The Curacao Professional Baseball League season is entering the playoffs as the new week in January begins. Here is everything that has gone down this season so far in the CPB.
Game One: Curacao Suns 4, Willemstad Cannons 0
The CPB season began on Jan. 16 at Tio Daou Ballpark in Willemstad, Curacao. In the season opener, the Curacao Suns defeated the Willemstad Cannons 4-0.
Nine hits from the Suns resulted in the four runs they scored in the game. In the first two innings, they scored three runs. These came off an RBI hit from Swindley Lint, as well as some ground ball fielder choice plays from former MLB veteran Didi Gregorius and Sharlon Schoop. Schoop later tacked on another RBI via a single to make it a 4-0 game.
The Cannons had nothing on offense thanks to the stellar pitching from the Suns’ staff. Kevin Kelly and Siamani Boekhoudt combined for eight strikeouts in six innings. They also walked just three batters over that stretch.
Wilmer Bazur finished the game with one inning of work giving up no hits and one walk all while striking out one batter.
Willemstad had only four hits in the game as a team. They also made two errors defensively.
Game Two: Curacao Suns 3, Curacao Goats 2
The Suns finished the regular season undefeated and the number one team in the CPB with a close 3-2 win over the Curacao Goats.
The Goats got on the board first with former MLB All-Star Jonathan Schoop starting the game’s scoring with a two-run home run to make it 2-0 early. However, his brother Sharlon Schoop refused to let his little brother get the best of him as he hit a two-run home run of his own to tie the game up in the bottom of the fifth inning. Jackey Josepha was the clutch man for the Suns as his scored run was the walk-off to win it 3-2 for the Suns.
The back end of the Suns’ bullpen was phenomenal in keeping the Goats deadlocked with two runs. Keymer Reyes and Joharvi Martinus had two strikeouts each and gave up no hits. Martinus was credited for the win.
For the Goats, Cody Mincey went four innings in his start giving up no earned runs. However, J’Rujeanon Isenia gave up the walk-off in the end and was marked as the losing pitcher.
Game Three: Willemstad Cannons 9, Curacao Goats 5
The final game of the regular season had the most offense out of any of the games. Willemstad came out on top 9-5 against the Goats as both teams combined for 19 hits.
The Cannons responded to the Goats getting on the board first with a big, three-run home run from Rushenten Thomsjansen to make it a 3-1 game. Willemstad added another run to make it 4-1 heading to the second inning.
The Goats slowly chipped into the Cannons’ lead. In the fifth inning, Denzel Gregg knocked in two runs in to tie the game up at 4-4.
However, the Cannons responded in the bottom half of the fifth. Mistakes from the Goats including a throwing error and wild pitch led to a four-run inning for the Cannons and a Willemstad 8-4 lead. Both teams scored a run each in the sixth inning to move the game to 9-5 and that is where it ended.
Despite giving up seven hits, the Cannons’ starting pitcher Arlison Rodriguez got credit for the win. He also had four strikeouts during his four innings of work.
Playoffs: Semi-Final Game Added, Suns Await Winner in the Championship
The CPB made the unexpected decision to add a semi-final game. Now, all three teams in the league have a postseason.
The semi-final game is a rematch between the Cannons and Goats on Sunday, Jan. 19, at 2:oo p.m. EST. The winner will play the Curacao Suns in the CPB championship. The championship has been moved to Jan. 20 due to the semi-final round being added.
Follow the CPB Semi-Final and Championship here at the World Baseball Network for up-to-date coverage.
WBN Curacao: https://worldbaseball.com/league/curacao/
