Harold Castro put Leones de Caracas into the Caribbean Series with one swing.
Castro’s solo home run in the bottom of the eleventh gave the Leones a 7-6 win over the Tiburones de La Guaira in game six of the Liga Venezolano Beisbol Profesional championship series and a four games to two series victory.
The former Detroit Tiger went 3-for-5 with a home run, a walk, two RBI and three runs scored for Leones. He recently signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies.
The Leones, who won the LVBP championship for the first time since the 2009-10 season and will have a significant home field advantage at the Caribbean Series, which will be played at Estadio La Rinconada in Caracas and Estadio Forum in La Guaira starting Thursday.
The Leones last won the Caribbean Series title in 2006, defeating the Tigres del Licey from the Dominican Republic.
La Guaira’s starter, Erick Leal, lasted just 2.1 innings after surrendering five earned runs in the first two innings of the game. Six relievers combined to go the remainder of the game, allowing eight hits and two runs.
Caracas used eight pitchers in game six, combining to allow six runs on 13 hits, with Silvino Braucho throwing the last three innings to earn the win when Castro homered.
Leones de Caracas will open the Caribbean Series representing Venezuela on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET against Panama’s representative, the Federales de Chiriqui, who won that nation’s Probeis league championship last week. The Caribbean Series will be televised and streamed on ESPNDeportes.
