMayaguez.com

Twitter:

• @LBPRC
• @CriollosCaguas 
• @MayaguezIndios

YouTube:

• Caguas Criollos TV

Winter Leagues Playoffs 2020-2021: Mayagüez Sweeps Manatí, Advance to Championship Series Versus Caguas

From the desk: FANÁTICO DEL BÉISBOL DE INVIERNO

2020-2021

 

Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente

SEMIFINAL-B

GAME FOUR

(0-4) Atenienses de Manatí   2

(4-0) Indios de Mayagüez      3

FINAL

BOXSCORE 1/19/21 - On Tuesday, Los Indios de Mayagüez completes a four-game sweep of Los Atenienses de Manatí and will now advance to the LBPRC championship series against the awaiting Criollos de Caguas.  A double-header was tentatively scheduled for this day hence a seven-inning game.  But a fifth game was not required as Mayaguez defeated Manatí by a 3-2 final score.  Los Indios scored an incredible 65 runs in only four games.  Mayagüez opens the scoring in the third with a two-out double by shortstop Jeremy Rivera and an RBI single from right fielder Henry Ramos.  The teams then traded two runs each in the fifth.  Manatí third baseman Jose Sermo connected on a two-run home run off Indios starter Nick Travieso for a brief 2-1 lead.  But with two outs in the bottom of the fifth and Jeremy Rivera on first base, Henry Ramos homered to right off Manatí starter Jason Garcia giving Los Indios a 3-2 lead and the final margin of victory.  Nick Travieso allows two runs on four hits and two walks with three strikeouts through six innings pitched for the win.  Reliever Jean Cosme earned the save.  Jason Garcia yielded three earned runs on seven hits and no walks with three strikeouts through 5.1 innings pitched in a losing effort.  Playing first base for Los Atenienses, Yadier Molina went hitless in three at-bats.  Henry Ramos drives in all three runs for Mayagüez.

Winter Leagues Playoffs 2020-2021: LBPRC Mayagüez Continues Assault Against Manatí

From the desk: FANÁTICO DEL BEISBOL DE INVIERNO

2020-2021

Liga Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente

SEMIFINAL-B

GAME THREE

(3-0) Indios de Mayagüez       20

(0-3) Atenienses de Manatí      7

FINAL

BOXSCORE 1/18/21 Maybe they have good scouting reports?  Mayagüez picked up where they left off on Sunday, with a second straight thrashing of Los Atenienses de Manatí.  This time Los Indios rack up twenty runs, bringing their two-day total up to a ponderous fifty runs.  Lest we forget Mayagüez defeated Manatí by a 12-4 final way back in game one.  Los Indios pounded out 22 hits, with six going for home runs.  Four were hit in the sixth inning alone with designated hitter Ivan De Jesus Jr. and third baseman Emmanuel Rivera going back-to-back.  All told, Los Indios batted 8 for 19 with runners in scoring position.  Rivera was 4 for 7 with two solo home runs.  First baseman Kennys Vargas was 5 for 6 with a double, home run, and five runs batted in.  Shortstop Jeremy Rivera was 3 for 5 with a triple, home run, and four runs batted in.  Second baseman Christian Colon and Ivan De Jesus Jr. each drove in three runs apiece.  All-Star catcher Yadier Molina made his rather unusual debut for Los Atenienses, going 2 for 4 with a double as the designated hitter, then yielding a home run and two hits while pitching in a desperate ninth inning for Manatí who now face elimination with one more loss.

Winter League Playoffs 2020-2021: LBPRC Mayagüez Trounces Manatí in Return to Action

From the desk: FANÁTICO DEL BEISBOL DE INVIERNO

2020-2021

Liga Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente

SEMIFINAL-B

GAME TWO

(2-0) Indios de Mayagüez    30

(0-2) Atenienses de Manatí   8

FINAL

BOXSCORE 1/17/2021 - Los Indios and Atenienses, for the first time in fifteen days, return to action.  Manati was cleared to resume practice earlier in the week, but Mayaguez didn't receive clearance for resuming activities until very recently.  Yet, Los Indios trounce Los Atenienses in Sunday's return to action at Estadio Municipal Pedro Roman Melendez.  Mayaguez had built a 4-2 after three.  Afterwhich, the floodgate burst wide open.  Los Indios romped for five runs in the fifth, nine runs in the sixth, another nine runs in the eighth, and just to be safe, three more runs in the ninth en route to a 30-8 dismantling of Los Atensienses.  Indios third baseman Emmanuel Rivera was the big man on campus going 4 for 5 with two doubles, two home runs, and ten runs batted in.  First baseman Kennys Vargas was 4 for 7 with a double, two home runs, and five runs batted in.  Shortstop Jeremy Rivera's home run gave Los Indios five in all.  Manati's left fielder Edgar Corcino connected on their only home run of the game.  Mayaguez starter Hector Hernandez yields two earned runs on three hits and two walks with two strikeouts through seven innings to earn the victory.  Can't speak that well for the bullpen, though ...

POSTED 1/16/2021:

After adhering to COVID protocol and receiving the necessary test results, Puerto Rico's Department of Health and LBPRC cleared the way for the resumption of the semifinal series between Los Indios de Mayaguez and Los Atenienses de Manati.  Mayaguez incurred an outbreak of positive tests on Jan. 2, resulting in the suspension of play after just one game won by Los Indios.  Los Atenienses was previously cleared to resume practice earlier this week, with Mayaguez's ongoing testing and results still pending.  Game two is tentatively scheduled for Sunday afternoon, followed by a single game on Monday and a doubleheader scheduled for Tuesday (Thursday and Friday, if necessary).  When the Atenienses take the field, they will be doing so with catcher Yadier Molina; LBPRC approved the lateral acquisition from Los Gigantes de Carolina.  Waiting for this series's conclusion is Los Criollos de Caguas, who has been keeping busy playing intramural games.  The league strives to have the championship series concluded by Jan. 27, three days before starting the Caribbean Series.

 

Puerto Rico Winter Beisbol: LBPRC Opening Day

OPENING DAY

LIGA BEISBOL PROFESIONAL ROBERTO CLEMENTE

LBPRC
est. 1938

ESTADIO HIRAM BITHORN

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO

Indios de Mayguez

vs.

Cangrejeros de Santurce

Mayaguez opens the scoring in the third when first baseman Kennys Vargas (MIN) doubles home Michael Gettys (S.D.).  However the defending LBPRC champions rally for three runs in the fourth on a lead-off home run from left fielder Daz Cameron (DET), and runs batted in from shortstop Ivan DeJesus Jr. (MIN), and third baseman Jantzen Witte (BOS) en route to a 3-1 victory.  Santurce starter Ryan O'Rourke (NYM) yields the Indians lone run on three hits and two walks with four strikeouts in three innings pitched but does not factor in the decision.  Bryan Escanio (N/A) follows with three scoreless innings of no-hit ball with one walk and two strikeouts for the victory in relief.  Fernando Cruz (N/A) pitches the ninth for his first save.  Indians reliever Nelvin Fuentes (N/A) gets tagged with the loss.

ESTADIO ROBERTO CLEMENTE

CAROLINA, PUERTO RICO

Criollos de Caguas

vs.

Gigantes de Carolina

Five Carolina pitchers join in whitewashing the Criollos, limiting Caguas to just a pair of hits and no walks, while striking out 16 batters.  Starter Hector Santiago (CHW) tosses five scoreless innings of no-hit baseball with nine strikeouts.  Four Gigantes relievers take care of the rest yielding just two hits, no walks, and fanning seven.  Santiago earns the victory, and Layne Henderson (HOU) earns his first save.  Gigantes shortstop Ozzie Martinez' (N/A) first home run of the winter, and catcher Brian Navarreto's (NYY) run batted in makes all the difference.  Criollos starter Ivan Maldonado (N/A) takes the loss upon yielding two runs on five hits and no walks through four innings.  The Criollos bullpen keeps the game within reach with five scoreless innings to no avail.

*(N/A) non affiliated/independent/winter.

• BOXSCORES
• LigaPR.com

Criollos de Caguas: est. 1938 - 18 LBPRC Championships; five Serie Caribe championships (back-to-back 2017-2018). 

Indios de Mayaguez: est. 1938 - 18 LBPRC championships; two Serie Caribe championships. 

Cangrejeros de Santurce: est. 1939 - 15 LBPRC championships; defending champions; five Serie Caribe championships. 

Gigantes de Carolina est. 2000 - Two LBPRC championships. 

Atenienses de Manati est. 2019 - The Athenians were first formed in 2004, but only lasted three seasons.  Due in part to a reorganization of the Santurce Crabbers the Atheniens reemerged for the 2012-2013 season.  The new Atheniens are an expansion team.  The team name is Manati's traditional local sports identity.

San Juan's Hiram Bithorn Stadium will host the 2019-2020 Serie Caribe.  Hiram Bithorn is major league baseball's first Puerto Rican born player.  He pitched for the Chicago Cubs during the 1942-1943 seasons before serving two years in the United States Navy.  He pitched one more season for the Cubs in 1946, then made a very brief appearance in 1947 with the crosstown White Sox.  Hiram was 34-32 with a 3.16 ERA in 105 major league games and 509.2 innings pitched.