Tiburones, champion of the last Caribbean Series, is eliminated in LVBP
Leones del Caracas comes from behind to defeat and eliminate the champion of the last Caribbean Series, Tiburones de La Guaira, in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League
The Leones del Caracas responded at the right time, and after losing two consecutive games at the end of the season against the Tiburones de la Guaira that forced them into an extra game for the last play-in ticket; They defeated them this Sunday 9-8 and earned the right to play against the Tigres de Aragua, the last available place in the semi-final round robin of the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League.
The Lions fell behind by seven runs, but three-run attacks in the fifth, sixth and eighth innings defined the game. The Tiburones de la Guaira, led by Oswaldo Guillén and current champions of the circuit, were eliminated from the competition.
Wilfredo Tovar went 4 for 4 with a double, a triple and four RBIs, while Gabriel Lino went 2 for 3 with two RBIs, to lead the Lions’ attack.
Cardenales de Lara finished as leaders of the circuit with a record of 33-23, followed by Bravos de Margarita (31-25), Águilas del Zulia (30-26) and Navegantes del Magallanes (29-27) qualified for the round robin. Tigres de Aragua (27-29) and Leones del Caracas (27-30) will compete in the play in, while Tiburones de La Guaira (26-31) and Caribes de Anzoátegui (22-34) have been eliminated.
LIDOM: Last playoff spot fight chosen
The Leones del Esgido defeated the Tigres del Licey 4-3 this Sunday, to maintain a lead of one and a half games over the Gigantes del Cibao, with whom they dispute the last place in the postseason with three games left to play in the regular season of the Dominican Baseball League.
Zolio Almonte drove in one run with a single in the first inning and one more with a double in the eighth that tied the game. Tommy Phan produced the winning one in the same eighth inning with a sacrifice fly.
In La Romana, José Barrero hit a two-run single to cap a three-run attack in the top of the 11th inning, and the Estrellas Orientales beat the Toros del Este 4-3, who were mathematically eliminated from the competition with this defeat.
In San Francisco de Macorís, Wily Peralta pitched six innings without allowing runs with five strikeouts while Carlos Franco went 3 for 4 with two home runs, three runs produced and three scored, in the victory of the Gigantes del Cibao over the Águilas Cibaeñas, that keep them with postseason options.
Estrellas Orientales lead with a record of 28-20, followed by Águilas Cibaeñas 28-21 and Tigres del Licey (25-20), already classified. Leones del Esgido (21-25) and Gigantes del Cibao (20-25) are fighting for the last postseason spot, and Toros del Este (17-29) are eliminated.
LBPRC: Carolina Giants Sink
The San Juan Senators swept the Carolina Giants this Sunday in a doubleheader of matches shortened to seven episodes. The Giants have now lost five consecutive games, which has cost them to fall to last place in the Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League.
Early on, Randall Díaz hit a grounder to third base in the bottom of the seventh inning, and Brantley Bell took advantage of it to score the only run of the game, in the Senators’ 1-0 victory over the Giants.
In the second of the day, Abdiel Layer hit a two-run home run in the same first inning, and the Senators won again now by a score of 2-1.
In Ponce, Yadiel Rivera went 2 for 4 with a double and three RBIs to lead the Cangrejeros de Santurce in their 7-2 victory over the Leones de Ponce.
In Caguas, Max Burt responded with an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning, and the Caguas Criollos left the Mayagüez Indios on the field escaping with a dramatic 1-0 victory.
Senators of San Juan lead with a record of 19-13, followed by the Indios de Mayagüez (18-13), Cangrejeros de Santurce (16-15), Leones de Ponce (14-16), Criollos de Caguas (13-17) and Carolina Giants (13-19).
LMP: Tomateros extend winning streak to seven
The Tomateros de Culiacán continue to confirm themselves as strong candidates for the title, and defeated the Sultanes de Monterrey 6-0 this Sunday to sign their seventh consecutive victory in the final stretch of the Mexican Pacific League.
Juan Carlos Sulbaran pitched five scoreless innings with five strikeouts to win the game, while on offense Rudy Martin responded with a solo home run and Poncho Ruiz with a two-run double.
In Mexicali, Jeremy Rhoades fanned eight in six solid innings in which he only allowed two runs, and the Águilas beat the Venados de Mazatlán 5-2, who suffered a painful setback in their fight for the last available postseason spot .
In Hermosillo, Juan Pablo Oramas pitched five one-run innings while José Cardona hit a solo home run to lead the Naranjeros to a 2-1 victory over the Algodoneros de Guasave.
In Navojoa, the Mayos revitalized their postseason hopes, beating the Cañeros de Los Mochis 2-1, thanks to unstoppable drives from Ramón Mendoza and Gilberto Vizcarra. Navojoa tries to snatch the last available playoff spot from Mazatlán.
In Obregón, Jonathan Aranda went 2 for 3 with a triple, a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored, while Roberto Valenzuela went 2 for 4 with three RBIs, to propel the Yaquis to a 5-1 victory about the Charros of Jalisco.
Naranjeros lead with a record of 39-23, followed by Tomateros (39-23), Cañeros (35-27), Charros (34-28), Águilas (31-30), Algodoneros (31-31), Yaquis (29- 32), Deers (26-36), Mayos (25-37) and Sultans (20-42).
