Showing posts with label Puerto Rico. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Puerto Rico. Show all posts

Monday, January 10, 2022

Winter Leagues Playoffs 2021-2022: Caguas and Carolina Take Game Three in LBPRC Semifinals

From the desk: FANÁTICO del BÉISBOL de INVIERNO

! FELIZ AÑO NUEVO !




SEMIFINAL - I

Both teams pick up where they left off in Game Two by absolutely stymying each other at the plate.  Caguas shortstop Edwin Diaz leads off the fourth with a single and with two outs scores from second base on Jancarlos Cintron's two-out single to left for the game's only run.  Santurce starter Luis Cruz suffers the hard-luck loss, allowing just one earned run on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts in 5.0 innings pitched.  Caguas right-hander Yordi Cabrera allows no runs on five hits and one walk with six strikeouts over six innings for the win.  The bullpen yields no hits and strikes out two over three innings.  Right-hander Ricardo Gomez earns the save.
  • GAME THREE FINAL: Santurce 0; Caguas 1
  • BOXSCORE Jan. 9

Estadio Yldefonso Sola Morales
Caguas, Puerto Rico


SEMIFINAL - II

Los Gigantes de Carolina earns their first victory of the series.  They open the first inning with a three-run burst and add a run in the second.  Afterwhich, it's a matter of holding on.  Mayaguez gets on the board in the fifth, and the teams then traded runs in the sixth.  Los Indios rally again in the ninth but are held to one run by Francisco Lopez-Soto, who earns the save.  Carolina starter Oddy Nunez allows one run on seven hits and no walks with four strikeouts over five innings for the win.  Mayaguez starter Robby Rowland is knocked out of the box, allowing three runs on four hits in his first and only inning of work.  Los Gigantes leadoff hitter Bryan Torres goes 4 for 5 with a run batted in, and right fielder Anthony Garcia goes 2 for 4 with two runs batted in.
  • GAME THREE FINAL: Carolina 5; Mayaguez 3
  • BOXSCORE Jan 9.


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Sunday, January 09, 2022

Winter Leagues Playoffs 2021-2022: Santurce Wins in 17th Inning; Mayaguez Takes 2-0 Lead in LBPRC Semifinals

From the desk: FANÁTICO del BÉISBOL de INVIERNO

! FELIZ AÑO NUEVO !




SEMIFINAL - I

Game Two at Hiram Bithorn Stadium is a tale of attrition.  Right-hander Nivaldo Rodriguez climbs the hill for Caguas and is opposed by Hector Hernandez for Santurce.  Both starters walk off with no decisions as Rodriguez holds Los Cangrejeros to no runs on five hits and two walks with three strikeouts over 5.2 innings pitched, while Hernandez yields no runs on just four hits and two walks with a pair of strikeouts through five complete.  Afterwhich, the respective bullpens take over, and the score remains unchanged for the next eleven innings.  Eight Santurce relief pitchers join in limiting Los Criollos to just a pair of hits and three walks through the top of the 17th inning.  Having entered the game back in the 13th inning, Criollos right-hander Alex FaGalde climbs the bump in the home half of the 17th for his fourth inning of relief.  Leading off the frame, first baseman Christian Vasquez and third baseman Ivan DeJesus Jr. wield consecutive singles.  After a successful sacrifice bunt advances the runners one base,  Alex FaGalde walks Alexis Torres, loading the bases.  Still with one out, FaGalde hits Santurce's right fielder Jan Hernandez with a pitch forcing home the winning run.
  • GAME TWO FINAL: Caguas 0; Santurce 1  17-inn
  • BOXSCORE Jan. 8

Hiram Bithorn Stadium


SEMIFINAL - II

Game Two is played at Estadio Roberto Clemente Walker, where Mayaguez and host Carolina battle to a three-all tie through the fifth.  Los Gigantes post single runs in the third, fourth, and fifth innings, highlighted by catcher Brian Navarreto's two-out home run in the home fourth.  Los Indios group together all three runs in the top half of the fourth - center fielder Chavez Young drives in a run, and shortstop Jeremy Rivera drives home two.  Not yet done, Mayaguez erupts for another four runs in the sixth inning, highlighted by third baseman Emmanuel Rivera's two-run triple en route to a 7-3 lead and the final margin of victory.  Los Indios starter Eric Stout escapes with a no-decision after allowing two runs on four hits and two walks in four innings pitched.  Meanwhile, the bullpen limits Carolina to one run on three hits and no walks over the final five frames.  Right-hander Dereck Rodriguez earns the win, and Ruben Ramirez takes the loss after a disastrous sixth inning.
  • GAME TWO FINAL: Mayaguez 7; Carolina 3
  • BOXSCORE Jan. 8

Estadio Roberto Clemente Walker




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Saturday, January 08, 2022

Winter Leagues Playoffs 2021-2022: Caguas and Mayaguez Win LBPRC Semifinal Opening Games

From the desk: FANÁTICO del BÉISBOL de INVIERNO

! FELIZ AÑO NUEVO !




SEMIFINAL - I

Caguas opens their semifinal series in commanding fashion at Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan.  After jumping out to a 1-0 lead in the first, Los Criollos erupt for four more runs in the second.  Santurce starter Adalberto Flores is knocked out of the box upon yielding five earned runs on six hits and two walks in just 1.1 innings pitched.  Caguas mounts another four-run rally in the fifth against Santurce relievers Osvaldo Berrios and Luis Atilano. Criollos' designated hitter Roby Enriquez finishes 3 for 4 with a double, one RBI, and two runs scored, while right fielder Engel Beltre and second baseman Vimael Machin drive in three runs each.  On the mound, Caguas starter Mitch Lively allows just two hits and five walks with two strikeouts over five scoreless innings for the win.  Right-hander Ricardo Velez and Raul Rivera follow with four scoreless innings of no-hit ball to complete the shutout. 
  • FINAL: Santurce 0; Caguas 9
  • BOXSCORE Jan. 7



SEMIFINAL - II

Carolina takes an early a 1-0 lead in the second.  Afterwhich, Los Indios de Mayaguez unleash a six frame long offensive with pairs of runs in the third and fourth innings, single runs in the fifth and sixth, a big four-run seventh, and conclude with two runs in the eighth en route to a 12-4 final margin of victory.  Designated hitter Blaine Crim leads the charge with three runs batted in; leadoff hitter Brett Rodriguez, former New York Met T.J. Rivera, and center fielder Chavez Young each drive home two runs.  Starter 
Daryl Thompson allows just one run on three hits and one walk over five innings for the win.  Los Gigantes rally for three runs in the ninth against reliever Bryant Salgado, but Mayaguez right-hander 
Danny Dopico ends the threat.  Carolina right-hander Jose Espada takes the loss.
  • FINAL: Carolina 4; Mayaguez 12
  • BOXSCORE Jan. 7


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Wednesday, January 05, 2022

Winter Leagues Playoffs 2021-2022: Mayaguez Rises To Top of LBPRC; Jalisco and Culiacan Open LMP Semifinals With Wins

From the desk: FANÁTICO del BÉISBOL de INVIERNO

! FELIZ AÑO NUEVO !



On Monday, Jan. 3, Los Indios de Mayaguez defeated Los Criollos de Caguas by a 4-2 margin to once and for all settle this season's regular-season final standings - BOXSCORE.   On Friday, Jan. 7, the semifinal round commences with top-seeded Mayaguez taking on fourth-seeded Los Gigantes de Carolina while Caguas will be pitted against third-place Los Cangrejeros de Santurce.



SEMIFINAL - I
Sultanes de Monterrey @ Charros de Jalisco 

Los Sultanes seize a 4-0 lead as Charros southpaw Orlando Lara fails to make it out the fourth inning.  With two outs, Lara is relieved by right-hander Jaime Lugo but not before Monterrey's Carlos Figueroa
and third baseman Ricardo Serrano drive home two runs apiece.  However, Los Sultanes' lead does not last.  Los Charros tie the score in the fifth on a pair of runs batted in by Amadeo Zazueta and a two-run home run by designated hitter Christian Villanueva against Sultanes starter Christian Castillo and reliever Linder Castro.  Jalisco strikes again in the sixth, with second baseman Messael Rivera doubling home the go-ahead run.  They add to their lead with two more runs in the seventh.  Christian Villanueva drives home his third run this game, and Dariel Alvarez's base hit gives Jalisco a 7-4 lead.  The score remains unchanged through the ninth.  Right-hander Alexandro Tovalin wins in relief with 1.2 innings of one-hit ball with three strikeouts. 


SEMIFINAL - II

With southpaw Manny Banuelos starting for Culiacan, Los Algodoneros de Guasave jump out to an early first-inning lead on Ramon Rios' leadoff double and shortstop Esteban Quiroz's home run.  Facing Guasave right-hander Geno Encina, Los Tomateros score single runs in the third and fourth innings driven in by second baseman Ramiro Pena and third baseman Emmanuel Avila respectively.  Both starters pitched scoreless fifth and sixth innings.  Pinch-hitting in the top of the seventh, Jesus Fabela triples home the go-ahead run against Guasave reliever Rafael Cordova.  Ramiro Pena then drives home, Fabela, from third for a 4-2 Tomateros lead.  After Banuelos initially allows two first-inning runs, he keeps Guasave scoreless over his final five innings of work for the win.  Culiacan's bullpen hurls three scoreless innings of one-hit ball.  Southpaw Alberto Baldonado earns the save.  BOXSCORE





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Monday, January 03, 2022

Winter Leagues Baseball Playoff Preview 2021-2022

From the desk: FANÁTICO del BÉISBOL de INVIERNO

! FELIZ AÑO NUEVO !



The regular season winds down on Tuesday, Jan. 4, with Los Criollos de Caguas and Los Indios de Mayaguez still locked in a pitched battle for first place.  The third-place Cangrejeros de Santurce and fourth place Gigantes de Carolina round out the semifinals.  The RA12 squad is eliminated.




The league's top five teams of the field of eight advances to the round-robin semifinals now five games in.  Los Navegantes de Magallanes clinched the regular-season championship by four games over Los Cardinales de Lara.  The round-robin series runs from Dec. 27 through Jan. 16, with the top four teams advancing to the semifinals.




LIDOM's round-robin series runs from Dec. 27 through Jan. 17 with ten games down and 26 more contests to go.  The top four teams of the six-team field advance.  In a hotly contested race, Los Gigantes del Cibao clinched the regular season flag by one game over Los Estrellas Orientales.  Los Tigres del Licey finished two games back, and Los Aguilas Cibeanas finished three back.




Round One of the LMP playoffs is complete.  Los Naranjeros de Hermosillo and Los Mayos de Navojoa have been eliminated.  The remaining four teams advance to the semifinals, which commence Tuesday, Jan. 4, with Los Tomateros de Culiacan facing off against Los Algodoneros de Guasave and Los Charros de Jalisco pitted against Los Sultanes de Monterrey. 




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Saturday, July 10, 2021

OTD 7/10/1940: Brooklyn Royal Giants Versus Puerto Rico All-Stars Rained Out at Breese Stevens Field, Wisconsin

From the desk: DEM BARNSTORMERS y BÉISBOL



The Capital Times (Madison, Wisconsin), Tuesday, July 9, 1940


The Capital Times (Madison, Wisconsin), Tuesday, July 9, 1940


⚾
"This Wednesday night at the ballpark the Puerto Rican All-Stars are going to play the Brooklyn Royal Giants, a Negro league club that was here a year ago.  This is the first tour of the Puerto Rican team in the United States.  Game starts at 8:15.  Men 44 cents and women 28 cents." - Wisconsin State Journal, July 9, 1940
⚾


Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, Wisconsin),
Wednesday, July 10, 1940


"The Puerto Ricans are making their first tour of the United States and are considered one of the outstanding attractions in semi-pro ranks.  They defeated the Duncan Cementers of Oklahoma, 1939, National Semi-Pro Congress champions, in a series last fall."

⚾

Manager and First Baseman

Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, Wisconsin),
Monday, July 8, 1940

⚾

Breese Stevens Field
Madison, Wisconsin

The Capital Times (Madison, Wisconsin),
Wednesday, July 10, 1940


PUERTO RICO - Official LBPRC historian, Jorge Colon Delgado, and proprietor of Beisbol101.com, identified for me the pitcher as Rafael Ortiz.



⚾

Wisconsin State Journal, July 10, 1940

⚾

Wisconsin State Journal, (Madison, Wisconsin),
Thursday, July 11, 1940


⚾

 

"CHICAGO (AP) - The winner of the semipro National championship will represent the United States in a "semipro world series" at San Juan, Puerto Rico in mid-September, against the Puerto Rican champions." - Herald And Review (Decatur, Illinois), Tuesday, July 9, 1940

The reining champions at the time were Los Brujos de Guayama; they would be unseated in the 1940-1941 season by Los Criollos de Caguas.  In 1942, Hiram Bithorn became the first Puerto Rican to play in the major leagues.






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Sunday, January 31, 2021

Serie del Caribe 2020-2021 Tournament Preview

From the desk: FANÁTICO DEL BÉISBOL DE INVIERNO

CARIBBEAN SERIES 
2020-2021

HOST
MAZATLAN, MEXICO
Jan. 31 ~ Feb. 6

@beisboldecaribe 
SerieDelCaribe/YouTube

⚾

CONFEDERACION de BÉISBOL PROFESIONAL del CARIBE
est. 1949
 
MEMBERS
MEXICO ~ DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
PUERTO RICO ~ VENEZUELA


INVITATION
PANAMA ~ COLOMBIA






The defending champions come all the way back from a 3-1 series deficit against the favored Naranjeros de Hermosillo to win three straight games and clinch back-to-back LMP championships.  Los Tomateros de Culiacan was founded in 1965.  Second, only to Hermosillo, this marks the team's 13th LMP championship.  It's their second in a row, and their third title in the last four years.  They are two-time Serie del Caribe champions in 1996 and 2002.  Mexico is third among counties with nine Caribbean titles.  They last captured the Caribbean championship in 2016 via Los Venados de Mazatlan.  Coincidentally, Mazatlan will be hosting this year's Serie del Caribe.  Catch last night's thrilling game seven victory recap HERE. 





Los Aguilas baseball club was founded in 1933.  They are tied for second-most Caribbean titles with five.  In 1998, Los Aguilas went undefeated in the round-robin tournament to capture their second of back-to-back Caribe titles.  The Dominican Republic leads the Confederation with twenty Serie del Caribe championships.  The Dominican Republic is also the defending Caribbean champions, with Los Toros del Este capturing last year's title.  Team Dominican Republic features a host of major leaguers including Robinson Cano, Melky Cabrera, Juan Lagares, Jonathan Villar and pitcher Carlos Martinez.





As a founding member of LBPRC established in 1938, Los Criollos de Caguas won their league record 19th Puerto Rican championship by defeating Los Indios de Mayagüez.  It's their first title since seizing back-to-back league flags during the 2016-2018 seasons, in which they also went on to capture the Caribbean championship each time.  Along with Cibaeñas of the Dominican Republic, Caguas is tied for second-most with five Caribbean championships, while Puerto Rico itself is second all-time with 16 Serie del Caribe titles.  Los Criollos will feature MLB catcher Yadier Molina and this year's LBPRC MVP and New York Mets farmhand Johneshwy Fargas.  Selected in the reinforcement draft from Los Indios de Mayagüez are Henry Ramos, Jack Lopez, Jeremy Rivera, and Emmanuel Rivera.  Former New York Mets catcher Juan Centeno was selected from Los Atenienses de Manatí.





The LVBP was established in 1945.  Los Caribes were founded in 1987 but did not take the field until 1991.  Anzoátegui defeated the defending champion Los Cardenales de Lara to capture their fourth-ever LVBP title.  Lara was defeated by Los Toros del Este in last year's Caribbean Championship.  Los Caribes have yet to win a Caribbean title; Venezuela has won seven Caribbean titles in the country's history.  Venezuela last won the tournament in 2009 (Tigres de Aragua).  Reinforcements from Los Aguilas de Zulia Silvino Bracho and Ali Castillo will continue forward with Los Caribes, as will pitchers Raul Rivero, Logan Darnell, Yapson Gomez and Williams Perez from Los Cardenales de Lara.





The Panamanian regular season was canceled due to COVID.  Therefore, the 2020-2019 Astronautas de Chiriqui (Los Santos) are technically the defending champions.  However, Los Federales de Chiriqui has been selected to represent Panama (again by invitation) in this Caribbean tourney.  The team will more resemble an all-star squad incorporating players drafted from the circuit's three other members.  Among their reinforcements, Los Federales will be adding infielder Jesus Lopez from the Nicaraguan Baseball League, from the Dominican Republic Alejandro de Aza and Eury De La Rosa, and American recruits left-handed pitcher Austin Warner and right-hander Geoff Broussard.  Panama recently won the 2018-2019 Series del Caribe when Panama City stepped up at the last minute as host site due to rising political unrest in (scheduled host) Venezuela putting the tournament in jeopardy.  Historically, Panama is a founding member of the original Confederation and winner of the 1950 Caribbean championship.  Panama, with Puerto Rico, Venezuela, and Cuba, comprise the original four members.  Fidel Castro's Cuban revolution caused the Confederation to suspend operations for the next ten years until it restarted again in 1970.  New incoming members Mexico and the Dominican Republic (replacing Cuba and Panama) joined returning members Puerto Rico and Venezuela.





Cuba, due to visa issues, did not participate in the 2019-2020 Caribbean tournament.  They were replaced by Colombia (by invitation), who this year will again participate in their second straight tournament as Cuba had already notified the Confederation of their withdrawal from this year's tourney.  Founded in 1984, the "Alligators" defeated Los Vaqueros de Monteria in seven games to win their eleventh LPBC championship.  This marks the team's first trip to the Caribbean Series.  Team Colombia features former New York Met Dilson Herrera.  They'll be reinforced by league MVP Jordan Diaz from Los Vaqueros de Montería and Harold Ramirez, shortstop Brallan Perez and catcher Carlos Martínez from Los Tigres de Cartagena.



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Saturday, January 16, 2021

Winter Leagues Playoffs 2020-2021: LIDOM Championship Game Five & LBPRC News

From the desk: FANÁTICO DEL BEISBOL DE INVIERNO

2020-2021





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.






LIDOM CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
GAME FIVE
(2-3) Aguilas Cibeañas      9
(3-2) Gigantes del Cibao    0
FINAL

BOXSCORE 1/16/2021 - Los Aguilas stave off elimination with a late-innings comeback effort against Los Gigantes.  Cibao jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning on the strength of back-to-back home runs from Ronald Guzman and Kelvin Gutierrez.  Undeterred, manager Felix Fermin leaves his starter, Carlos Martinez, in the game.  He goes on to pitch five scoreless innings, allowing a total of three runs on just four hits and two walks with five strikeouts through six total innings pitched.  Three Cibeañas bullpen members join to hold the Gigantes scoreless over the final three innings, yielding just two hits and fanning four.  Los Aguilas commence their comeback in the fifth with back-to-back home runs from shortstop Ramon Torres and center fielder Juan Lagares.  Ramon Torres's two-out hit in the seventh tied the game at three.  Afterwhich, Los Aguilas erupt for five runs in the eighth.  Right fielder Melky Cabrera kicks off the rally with an RBI single, and Ramon Torres drives in his third run of the game.  Melky Cabrera drives home Cibaeñas' ninth and final run in the ninth inning.  Los Gigantes now lead the series, three games to two.


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Tuesday, January 12, 2021

Winter Leagues Playoffs 2020-2021: LIDOM Championship Game One Recap & LBPRC News

From the desk: FANÁTICO DEL BÉISBOL INVIERNO

2020 ~ 2021





LIDOM CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
GAME ONE
Aguilas Cibaeñas       1
Gigantes del Cibao    5
FINAL
 
BOXSCORE 1/11/2021 - Los Gigantes wasted no time knocking Aguilas' starter and Long Island (N.Y.) native Joe Van Meter out of the box.  Runs batted in from designated hitter Juan Francisco and left fielder Peter O'Brien in the first inning, and a run batted in from Kelvin Gutierrez in the second staked Gigantes' starter, Cesar Valdez, to a 3-0 lead.  Joe Van Meter was yanked after allowing three runs on six hits in just 1.2 innings.  Catcher Francisco Peña put the Aguilas on the board with a one-out home run in the third.  Kelvin Gutierrez in the fourth drove in his second run of the game, giving Cibao a 4-1 lead, and second baseman Abiatal Avelino in the eighth drove in Los Gigantes' fifth and final run.  Cesar Valdez allowed one run on just two hits and one walk with three strikeouts through five innings for the victory.
⚾ Aguilas Cibaeñas was founded in 1937 and in 1951 became a founding member of La Liga del Beisbol Profesional de la República Dominicana.  The Eagles are among the winningest teams in LIDOM history with 21 league championships.  They last captured the title during the 2017-2018 season.  Cibaeñas eliminated last year's champion, Los Toros del Este.
 
⚾ Los Gigantes del Cibao was founded in 1996 and play their home games at Estadio Julian Javier (constructed 1975) in San Francisco de Macorís.  They captured their lone league championship during the 2014-2015 season.  They made three other championship series appearances, first during the 2003-2004 season, then back-to-back from 2008 through 2010.






SEMIFINAL - I

Los Criollos de Caguas defeated RA12 (this season's expansion entrant) in their semifinal series four games to none.  RA12 was founded by Roberto Alomar as a developmental team for the benefit of Puerto Rican youth.  Los Criollos won back-to-back LBPRC championships during the 2016-2018 seasons.  Caguas right fielder and New York Mets farmhand Johneshwy Fargas was voted this season's LBPRC's Most Valuable Player unanimously.  He hit .349 with six doubles in sixteen regular-season games, four home runs with 17 runs batted in, and a .434 OBP.  Caguas awaits the resumption and conclusion of the series between Manati and Mayaguez.

SEMIFINAL - II

On Jan. 2, 2021, Los Indios de Mayaguez defeated the Atenienses de Manati in game one of their semifinal series by a final score of 12 to 2.  But the series was suspended the very next day.  Five positive COVID test results caused the league to halt play until further notice.  Two rounds of testing continued throughout the weekend.  Manati returned negative results.  On Monday, Jan. 11, the Athenians were cleared by LBPRC and Health officials to resume practice.  Monday's test results for Mayaguez are still pending.




SEMIFINAL - I
  1. Tomateros de Culiacan vs. Yaquis de Obregon (Tuesday)
SEMIFINAL - II
  1. Sultanes de Monterrey vs. Naranjeros de Hermosillo (Tuesday)
TEAM SITES

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