Criollos survive and finish in second place

After the initial launch failed at the start of the game, the Caguas Criollos offensive took a step forward and produced nine runs in five innings to lead to a 9-8 victory over Panama’s Chiriquí Federales on the final day of the regular season of the Caribbean Series. Mazatlán 2021.

With the victory, in the match played in the first round of the day, the Criollos from Puerto Rico secured their second place in the standings, which would guarantee them to face the team that finished in third place. Águilas Cibaeñas from the Dominican Republic had secured the first position with 4-0.

Puerto Rico’s rival will be determined with the matches that followed on the day between Colombia and the Dominican Republic and Venezuela and Mexico and there was a possibility that in the fight for the third and fourth places there will be a triple tie.

Depending on the format of the tournament, in a semifinal they face the first and fourth and in the other the second and third. These semifinals will be played on Friday, the winners going to the final on Saturday.

Right-back Jason Garcia had a forgettable outing, giving up five shots and two walks at the top of the first half, which allowed the Feders to start strong and 5-0 before closing out their first chance. . Garcia finished only two-thirds of the half.

Right-handed veteran Iván Maldonado came to Garcia’s rescue to end the first half and managed to throw three more innings, at the same time as the Puerto Rican bats began to sound from the bottom of the same half.

Jarren Durán hit a home round at the bottom of the first to put Puerto Rico on the scoreboard and activate the Puerto Rico offensive. After that shot, which made the score 5-1, Criollos scored in each half until the fifth.

In the second, Jeremy Rivera hit the field and entered the car to leave the score 5-2, and in the third the Puerto Ricans equalized the score with four consecutive shots by Henry Ramos, Yadier Molina, Vimael Machín and Emmanuel Rivera, a walk . Reymond Fuentes and a sacrifice fly by Jonathan Morales.

The advantage came in fourth with a walk to Duran, who advanced to second place with an uncontrolled pitch. Ramos walked and they both advanced with another wild pitch, setting the stage for Machín to hit a sacrifice fly that led to Duran and put the game at 6-5.

However, Chiriquí responded in the top of the fifth with a shot from David Rodríguez and a “pass ball” by Juan Centeno that put a man in the middle. A hit and a pitch followed the sequence, and Rodriguez scored with a shot inside the field to equalize the score at 6-6.

The Puerto Ricans responded immediately and scratched the three races that gave them the final lead. Morales left with only one left and was introduced by Centeno for a 7-6 lead. Duran sent to the center who left two Creoles in circulation before Henry Ramos both led with one to the center.

The federation scored twice in eight and added drama to the game, finishing in 9-8. But, with the bases loaded and one outside, the relief Fernando Cruz withdrew the last two to close the game.