By Julian Guilarte
World Baseball Network
Venezuela beat the Dominican Republic 5-2 in their second game of the Central American Games in San Salvador, El Salvador, at Saturnino Bengoa National Baseball Stadium.
The game got off to a fast start, with both offenses putting up two runs each in the first inning. Venezuela scored in the top of the first on an two-run single from left fielder Anderson Melendez that scored Cesar Ortega and right fielder Juan Infante for a 2-0 lead.
The Dominican Republic answered right back when Kelvin Peña ripped a two-run single of his own to score Ricardo Cespedes and Carlos Jimenez to tie the game at two.
The game would stay deadlocked at two until the fifth when Venezuela scored two runs. The first run came on a sacrifice fly from Jose Ortega sent home Junnel Ledezma. Infante drew a bases-loaded walk that scored Alex Monsalve to give Venezuela a 4-2 lead. They added an insurance run in the sixth when Michal Chirinos’ RBI single scored Yoandy Rea.
Venezula’s bullpen pitched four perfect innings to preserve the win after starting pitcher Sonny Vargas gave up two runs in the first.
Venezuela (2-0) will play their next game on June 26 against Cuba (1-1) at 4:30 p.m. ET. The Dominican Republic (1-1) will play their next game on June 26 against Puerto Rico at 9:30 a.m. ET.
Cuba wins 4-2 against Curaçao
Cuba beat Curaçao 4-2 to even their record in the Central American and Caribbean Games.
Curaçao’s starting pitcher Lucas Jordan was cruising until Cuba scored two runs in the fifth. He was pulled after 4.1 innings with two runs and one earned run allowed following a two-run homer by Cuba’s Roel Santos that brought in center fielder Racio Santos.
Cuba’s starting pitcher Yoennis Cruz pitched five innings, giving up just one run against Venezuela with six strikeouts.
Center fielder Rayshelon Carolina hit a solo shot for Curaçao to cut the deficit to 2-1 in the bottom of the fifth.
Cuba scored another run in the sixth to take a 3-1 lead when pinch hitter Guillermo Aviles hit an RBI double to score Yurisbel Gracial, and added another run in the seventh when Yoelkis Guibert hit an RBI single to score Dayan Garcia and give Cuba a 4-1 lead.
Cuba (1-1) will play their next game on June 26th against Venezuela (2-0) at 4:30 p.m. ET and Curaćao (1-1) will play their next game on June 26th against Mexico 2-0 at 1:00 p.m. ET.
Nicaragua wins 3-1 against Puerto Rico
Nicaragua beat Puerto Rico 3-1 to even their record at the Central American and Caribbeaan Games.
Both teams scored one run in the first inning and a pitcher’s duel followed, with Nicaragua scoring the only two runs the rest of the game.
Nicaragua struck first with a sacrifice fly by right fielder Sandy Bermudez that scored Orlando Valle to take a 1-0 lead.
Puerto Rico answered back when left fielder Jeffery Dominguez delivered an RBI single to score Ruben Castro and tie the game.
Designated hitter Edgard Montiel got the game-winning hit for Nicaragua with a two-RBI single in the fifth that scored Juan Diego Montes and Benjamin Alegria.
Nicaragua’s starting pitcher, Leonardo Crawford, pitched 5.1 innings, allowing one run and striking out five batters. Crawford would pick up the win in this game.
Nicaragua (1-1) will play their next game on June 26 against the host country El Salvador (0-2) at 10 p.m. ET. Puerto Rico (0-2) will play their next game on June 26 against the Dominican Republic at 9:30 p.m. ET.
Mexico wins 4-0 against host Nation El Salvador
Mexico shut out the host country El Salvador 4-0 in their second game at the Central American and Caribbean Games.
Mexico jumped out a 1-0 lead in the first when Rainel Rosario hit a sacrifice fly to score Romero Randy. Mexico scored two more in the third when right fielder Fernando Villegas hit a two-run home run that score Obeso Norberto.
Mexico added another run in the fourth when Randy Romero hit a solo home run.
Mexico’s starting pitcher was masterful, with six shutout innings and six strikeouts. Relief pitcher Luis Gutierrez struck out the side in the seventh for Mexico. El Salvador was held to four hits by Mexico’s pitching staff.
Mexico (2-0) will play Curaçao (1-1) on June 26 at 1 p.m. ET and the host country, El Salvador, will play Nicaragua (1-1) on June 26 at 10 p.m. ET.
