Winter Leagues: L.I. Ducks Ace Pitches Gem for Caguas Criollos

LBPRC.com 

 Liga de Beibol Profesional Roberto Clemente 

Pitching for los Criollos de Caguas, Long Island Ducks ace starter John Brownell earned a victory with seven scoreless innings in Game Six of their semi-final series against los Indios de Mayaguez.

The lone run of the game came in the bottom of the fourth when Caguas first baseman Ruben Gotay was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, scoring center fielder Rico Noel from third, who likewise led-off by getting hit with a pitch.

Brownell allowed just three hits and a walk, fanned five, and retired his first eleven batters faced.   This was his second victory of the post-season.  He previously earned a victory in Game Three, allowing two earned runs over 5.2 innings during Caguas' 5-4 victory over Mayaguez.

After falling behind 0-2 in their best of seven series to Mayaguez, Caguas regrouped to win four straight.

Los Criollos will now take on los Cangrejeros de Santurce in Puerto Rico's Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League finals beginning Saturday evening at San Juan's Hiram Bithorn Stadium.

In the league's other semi-final series, Santurce easily advanced passed los Gigantes de Carolina by a four games to one margin.

Caguas finished nine games behind the first place Cangrejeros in the regular season standings.

The finals are a best five of nine series.  Game One takes place in Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan.   Game Two is scheduled to be played in Caguas.

Estadio Yldefonso Sola Morales

home of

Los Criollos de Caguas

Winter Leagues: Los Naranjeros Defeat Indios; Mexico Captures Second Straight Caribbean Title

Box

Caribbean Series Final

Indios (P.R.)             1

Naranjeros (MEX)    7

Representing Mexico, the Naranjeros baseball club from Hermosillo, captured the nation's second straight Caribbean championship.  This was Mexico's third title in the last four years, and the eighth time a team from Mexico captured the Caribbean flag since they began participating in 1970.

MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE MEMBER:

NARANJEROS de HERMOSILLO

Caribbean Champions

1976 & 2014

The representatives from Puerto Rico failed in their bid to capture the island's fifteenth Caribbean title, as los Indios de Mayaguez were undone by Mexico's sixth inning, six run outburst during Saturday night's final.

Joel Piniero climbed the hill for Mayaguez, and was opposed by Juan Delgadillo for los Naranjeros.  The two dueled through a scoreless tie through the first five innings, but Piniero's night ended there with a no-decision.  He threw 66 pitches, with 47 going for strikes, for a 71% rate of effectiveness.  He only allowed three hits, walked one, and struck out three before yielding to the bullpen.

Juan Delgadillo went back out for the sixth, and held los Indios scoreless yet again.  In the bottom of the frame, his efforts were finally rewarded.  With Kanekoa Texeira pitching in relief of Piniero, Naranjero's lead-off batter, and center fielder, Chris Roberson, greeted the Mayaguez reliever, and broke up the stalemate with a home run to right.  After surrendering a one out single and a walk, Texeira was removed in favor of Nelvin Fuentes.  First baseman Daryle Ward then promptly singled to drive in the Naranjero's second run.  A base hit by right fielder Luis Fonseca to load the bases, and a pitching change later, catcher Sabastian Valle stepped in against reliever Saul Rivera, and delivered the knock out blow- a grand slam home run over the left-center field wall.

Hermosillo scored one more time in the eighth, on a bases loaded single by shortstop Gil Velasquez.

Starting pitcher Juan Delgadillo completed seven full innings of scoreless baseball.  He allowed four hits, walked none, and struck out five batters before exiting on the winning side.  He threw 98 pitches, 70 for strikes, for a 71% rate of effectiveness.

Puerto Rico managed to ruin the shutout with one run in the ninth, but no much else.  Naranjero pitching limited them to five hits for the game.  Los Indios wound up 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position. Kanekoa Texeira was credited with the loss in relief.

Saturday's final game was played under clear skies, and 86 degrees, on la Isla de Margarita off Venezuela.
A crowd of 13,291 filled Estadio Guatamare de Porlamar for Saturday's championship.  Next year's Caribbean Series will be hosted by Puerto Rico.  Despite making their first appearance in 53 years, Cuba's participation in next year's tournament is still uncertain.

The Naranjeros de Hermosillo compiled a 42-25 record during their Mexican Pacific League regular season, clinching first place by a 4.5 game margin over second place Aguilas de Mexicali.  Hermosillo defeated the Mayos de Navojoa to win their league championship.  The Naranjeros then defeated the Domincan Republic's Tigres de Licey in the semi-finals to advance into the championship game against Puerto Rico.



Mike.BTB

Caribbean Series Update: Puerto Rico Outlasts Venezuela; Will Face Mexico In Final

Winter League Tournament: Final Four Preview

Round Robin Summary

Thursday, Feb. 6th Semi Final:
Mexico Advances To Final - Dominican Republic Eliminated

Friday, Feb. 7th Semi-Final

Puerto Rico  2

Venezuela    0

Puerto Rico's Indios de Mayaguez outlasted the top seeded Venezuelan Navegantes de Magallanes Friday evening to gain a 2-0 victory, and advance into Saturday's Caribbean championship game against Mexico's Naranjeros de Hermosillo.

Pitcher Giancarlo Alvarado climbed the hill for los Indios, and was opposed by Daryl Thompson for los Navegantes.  Both starters traded zeroes through the first five innings.  Thompson allowed but a hit, and a pair of walks, while striking out three before being relieved after facing one batter in the sixth.  Alvarado completed six innings, allowed two hits, two walks, and struck out two, before likewise departing with a no-decision.

Puerto Rico finally broke the scoreless deadlock in the top of the eighth inning off reliever Hassan Pena, who walked the first two batters he faced.  A fielding error by Navegantes shortstop Eduardo Escobar then loaded the bases, and chased Pena from the game.  In to pitch came Jesus Martinez, who promptly allowed a single to Indios center fielder Eddie Rosario.  Pinch runner Luis Montanez was the first base runner to cross the plate, followed by pinch hitter Miguel Abreu, who reached safely on a walk.  Both unearned runs were charged to Hassan Pena, who suffered the loss.

Steve Smith pitched two innings in relief of Giancarlo Alvarado, allowed just one hit, and picked up the win for Mayaguez.  Tyler Herron was credited with the save.  Alvarado faced 22 batters, threw 92 pitches, with 56 going for strikes, for an effective rate of 61%.

Both teams were limited to just three hits apiece.  Navegantes left fielder Ezequiel Carrera was the lone player with multiple hits, but the top seeded Venezuelan team was 0-4 with runners on scoring position. Former Mets player, and center fielder for los Navegantes, Endy Chavez went 1 for 4 at the plate.

The final game is set.  #4 Puerto Rico versus #2 Mexico - On Saturday, los Indios de Mayaguez will face los Naranjeros de Hermosillo, for the 2014 Caribbean League championship.

Puerto Rico is attempting to capture their 15th Caribbean title, but it has been thirteen years since their last. Their most recent championship came back in 2000, while los Indios de Mayaguez, who claim two titles, last won the winter leagues championship back in 1992.

Mexico defeated los Tigres de Licey, of the Dominican circuit, on Thursday, to gain a berth in the final. Mexico, last season's Caribbean champion, will be seeking to repeat, and gain the nation's 8th title.  The Naranjeros lone championship came in 1976.  Mexico's recent success has been sustained for over a decade now.  They have won two of the last three tournaments, and four times since 2002.

Saturday, February 8th, 2014

Caribbean Series

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

*     *     *     *

(Puerto Rico)

INDIOS de MAYAGUEZ

vs.

(Mexico)

NARANJEROS de HERMOSILLO

From

Isla de Margarita, Venezuela

Related Links:

Three Inducted Into Caribbean Series Hall Of Fame
Cuba In First Caribbean Series Since 1960

Mike.BTB

Winter League Update.

In Puerto Rico, we have an upset.  Los Indios de Mayaguez won their series over the number one seeded Lobos de Arecibo.  Boy!...Don't they look happy?!

(Newsclips: El Vocero)

vocero.com

They will face the winner of game 7 in the series between

Los Criollos de Caguas vs. Los Gigantes de Carolina.

Caguas won game six to force a 7th game tie-breaker.  Caguas was mired in last place at the holiday break.  They are one win away from an improbable date versus Mayaguez for the Puerto Rican League Championship.

The winner of that series moves on to the Caribbean Series.

From Puerto Rico, consider yourself updated.

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