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Staff Reports
World Baseball Network
The Tigres del Licey, the defending Serie del Caribe champions, are one win away from a return to the series after topping the Estrellas Orientales 8-5 in 10 innings Thursday.
A five-run first inning that featured a solo homer by Emilio Bonifacio on the second pitch of the game gave the Tigres a large lead early. Francisco Mejia had an RBI single and Sergio Alcantara drove in a pair with a single of his own for Licey in the opening frame.
The Estrellas clawed back in the bottom of the fourth, getting a two-run single from Lewin Diaz and another run when Webster Rivas drove in Diaz with a ground out to cut the lead to 5-3.
Raimel Tapia’s RBI single in the bottom of the ninth scored Wilfred Veras and tied the game at five.
In the top of the 10th, the Tigres got an RBI single by Luis Barrera that sent Robel Garcia home with the winning run. Licey added two more on a two-run single from Gustavo Nunez.
All told, the Tigres used 10 pitchers in the game, allowing five runs on eight hits and three walks, striking out five. Jairo Asencio was credited with the win and a blown save, allowing one run in the ninth.
Game six is Friday night at 6:30 p.m. EST, and can be streamed on MLB.tv with a paid subscription.
Tiburones de La Guaira 7, Cardenales de Lara 5 – Yasiel Puig stayed hot in game three of the Liga Venezolana Beisbol Profesional championship series, going 3-for-5 for La Guaira with two RBI and two runs scored, including a two-run homer in the third, as the Tiburones took a three-games-to-none lead in the series.
Puig also had a double in the second and a single in the seventh.
Lara shortstop Gorkys Hernandez went 3-for-3 with a triple, and Cardenales starter Max Castillo went four innings, allowing six runs on eight hits, striking out one and walking one.
Game four of the series is Saturday night at 6 p.m. EST, and can be streamed live via Beisbolplay.com with a paid subscription.