Panama’s Harold Arauz delivers to the plate in a 6-5 win against Columbia at the 2023 Caribbean Series. (Photo Courtesy of CPBC)
Panama’s Federales de Chiriqui manager Jose Mayorga assigned starting pitcher Harold Arauz to help Panama get their first win of the Caribbean Series in Day 2 of the Caribbean Series.
Arauz answered the bell and pitched six innings allowing six hits, two earned runs, and struck out three and walked two to record the win for Panama 6-5 over Colombia’s Vaqueros De Monteria.
Colombia got on the board first in the bottom of the first inning as Jordan Diaz roped a line drive single to center field scoring Gustavo Campero to take a 1-0 lead.
Panama finally cracked the score board in the top of the fourth inning when Johnny Santos reached on a fielder’s choice and Ivan Herrera came in to score to tie the game up at one. The next batter, Enrique Valdez, smacked a two-run single through the left side, scoring Ariel Sandoval and Erasmo Caballero for a 3-1 Panama lead. Colombia starting pitcher Julio Colmenares was yanked in the middle of the fourth inning after throwing 3.2 innings and allowing four hits, no earned runs, walking two batters and striking out one.
In the bottom of the fourth, Colombia inched closer when Jesus Marriaga hit a ground ball single to right field, scoring Brayan Buelvas to make it 3-2.
Panama tied the score in the top of the sixth when Sandoval drove a home run over the left field wall as for a 4-2 lead.
In the bottom of the sixth, Panama’s Brayan Buelvas drove a sacrifice fly to left field to plate the third run for Colombia making it 4-3.
In the top of the seventh, Panama’s Michael Wielansky connected on a two-run home run to right center field for a 6-3 Panamanian lead.
Colombia made the game interesting in the bottom of the seventh when Francisco Acuna roped a double to right field scoring Marriaga to make the score 6-4. The next batter, Campero, smacked a ground ball single to left field scoring Acuna to make it 6-5.
Panama’s bullpen held Colombia to just two hits during the last two innings of the game as relief pitchers Jose Mendoza and David Richardson did their jobs. Richardson got Daniel Vellojin to ground into a game-ending double play and Panama captured its first win of the Caribbean Series.
Panama will face Curacao on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Estadio De La Rinconada. Colombia will face Mexico on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. at Estadio De La Rinconada. Every game of the Caribbean Series will be streamed on ESPN Deportes and ESPN+.
