By Matthew Tallarini
World Baseball Network
Nicaragua improved 2-3 after beating Curacao on Thursday 6-5 in eight innings. Curacao dropped to 3-2 going into the final day of the opening round on Friday.
In the top of the fourth, Dudley Leonora came in to score on a wild pitch while Roderick Bernadina was at the plate, giving Curacao a 1-0 lead.
The next batter, catcher Ulrich Snijders, laced a two-run double to left center field as designated hitter Ortwin Pieternella and Bernadina came in to score to extend the lead to 3-0.
Nicaragua starting pitcher Oliver Espinoza threw 3.2 innings allowing five hits, two earned runs, walking one, and striking out one.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Nicaragua got on the board when catcher Rodolfo Bone ripped a double to deep left center field and third baseman Benjamin Alegria came in to score to make it 3-1.
Curacao starting pitcher Marlison Brunken threw 3.2 innings, allowing three hits, one earned run, walking two, and striking out one.
Nicaragua tied the game up in the bottom of the fifth when left fielder Norlando Valle hit a ground ball to first baseman Bernadina. Bernadina, looking for a double play, threw the ball low past the outstretched glove of Temesh Lourens and Jacksell Mairena and shortstop Jose Orozco came in to score to tie the game at three.
The game went into extra innings, with Andrelton Simmons starting the eighth on second base and Dudley Leonora started at first base for Curacao. A few moments later, third baseman Dudley Leonara ripped a single up the middle and Simmons came in to score, giving Curacao a 4-3 lead. The next batter, center fielder Raysheandall Michel, smacked an RBI single to center field, scoring Leonora to make it 5-3.
Nicaragua had Alegria on first base and Orozco on second to start the bottom of the eight. Valle drove a single through the right side of the infield scoring Orozco to cut the deficit to 5-4.
A few batters later, designated hitter Edgard Montiel drew a bases-loaded walk and Alegria came in to score to tie the game.
The next batter, Bone, and hit a sacrifice fly to center fielder Michel, scoring Valle for the winning run to beat Curacao 6-5.
Nicaragua (2-3) will play Cuba (3-2) at 12 p.m. EDT on the final day of the opening round for the Central American and Caribbean Games with the opportunity to earn a berth in the bronze medal game. Curacao (3-2) will play the Dominican Republic (3-2) at 4:30 p.m. EDT with the same implications.
Mexico beat Puerto Rico 5-4 to Improve to 4-1
Puerto Rico dropped to 1-4 in the Central American and Caribbean Games after a 5-4 loss to Mexico, ending their hopes of playing in the 2023 Pan American Games in October.
In the bottom of the first inning, Mexico right fielder Ferando Villegas launched a two-run home run over the left field wall scoring Norberto Obeso to go up 2-0.
During the top of the third inning, Puerto Rico first baseman Edwin Gomez tied the game up at two when he ripped a two-run home run over the right field wall, scoring catcher Ruben Castro.
Mexico starting pitcher Francisco Haro threw four innings, allowing three hits, two earned runs, walking two, and striking out three.
In the top of the fifth inning, Castro ripped a single up the middle scoring Jeremy Rivera for a 3-2 Puerto Rico lead.
Puerto Rico starting pitcher Andres Santiago threw four innings, allowing three hits, three earned runs, walking one, and no strikeouts as relief pitcher Christian Torres entered the game.
During the bottom of the fifth inning, Villegas roped a three-run home run over the left field wall, his fourth home run of the Central American and Caribbean Games, which scored Moises Guiterrez and Norberto Obeso and Mexico took a 5-3 lead.
In the top of the seventh inning, second baseman Kenen Irizzary’s RBI single to center field scored Miguel Egea, but that was as close as Puerto Rico would get.
Mexico (4-1) will play Venezuela (3-1) on Friday at 5 p.m. EDT. Puerto Rico (1-4) will play El Salvador (0-4) at 7:30 p.m. EDT in the last game on Friday.
Cuba pounds El Salvador 15-0 in Five Innings
The El Salvador bullpen gave up 10 earned runs, 11 hits, walked five, and struck out one during the fourth game of the Central American and Caribbean games.
El Salvador starting pitcher Hector Martinez threw 1.2 innings allowing two earned runs, five hits, and walking one.
Cuba starting pitcher Jonathan Carbo threw five innings allowing three hits, walking one batter, and striking out eight during his performance.
Cuba right fielder Yoelkis Guibert went 3-for-4, scoring three runs, and driving in two along with improving his average to .525 at the Central American and Caribbean Games.
First baseman Yasniel Gonzalez went 2-for-3 with three RBI and one walk. Catcher Andrys Perez had a great day at the plate as well, scoring twice with three hits, and one RBI and batting .571 during the tournament.
Shortstop Barbaro Arrubarruena went 3-for-3 with one RBI and scored two runs.
Cuba improved to 2-2 at the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games, and played 3-1 the Dominican Republic in their second game on Thursday as well. Host nation El Salvador dropped to 0-4 at the Central American and Caribbean Games, and will play 3-1 Venezuela on Friday at 12 p.m. EDT.
Cuba beat the Dominican Republic 12-0 in their second game on Wednesday in six innings, improving their record at 3-2 at the Central American and Caribbean Games.
Dominican Republic starting pitcher Luis Mateo threw three innings, allowing seven hits, five earned runs, walking none, and striking out two. The Dominican Republic bullpen allowed seven hits, seven earned runs, walking two, and striking out two in the loss.
Andrys Perez had a three-run home run in the bottom of the second and Yoelkis Guibert had a three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Second baseman Yadil Mujica had two RBI singles during yesterday’s 12-0 win.
Roel Santos also had a two-run double in the bottom of the fourth inning that helped Cuba in their offensive day.
Cuba (3-2) will play Nicaragua (2-3) on Friday at 2 p.m. EDT. The Dominican Republic (3-2) will play Curacao (3-2) at 4:30 p.m. EDT on Friday with a berth in the Bronze Medal game on the line.