Liga Venezolana de Beisbol Profesional
Bravos de Margarita (7-4) 3, Tigres de Aragua (2-8) 2 – Wilson Ramos’ solo homer in the sixth stood up as the winning run, though Aragua got a pair of runs in a ninth inning rally to put a scare into the Bravos. Yermin Mercedes singled home Jose Martinez, and Alcides Escobar grounded out to short with runners at the corners to draw the Tigres within one, but Claudio Custodio got the next two batters out to end the game.
Navegantes de Magallanes (5-6) 9, Aguilas del Zulia (5-5) 8 – Magallanes out-slugged the Aguilas, getting four home runs and using them to squeak out a victory and get within a game of .500. Luis Suisbel, Alberth Martinez, and Andres Chaparro each hit solo homers for the Navegantes, and Gabriel Arias hit a two-run homer in the third, capping a five-run inning.
Liga Beisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente
Senadores de San Juan 6, Cangrejeros de Santurce 1 – Ramon Rodriguez and Abdiel Layer each hit solo homers, and starter Lewis Thorpe threw five innings, allowing one run on three hits as the Senadores took a 2-1 series lead. Jan Hernandez went 2-for-4 witha run scored and two RBIs for San Juan. Roy Morales drove in Santurce’s lone run with a sac fly in the first inning.
Indios de Mayaguez 4, Criollos de Caguas 3 – Sixth inning RBI doubles by Anthony Garcia and David MacKinnon in the sixth propelled the Indios past Caguas, giving them a 2-1 series lead, but not without a sweat. Nelson Velasquez hit a two-run homer in the top of the seventh for Caguas that cut the lead to a single run, but relievers Carlos Francisco and Justin Yeager held the Criollos hitless over the final two innings to preserve the win.
LIDOM
Leones del Escogido (5-3) 8, Aguilas Cibaenas (1-7) 6 – Jose Siri went 2-for-5 with a ninth inning solo homer, a walk, two RBIs and two runs scored as the Leones improved to 5-3 in the 18-game round robin. Eight Escogido pitchers combined to allow six runs on eight hits and six walks to the Aguilas, who are rapidly playing themselves out of contention.
Tigres del Licey (6-2) 6, Estrellas Orientales (4-4) 1 – Oscar Gonzalez’ RBI single in the top of the first was all the offense the Estrellas could muster. In the bottom of the first, Sergio Alcantara scored on a balk to tie the game, and the Tigres didn’t let up. Domingo Leyba went 3-for-3 with a homer and a walk as Licey improved to 6-2, good for first place in the round robin.
Tonight in the Winter Ball Playoffs
All times Eastern Standard Time
LIDOM
3 p.m. – Tigres del Licey (6-2) at Leones del Escogido (5-3)
6:30 p.m. – Aguilas Cibaenas (1-7) at Estrellas Orientales (4-4)
Liga Venezolana de Beisbol Profesional
4 p.m. – Aragua (2-8) at Margarita (7-4)
5 p.m. – Zulia (5-5) at Lara (7-3)
Liga Beisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente
6 p.m. – Mayaguez at Caguas (Mayaguez leads series 2-1)
6 p.m. – Santurce at San Juan (San Juan leads series 2-1)
Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacifico
7 p.m. – Los Mochis at Culiacan (Game 1)
8 p.m. – Jalisco at Hermosillo (Game 1)
