! FELIZ AÑO NUEVO !
ROUND-ROBIN: Cardenales de Lara (4-3) @ Tigres de Aragua (3-5)
Matters quickly go awry for Cardenales de Lara starter Raul Rivero who yielded five runs in the third inning highlighted by Los Tigres right fielder Jose Martinez's three-run home run. Los Cardenales strike back with three runs in the fifth against Aragua starter Alexis Candelario and knock him from the box. But Los Tigres add insurance runs in the home fifth on a two-run home run by left fielder Denis Phipps and add another in the sixth for an 8-3 lead. Lara designated hitter, and a Mets familiar Ali Sanchez doubled home Los Tigres fourth run in the eighth. Los Tigres threaten again in the top of the ninth with one run but no more. Aragua left-hander Fabian Cota with two scoreless innings pitched, and two strikeouts earned the victory in relief while Lara's Raul Rivero took the loss.
- FINAL: Lara 5; Aragua 8
- BOXSCORE Jan. 5
ROUND-ROBIN: Leones de Caracas (1-6) @ Caribes de Anzoategui (5-2)
Caracas opens the scoring with two runs on three hits in the top of the second, while their pitching keeps Anzoategui off the board through the third. That is until the roof collapses upon Los Leones during the upcoming frames. Los Caribes post three runs in the fourth and fifth innings, two in the sixth, and four more in the seventh for a commanding 12-3 lead. First baseman Balbino Fuenmayor leads the bat attack with a two-run home run in the fourth, and a solo shot in the sixth, third baseman Niuman Romero hit a three-run blast in the fifth right fielder Victor Reyes drove in three runs. Facing Caribes reliever Freddy Pacheco in the top of the ninth, Leones' catcher Alfredo Gonzalez greets him with a leadoff home run. A walk, single, double, a run later, and so much for a clean, tidy finish. Right-hander Lester Oliveros finally replaces Pacheco. With one out, Romer Cuadrado doubles home two more runs cutting Los Leones' deficit to five. At this point, Lester Oliveros exits with an injured hand, and right-hander Andres Sotillet enters the game and hits the first batter he faces with a pitch. A base hit then loads the bases still with one out. A lineout to second base keeps everyone in place. Andres Sotillet strikes out Alfredo Gonzalez, swinging to finally bring this game to a harrowing end.
- FINAL: Caracas 7; Anzoategui 12
- BOXSCORE Jan. 5
IDLE: Navegantes de Magallanes (5-2)
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ROUND ROBIN: Gigantes del Cibao (6-2) @ Tigres de Licey (4-4)
Pitching rules the night, a duel in classic albeit collective form. Left-hander Enny Romero starts for Los Gigantes and is opposed by Albert Abreu for Los Tigres. After four scoreless frames, Cibao left fielder Marcell Ozuna opens the scoring with a home run. Enny Romero yields just one hit and one walk with five strikeouts over five scoreless innings for the victory. Four Cibao relievers join together for three scoreless innings. Los Gigantes picks up a much-needed insurance run in the top of the ninth, albeit unearned. But it would nonetheless prove decisive. Los Tigres scraped together a run in the home ninth but nothing more. Cibao right-hander Ryan Kussmaul managed the save. Albert Abreu takes the hard-luck loss, allowing just one run on three hits with three strikeouts over 5.1 innings pitched.
- FINAL: Cibao 2; Licey 1
- BOXSCORE Jan. 5
ROUND-ROBIN: Estrellas Orientales (3-5) @ Aguilas Cibaenas (3-5)
Only three of Los Estrellas' 14 total hits go for extra bases. But after opening the scoring with a run in the third, they nevertheless erupt for seven runs in the sixth inning en route to an 8-3 victory over Los Aguilas. Shortstop Gustavo Nunez accounted for three runs batted in. Starter Rony Garcia allowed just two hits and three walks with two strikeouts over five scoreless innings for the win. Cibaenas starter Marcos Diplan yielded one run on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts over five innings in a losing effort. Los Aguilas' bullpen could not maintain, allowing six runs on seven hits and four walks with just one strikeout over the final four frames.
- FINAL: Orientales 8; Cibaenas 3
- BOXSCORE Jan. 5
