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Puerto Rico 6-2 Venezuela
Puerto Rico stuns Venezuela with 6-2 thrashing
What Yadier Molina's men needed tonight was to get their bats working quickly. And they did that in some style. Aggressive from the first pitch, the Criollos de Caguas went pedal to the metal from the first inning. Turning singles into scoring opportunites was the name of the game and they posted two runs in the first, another in the second, before adding to that in the fourth, fifth, and eighth. Pretty much any chance that they had, they made it pay.
Ozzy Guillen's men on the other hand were just the opposite. Twice getting bases loaded and no outs, and coming away with just one run from both opportunities sort of summed up the game for the Tiburones de La Guaira. In the end, they stranded twelve runners and only had two runs to show for it.
The outcome of this game is not the be all and end all of the Caribbean Series, with Venezuela and Puerto Rico both still in there with a shout for the final. But with this loss, Panama is the only team left undefeated in the tournament and sitting all alone at the top of the table. Puerto Rico are 3-1 while Venezuela is behind them now at 2-1.
Tomorrow will be the big clash as Puerto Rico will have to face Panama while Venezuela faces Mexico. As unlucky in this tournament as Panama have been lucky, Mexico have yet to win a game. They play the Dominican Republic in the evening fixture today so that could all change by morning.
Over 32,000 people showed up to see Criollos and Tiburones go at it. For an afternoon game in February, I would say that is a great crowd. Miami is quickly becoming the home of winter ball and with the success of this event and last year's World Baseball Classic, you would have to think that the city fathers will be trying to come up with new ways to keep winter ball in south Florida. I hope they do. It is a blast!
GOODBYE!!!
That is going to do it for our live coverage of the 2024 Caribbean Series game between Venezuela and Puerto Rico. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we did!
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We will be back soon with more live baseball action. Until then, good night and God bless!
Puerto Rico win!
With this win, Puerto Rico are back on track after dropping their last game to the Dominican Republic. For Venezuela, it drops them into second place and leaves Panama as the only team remaining without a loss.
Luis Torrens up to the dish now and he taps one back to the mound. Fernander leaps off and fields it, making the flip to first to end the game!
Yasiel Puig to the plate now and he goes down swinging for the third time tonight. Venezuela are down to their last out.
Ramón Flores up to the plate now and the first pitch is in there for a strike. He lifts the next straight up to second. Machin makes the catch and it is one out.
Fernander delivers a ball low and another outside before Tovar fouls one back. 2-1
Another fastball outside and the count is 3-1. Fernander's delivery misses low and Tovar draws the walk. There is still life in them yet!
Bottom 9th
The Tiburones are just three outs from their first defeat of the Series. Wilfredo Tovar would love to have something to say about that.
Another foul ball and this is turning into a war! The eleventh delivery of the duel is a fastball that Ramos can't catch up with. Strike three!
Stolen base
The 2-2 delivery is high and Escarra takes off. The throw goes into center field but Escarra can't advance further after colliding with Adrianza on the bag.
Heliot Ramos the hitter now with two gone and a runer on first. He falls behind with two quick strikes.
The 0-2 delivery misses outside and the count runs to 1-2.
Ramos lifts one foul but behind the net, no play.
The 1-2 misses high and it is 2-2.
Ramos fouls another off and we do it again.
JC Escarra comes to the plate with one out and a runner on first and he gets ahead in the count 1-2.
Torres delivers a low splitter that gets Escarra to chase for strike two.
The 2-2 delivery is rolled to second base. The flip to second for one and Adrianza decides to keep it so that is all they will get.
Vimael Machin the hitter now and he draws a walk from Torres.
Top 9th
Bryan Torres will lead things off for Criollos and he lifts a lazy fly ball to left field for Puig to put away. One down.
Alexi Amarista the hitter and he rips a shot down the third base line but Rivera makes a blinding catch. A twist and throw to first completes the 5-3 out! Great throw! Venezuela are down to their last three outs now and still trailing 6-2
Ehire Adrianza up now and he lifts the first pitch to shallow center. Easy routine out.
Bottom 8th
The clock is ticking on Venezuela here. Puerto Rico have extended that lead to 6-2 and they need to get something going soon.
Alcides Escobar will lead off and he rips the first pitch to third base but right at Rivera. The throw to first and we have one out.
Puerto Rico scores!
Jack López up now he lifts the first pitch to center field. The runners tag and the throw home is cut off. The throw is redirected to second and they get Rivera at second, but not before Velazquez crosses the plate! The run counts!
Emmanuel Rivera the hitter now and he rips a shot to short stop, too hot for Adrianza! It squirts through for a single to left. Velazquez was running on the pitch and manages to take third on the play! Runners now on the corners with one out.
Nelson Velazquez the hitter now and he can't hold up on his check swing to make the count 1-1.
He fouls one back and it is 1-2. Torres misses with two more and the count is full.
Torres' payoff is outside and Velazquez draws the walk.
Top 8th
Jonathan Morales will lead off for the Criollos here in the eighth and he runs the count to 2-2.
Torres delivers a fastball that misses outside and the count is full. The payoff delivery to Morales is lifted to shallow center field. Amarista charges it and makes the catch for out number one.
Pitching change
Jojanse Torres will take over on the mound for Tiburones.
Herrera fouls another back and we do it again. Fernander delivers a high fastball and it is fouled back again. He has been climbing that ladder and Herrera is hanging in there.
He goes down low with a sinker that falls off the table to get Herrera swinging at strike three! What a pitch! In that situation, in this stadium, in front of this crowd! That is big time right there!
Puerto Rico are in a spot of bother here. They have two outs but the bases are loaded and the go-ahead run is at the plate. Odúbel Herrera will stand in for Venezuela and Fernander blasts a fastball past him for strike one.
Another fastball misses low. 1-1 One more in the same spot and it is 2-1.
Fernander needs to find the edge of that zone here. He delivers a low fastball that is fouled back. 2-2
Hernán Pérez up to the plate now and he watches three balls go past. 3-0
Fernander delivers up a high fastball and Pérez walks the bases full on four pitches.
Luis Torrens up now with runners on first and second and one out. He bangs a huge shot to deep center field! Back to the warning track and Bryan Torres makes the catch! Tovar tags up and advances to third.
Yasiel Puig is up now with nobody out and runners on first and second. The tying run at the plate and a dangerous hitter to boot.
Puig gets under one and lifts it straight up. Catcher Jonathan Morales calls for it and makes the catch for the first out. What a big out that was!
Venezuela scores!
Fernander inherits a 2-0 count on Flores and his first delivery misses low to run the count to 3-0.
A middle-middle fastball gets the first strike. 3-1
Flores fouls one off and the count is full.
Fernander's payoff delivery is ripped into right field! Amarista scores from second!
Pitching change
Ramón Flores the hitter and Henzman's first two pitches miss for balls. That is enough for Yadi and he will come out to make a pitching change.
Chavez Fernander will get the call to take over on the mound.
Wilfredo Tovar up now and he fouls two off to get in trouble 0-2. A sweeping slider misses outside to run the count to 1-2.
Another pitch misses and another to run the count full. The payoff misses and Tovar draws the walk.
Bottom 7th
Alexi Amarista leads things off after the stretch for Venezuela. They are running out of real estate here and need to get something going quickly.
He rolls one into the hole at short. López backhands it and it looks like it gets caught in his glove in the exchange. The throw is not in time and Amarista has a leadoff infield single.
Danny Ortiz the hitter now and he gets jammed lifting a pop fly to second base for Escobar. That ends the inning in order.
Heliot Ramos the hitter now and he lifts a high fly ball into the right field corner. Flores is able to track it down for out number two.
Top 7th
JC Escarra leads off for Puerto Rico and he lifts a soft pop fly to short stop for the first out.
Ehire Adrianza taps a slow bouncer up the first base line. Henzman runs over to field it and applies the tag to end the inning. One two three in the sixth and Venezuela still trail 5-1
Alcides Escobar the hitter now and he takes a ball low to get going. Another one misses inside and he is up 2-0 here.
Henzman catches the bottom of the zone with two pitches and evens the count. 2-2
Escobar taps one to second and the throw to first is routine. Two down here.
Bottom 6th
Odúbel Herrera leads off and grounds one softly to second. The throw to first gets the out. One down.
Vimael Machin the hitter now with runners on first and second and one out. The first pitch is rolled to short stop and the throw to second gets the force out and ends the inning.
Araujo misses with his first delivery to walk Torres. He had inherited a 3-0 count.
Pitching change
That will be the end of the day for Castro as Elvis Araujo gets called upon to get Venezuela out of this.
Stolen base
López takes off for second and the throw is in tons of time, but the short stop falls down and somehow misses the tag! It was bizarre!
Bryan Torres the hitter now with López on first and he nearly gets caught in a pickoff! Puerto Rico are running the bases extremely aggressively, almost recklessly! They look like a team trailing by four rather than leading, taking all sorts of chances.
Another foul from López and it is still 1-2.
He chops one to third, a slow roller. Velazquez is running aggressively, going on contact, but the throw from Tovar is in plenty of time. Two out.
Stolen base!
Jack López the hitter now with a runner in scoring position on second and one out. He watches a called strike and chops one foul to get into a hole 0-2.
The delivery from Castro is outside and Velazquez is running on the pitch! The throw to third is off the bag and he is safe!
Stolen base
The payoff pitch is a high fastball, but Rivera chases to strike out. Velazquez is running on the pitch and the throw is not in time. Stolen base!
Emmanuel Rivera the hitter now with a runner on first and no outs. He fouls the first two deliveries back to get into a hole 0-2.
Castro delivers one in the dirt and the count moves to 1-2.
Another follows and Rivera doesn't chase. The count now even 2-2.
One more in the dirt from Castro and the count is full.
Top 6th
Melson Velazquez leads off for Puerto Rico and rips the first delivery back up the middle for a leadoff single.
Hernán Pérez up now and he taps a roller to short stop. López flips it to the bag to get Puig in the force play to end the inning.
Torrens lifts a high fly ball to shallow right field. Velazquez pulls it in for out number two.
Luis Torrens to the plate now and Henzman misses outside for ball one. A foul evens it.
Another foul and Torrens is behind 1-2.
Yasiel Puig the hitter now and he chops a slow roller to third. Rivera charges it and makes the throw but it is high, pulling Escarra off the bag. Safe! Puig may have beaten that out in any case.
Bottom 5th
Lincoln Henzman will take over on the mound for Puerto Rico. He faces Ramón Flores to lead things off and Flores taps one back to the mound. The throw to first gets the first out.
Morales lifts a booming shot to left field, a mile high but drifiting foul. The count runs to 1-2.
Castro delivers a looping breaking ball that Morales lifts to left field for the final out. But Puerto Rico answer back and extend that lead by a factor of one.
Jonathan Morales the hitter now with a runner on first and two outs.
Puerto Rico scores!
Danny Ortiz will stand in now and Castro misses inside with the first pitch. Men on the corners and one out.
The next ball is tapped softly to second. They go to second for one and back to first... not in time! The run scores from third!
Heliot Ramos will face the new pitcher and Castro's first delivery misses wide for ball one. He brings the next pitch back in for a strike and the count evens.
Ramos lifts a high fly ball to right field for the first out. Machin is able to tag and advance to third on the play.
Pitching change
That will be enough for Padron as Ozzie Guillen comes out and signals for Anthony Castro to take over on the mound.
JC Escarra the hitter now and he rips a single through to right field, with Machin advancing to second on the play.
Top 5th
Vimael Machin will lead things off for Puerto Rico and he slaps a shot to left field for a leadoff single.
Wilfredo Tovar to the plate now and there are runners at first and second with two outs. After a 1-1 count, he chases one in the dirt for strike two.
A high fastball misses and it is 2-2.
Wirchansky's big looping curve ball gets him swinging at strike three to end the inning. Puerto Rico escape with minimal damage after loading the bases with no outs. But Venezuela are now on the board trailing 4-1.
Venezuela score!
Alexi Amarista up now and the first pitch misses in the dirt. 1-0
He lifts the second pitch to center field for an out, but it is deep enough to score the run from third and Venezuela are on the board!
Ehire Adrianza up now with nobody out and the bases loaded. Venezuela are not only knocking on the door but threatening to kick it down!
He fouls the first pitch back and then swings through the second to fall behind 0-2 quickly.
Another foul ball and Adrianza is aggressive here. Wirchansky goes to the breaking ball but it misses outside.
The 1-2 delivery is high heat and Ehire Adrianza whiffs it! One down! That was a huge out!
Alcides Escobar the hitter now and Venezuela are again threatening with runners on second and third and nobody out. The count runs full and the payoff misses to walk the bases full. That was a fastball in the same spot as all the others. It looks like the umpire just isn't giving that edge today.
Double
Wirchansky goes a little bit in and down and gets the call. The count is 2-2.
Herrera rips the next pitch inside out and it squirts past third base, just inside the line! Pérez advances to third on the double!
Odúbel Herrera will face the new pitcher with a runner on first and no outs. The first pitch is a fastball in there for a strike. The second pitch is exactly the same, in the same spot, but called a ball. Tight margins.
A third pitch is called a ball as well. None of them had any difference and they all looked pretty good from here.
Pitching change
That will be the end of the day for Velez as Yadier Molina comes out and takes the ball from him. The Puerto Rican manager will tap Danny Wirchansky for the middle relief here.
Bottom 4th
Venezuela will get things started with Hernán Pérez. The first delivery is ripped into left field for a leadoff single.
Bryan Torres up now and the count runs to 2-2 before Padron's delivery is tapped to second base. The throw to first gets the final out but Puerto Rico are stretching their legs a little here and move out to a 4-0 lead!
Puerto Rico scores!
Jack López up now and he lifts a high fly ball to right field. Flores gets under it but it is deep enough for Velazquez to tag up. Flores throws home but Velazquez is in there comfortably. Puerto Rico extend their lead.
Rivera rolls one to short for Adrianza who looks Velazquez back to third before making the throw to first for out number one.
Emmanuel Rivera now up with Puerto Rico again knocking on the door here in the fourth. He fouls the first pitch back for strike one. The next delivery gets the same treatment. 0-2
Padron misses outside and the count runs 1-2.
Top 4th
Melson Velazquez leads off and he rips a huge shot into the gap in left center! It gets past the diving glove of Yasiel Puig for a leadoff triple!
The payoff delivery from Velez is chopped to third base. A long throw to first is in time to get out of the inning and dear me! What a hole Puerto Rico just dug themselves out of!
They come away unscathed and still lead 3-0!
Luis Torrens up now with men in scoring position still and two outs. He falls in a hole quickly 0-2.
Velez sticks with that low slider and Torrens holds up his check swing. 1-2
Another low breaking ball misses and it is 2-2.
Velez goes back to the outside and misses badly to run the count full.
Velez goes back to the low slider and Puig chases for strike three. Two down.
Another slider misses low and the count evens 2-2.
Puig lifts a high foul ball that looks for a moment like there might be a play before drifting into the net. Still 2-2.
The first pitch to Puig is in the dirt for ball one.
Velez tried a slider and it catches the outside corner for a strike. 1-1
Going back to the breaking ball, Puig swings and misses. 1-2
Pitching change
The danger man Yasiel Puig is up now with men on second and third and one out and that will signal time for a pitching change.
Puerto Rico will call on Ricardo Velez to get out of this jam.
ꓘ
Westphal gets out in front 0-2 before a high fastball nearly gets away from him. 1-2.
A perfect change up freezes Flores and he is called out looking. One down!
Ramón Flores the hitter now with two runners in scoring position and nobody out. This is the best position that the Tiburones have been in all day!
Double!
Wilfredo Tovar up now with a runner on first and nobody out. Westphal's first pitch is in there for a strike.
Tovar lifts a towering shot into right field! Velazquez won't get there! It falls in just fair and Amarista goes to third base on the double!
Bottom 3rd
Alexi Amarista leads off for Venezuela and the first three deliveries from Westphal miss. 3-0
Westphal goes to a fastball low and he loses Amarista on four pitches.
Padron gets Morales to swing at high heat to end the inning.
Jonathan Morales to hit now and the first delivery from Padron misses outside. That is five balls in a row!
A slider gets Morales swinging at strike one. 1-1
Morales fouls one back and the count is now 1-2.
Another heater from Padron misses inside and Ortiz draws a four pitch walk.
Danny Ortiz up now and Padron misses low with two fastballs. 2-0
Another one misses inside and it is 3-0
Heliot Ramos up now and Padron is all heat, straight down the middle for three strikes. Two gone.
Top 3rd
JC Escarra will lead off for Puerto Rico in the third and he rips a shot to second base. The throw to first is in time and it is one away.
Adrianza lifts a high pop fly to second base for Vimael Machin. He pulls it down to end the inning and Westphal managed to dig his way out of trouble there! Still no score for the Tiburones of Venezuela as the Criollos lead 3-0 after two complete.
Herrera advanced to second and Escobar stopped at first on the play.
Ehire Adrianza the hitter now and the first pitch is in there for a strike. 0-1
play at the plate!
The payoff delivery is ripped to right field! Pérez tries to score from second but a bullet from Melson Velazquez is on the money and catcher Jonathan Morales applies the tag. Out!
A big sweeping curve in the dirt tempts Escobar, but not enough. 2-2
A breaking pitch juuuuussssttttt misses outside. That looked so good!
The count is now full.
The first delivery from Westphal is fouled back. 0-1
Escobar takes a beautiful curve ball for strike two and he is in a hole.
The 0-2 delivery misses low and it is 1-2.
Alcides Escobar comes to the plate with runners on first and second and one out. The Puerto Ricans have a team meeting on the mound to talk about it.
Herrera now in control with a 3-0 count and a runner in scoring position. Westphal misses low with the fastball and Herrera draws the walk! That is three free passes now for Westphal.
Stolen base
A pitchout on the second pitch as Pérez takes off. The throw is good but he just beat it! Safe!
Odúbel Herrera to the plate now with a runner on and one out. The first pitch from Westphal misses low and it is 1-0.
Westphal goes back to the breaking ball, missing outside and the count runs full.
The payoff delivery misses outside and Pérez draws the walk.
Hernán Pérez the hitter now and Westphal comes at him with fastballs. One misses, one fouled off, another whiffed past him and just like that it is 1-2.
A breaking ball misses low and the count evens up at 2-2.
Bottom 2nd
Luis Torrens leads things off for Venezuela in the second and the count quickly runs to 1-1.
Westphal sets him up with a fastball for a strike before a huge 12-6 curveball gets him swinging at strike three. One down.
Vimael Machin chops a slow roller to second and the throw to first is in time to end the inning. But the Puerto Ricans have tacked on another run and lead 3-0 in the middle of two.
Stolen base
López takes off and gets third uncontested.
Puerto Rico scores
He chops a slow roller to second and there will only be time to go to first for the second out. Rivera scores from third on the play as López advances to second and the Criollos are in a commanding lead here!
He will face the top of the order and Bryan Torres will try and do something with those runners.
Pitching change
That is going to be it for Jhoulys Chacín. He has good stuff but the Tiburones can't let this game get out of hand.
Left hander Angel Padron will come on to try and get out of this mess.
López whiffs at a breaking ball to fall behind 1-2.
He rips one into the gap just beyond the outstretched glove of third baseman Wilfredo Tovar. Rivera had to hold up on the play so can only get to third. Runners on the corners with one out.
Jack López up now and he squares off to bunt on the first pitch. It dribbles foul. 0-1
The next delivery misses high and it is 1-1.
Double!
Rivera lifts a blast high into left field, onto the base of the wall for a double!
Emmanuel Rivera up now and he takes two balls outside to run the count 2-0.
A chopped foul and the count is now 2-1.
Top 2nd
Melson Velazquez leads off for Puerto Rico and he chops one to third base. The long throw to first is in time and we have one down.
Westphal delivers a low breaking pitch and Puig chases for strike three to end the inning. One runner stranded and no damage to the Puerto Ricans.
Yasiel Puig up now with a runner on and two out. The first two pitches are low fastballs and Puig chases them to get in a hole 0-2.
He holds off the high heat and the count is 1-2
Another chopper foul and the count stays 2-2. Westphal delivers a sweeping slider and Flores chases for strike three. Two gone now!
Ramón Flores now with a runner on first and one out and the first pitch a breaking ball that misses outside. Westphal tries again and again misses. He is having trouble finding those edges.
The 2-0 delivery is a fastball in there for a strike. 2-1
Flores fouls one back and it is even now, 2-2
The payoff delivery from Westphal misses high and Tovar draws the walk. That was close! Right on the letters.
Wilfredo Tovar now and he holds off the low changeup. Westphal tries again downstairs and Tovar again holds off. 2-0
A lovely fastball catches the bottom edge and it is 2-1
Going back low the fastball misses and the count runs to 3-1.
Tovar fouls one back and the count is now full.
Bottom 1st
Alexi Amarista will lead off for Venezuela and face lefty Luke Westphal. The first two fastballs are in there for a strike. The 0-2 is a sweeping slider that catches Amarista swinging for strike three.
Puerto Rico score
Morales chops a slow roller to third. The throw to first gets away from Hernán Pérez and Escarra scores on the error! Morales gets caught in a rundown as Ortiz tries to score in the melée! The throw home is in plenty of time to end the inning, but Puerto Rico have jumped out to a 2-0 lead!
Jonathan Morales up now with two on and two out and takes the first pitch for a strike.
The 0-1 delivery misses low and it is even now.
Danny Ortiz comes to the plate now with two outs and a runner on first. He rips a shot between first and second that squirts through for a single. Escarra moves to second ont he play.
The designated hitter Heliot Ramos now up with a runner on first and one out and the count runs 1-2 before a peach of a changeup just falls off the table for strike three. Two away.
Puerto Rico scores!
JC Escarra comes to the plate and takes a strike and a ball, as we see the first breaking pitch of the afternoon. 1-1
A lined shot up the middle for a single score Torres from second and the Puerto Ricans are off and running!
The next fastball is ripped to the gap at second base, but Alcides Escobar is able to make a sliding catch. The throw to first gets the out as Torres advances to second on the play.
Vimael Machin at the plate now and Chacín delivers a fastball at the knees. Strike one!
Torres takes another fastball at the knees for a strike and the count is even. The 1-1 is slapped back up the middle for a single and Puerto Rico has a runner on first.
Top 1st
Bryan Torres digs in at the plate and gets the opening pitch from Chacín, a low two seamer for a ball.
PLAY BALL!
The Tiburones are on the field, Jhoulys Chacín is on the mound. The house is packed and the umpires are ready as Bryan Torres will lead off for the Criollos de Caguas.
Let's PLAY BALL!
LINEUPS
The Home Team
Venezuela Batting Order
1. Alexi Amarista CF
2. Wilfredo Tovar 3B
3. Ramón Flores RF
4. Yasiel Puig LF
5. Luis Torrens C
6. Hernán Pérez 1B
7. Odúbel Herrera DH
8. Alcides Escobar 2B
9. Ehire Adrianza SS
The Visitors
Puerto Rico Batting Order
1. Bryan Torres CF
2. Vimael Machin 2B
3. JC Escarra 1B
4. Heliot Ramos DH
5. Danny Ortiz LF
6. Jonathan Morales C
7. Melson Velazquez RF
8. Emmanuel Rivera 3B
9. Jack Lopez SS
STARTING PITCHERS CAREER STATS
CRIOLLOS DE CAGUAS (PUERTO RICO)
Luke Westphal (LHP)
13 - 15
4.06 ERA
290 K
268.0 IP
1.23 WHIP
TIBURONES DE LA GUAIRA (VENEZUELA)
Jhoulys Chacín (RHP)
85 - 91
4.18 ERA
1151 K
1435.2 IP
1.21 WHIP
PITCHING
Puerto Rico will start lefty Luke Westphal tonight against Venezuela and he has been outstanding in the winter league, posting a 0.79 ERA with 19 strikeouts in 11.1 innings pitched. During the MLB season, the minor leaguer has a more reasonable 4.19 ERA but still a hefty 290 strikeouts in 268.0 innings pitched.
Venezuela will go with Jhoulys Chacín on the mound, a deeply experienced right hander who spent 14 years in MLB, most recently with Colorado. His career ERA is 4.18 and he has a plump 1151 strikeouts in 1435.2 innings pitched.
WELCOME!!!
Welcome to the Diario AS USA live commentary of the 2024 Caribbean Series as Puerto Rico’s Criollos de Caguas take on Venezuela’s Tiburones de La Guaira in Miami’s LoanDepot Park.
The Tiburones de La Guaira come into this game riding a hot streak in the Caribbean Series, sitting just below Panama at the top of the table. A win keeps them joint first and one of the teams to beat in the Series.
Criollos de Caguas have been solid so far and look like a candidate for the final, but wobbled last time out when they lost to the Dominican Republic’s Tigres del Licey yesterday. The Puerto Ricans will want to right that ship and stay in the hunt with a win here.
The key to the game will be the Puerto Rican bats. If they are hot, then look for the Criollos to be almost unstoppable. In closer contests, and particularly defensive pitching duels, it is Venezuela who will have the edge. Getting on top in the early innings is something that Yadier Molina will be looking for tonight.