Staff Reports
World Baseball Network
The Criollos de Caguas punched their ticket to the Caribbean Series on Sunday night, beating the Gigantes de Carolina 4-1 in game eight of the LBPRC championship series in Puerto Rico to win the championship five games to three.
With the win, the Criollos captured their 21st championship in the Liga Beisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente and their fifth in the past eight years.
Caguas got on the board in the bottom of the second with an RBI single by Luis Vazquez that scored Danny Ortiz.
Vimael Machin’s solo homer in the bottom of the third put the Criollo 2-0 and held up as the winning run. Pedro Leon hit a solo shot in the fourth to give Caguas a 3-0 lead, and Dwight Smith Jr.’s RBI triple in the sixth sent Emmanuel Rivera home with the fourth run for Caguas.
Caguas has won the Caribbean Series five times, including back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018.
The Criollos will have nine days off before returning to action in the Caribbean Series at loanDepot Park in Miami, where they will face Nicaragua in the opening game at 10:30 a.m. EST on Feb. 1.
Estrellas Take 2-0 Lead On Tigres In LIDOM – Robinson Cano went 3-for-5 with two runs scored as the Estrellas Orientales topped the Tigres del Licey 4-2 in game two of the LIDOM championship series.
Raimel Tapia drove in Cano with a single in the top of the fourth, and Lewin Diaz drove Cano in with a single of his own in the top of the sixth. Jose Barrero’s two-run homer in the eighth accounted for the other two Estrellas runs.
Licey starter Cesar Valdez went five innings, allowing one run on four hits and striking out three.
Eight Estrellas pitchers held the Tigres to one run on seven hits and allowed five walks in game two.
Game three of the series is Monday night at 6:30 p.m. EST and can be streamed on MLB.tv with a subscription.
Hermosillo Takes Game Two 1-0 – The Naranjeros de Hermosillo topped the Venados de Mazatlan 1-0 in the second game of the Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacifico championship series Sunday night.
Jose Cardona drove in Cesar Salazar with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth for the game’s only run.
Naranjeros starter Manny Barreda went six innings, allowing six hits, three walks, and striking out three.
Game three of the LAMP championship series is Tuesday night at 9 p.m. EST. and can be streamed on Extrabase.tv for a fee.
LVBP Championship Series Starts Tuesday – The Tiburones de La Guaira will face the Cardenales de Lara in game one of the Liga Venezolana Beisbol Profesional championship series Tuesday at 6 p.m. EST.