A night after losing a close game to fall behind two games to one in the Liga Beisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente championship series, the Indios de Mayaguez didn’t let game four of the series get close.
A six-run fifth inning staked the Indios to a lead they wouldn’t relinquish, as they held on to take game four of the series 7-3 and even the series at two games apiece.
Mayaguez grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth when Henry Ramos drew a two-out walk and then scored on Blaine Crim’s opposite field double to the right center field gap.
In the bottom of the fifth, Mayaguez loaded the bases, and Josh Palacios was hit by a pitch, scoring Richie Palacios. The next batter, Danny Ortiz, singled to center, scoring Chavez Young. Two batters later, Blaine Crim drew a walk, forcing Emmanuel Rivera across for a 4-0 lead. Roberto Perez then smashed a bases-clearing double to center field, putting Mayaguez up 7-0, but stepped off second base to celebrate and was tagged out to end the inning.
Carolina got on the board with Delvin Perez’ two-run homer to left field in the top of the sixth, and added another run in the top of the seventh on Jose Sermo’s RBI single.
Mayaguez starter Miguel Martinez scattered seven hits over six innings of work, allowing two earned runs and walking one. Endrys Briceno came on for the ninth inning, retiring the side 1-2-3 to end the game.
Game five of the series in Sunday, January 22 at 6:10 p.m.
