The Creoles survive and finish in second place

After the opening pitching failed at the start of the match, the Caguas Creoles’ offensive took a step forward and produced nine runs in five innings to lead to a 9-8 victory over the Federals of Caguas. Chiriquí of Panama in the last day of the regular phase of the Series of the Caribbean Mazatlán 2021.

With the victory, in the meeting held in the first round of the day, the Creoles of Puerto Rico secured second place in the standings, which would ensure they face the team that finishes in third place. The Eagles Cibaeñas of the Dominican Republic therefore the first position with 4-0.

Puerto Rico’s rival would be determined by the matches that followed the day between Colombia and the Dominican Republic and Venezuela and Mexico, and there was a possibility that there would be a triple tie in the battle for third and fourth places.

Depending on the format of the tournament, in one semifinal they face the first and fourth and in the other the second and third. These semifinals will be played on Friday, and the winners will go to the final on Saturday.

Puerto Rican right-hander Jason Garcia had an outing to forget by conceding 5 hits and two ball bases at the top of the first inning that allowed the Federals to start powerfully and with a 5-0 lead before closing. his first chance at bat. Garcia only completed two-thirds of an inning.

Veteran right-hander Iván Maldonado came to Garcia’s rescue to end the first episode and managed to throw three more innings, while the Boricuas bats began to sound from the low of the same first inning.

Jarren Durán shot a home run in the first half to put Puerto Rico on the scoreboard and activate the Puerto Rican offensive. After this beating, which put the score at 5-1, the Creoles scored in each inning until the fifth.

In the second, Jeremy Rivera hit the box and towed one to leave the board 5-2 and in the third the Puerto Ricans leveled the score with four consecutive hits from Henry Ramos, Yadier Molina, Vimael Machín and Emmanuel Rivera, a ball base at Reymond Fonts and a sacrifice fly by Jonathan Morales.

The advantage came in the fourth with a ticket to Duran, who has advanced to second with an uncontrolled pitching. Ramos received a ticket and the two advanced with another ‘wild pitch’, preparing the scene for Machín to hit a sacrifice fly that towed Duran and put the game 6-5.

However, Chiriquí responded in the top five with a hit by David Rodriguez and a ‘passed ball’ by Joan Centeno that placed man in the middle. A hit and a ball followed the sequence, and Rodriguez scored with a bat for the box to level the board 6-6.

The Boricuas responded immediately and scratched the three runs that gave him the final lead. Morales opened with a single to the left and was towed by Rye single for the 7-6 lead. Duran tied single at the center that left two Creoles in circulation before Henry Ramos towed them both with a single at center.

The Federals scratched twice in the eighth and added drama to the match, bringing it closer to 9-8. But with the bases full and an out, reliever Fernando Cruz withdrew the last two to close the game.