the duel between Carlos Martínez, Opener of the Dominican Cibaeñas Eagles, and his compatriot Luis Medina, Letter of the Creoles of Caguas of Puerto Rico, excels in the first date of the Caribbean Baseball Series, which kicks off this Sunday in Mazatlán, Mexico.
The ‘Tsunami’ Martínez, of the Cardinals of Sant Lluís of the Major Leagues, will look for the first victory for the Dominicans, maximum winners of the fair with 20 victories, followed by the Puerto Ricans, with 16.
The Dominicans present / display a solid set, with deep pitching, beat of first and safe defense, With figures that have shone in the Majors headed by the picture player Robinson Tube, with 334 quadrangular ones in Great Leagues.
The Caguas de Puerto Rico Creoles, led by receiver Yadier Molina, with 160 homers in the Majors, arrive with the goal of winning the Series as they did in 2017 and 2018, the last two times Mexico was home.
The two countries with the most tradition in the Series will star in the main course of the first day which will start with the match between the Panamanian Chiriquí Federals against the Venezuelan Anzoátegui Caribbean and will conclude with the duel between the champion of Mexico, which will be decided this Saturday and the Colombian Alligators of Barranquilla.
Although Mexico has been hit hard by the covid-19, which has killed more than 156,000 people, authorities in the state of Sinaloa, where Mazatlán is, not only they have guaranteed the celebration of the contest, But they will do so with just over 7,000 fans in the stands in each match.
Mexico, the biggest title winner in the last 10 years, with four, will look to take advantage of the local condition. His representative will be defined this Saturday between the Tomateros de Culiacán and the Naranjeros de Hermosillo, teams with full payrolls, well balanced.
While the remaining champion will take over the series in rhythm, it remains to be seen if he arrives with the body of fresh pitchers, although he will always be able to choose between his reinforcements to pitchers opening the rival team in the final or another .
Led by the Cuban Alfonso Urquiola, who led the Vegueros de Pineda de el Río to the title in 2015, the Federals of Chiriquí will compete with the difficulty of not having held a winter tournament and it remains to be seen if their offensive will be adjusted as to beat Anzoátegui in the Caribbean in the inaugural duel this Sunday.
The six teams must undergo rigorous isolation measures and medical check-ups to prevent the spread of covid-19, which will mark the Series with a distinctive seal because there will be less coexistence off the field, which characterizes to this tournament, started in 1949.
After the Dominicans and Puerto Ricans, Mexico is the country with the most titles, nine of them six in this century, Cuba has won eight, although it has participated only 18 times, Venezuela seven and Panama two.
This year the Series will run with a phase for the all-against-all system, from which will emerge the top four who will play the semifinals on Friday 5 February and the final a day later.
In 2020 the Dominican bulls won the final against the Cardinals of Lara in Venezuela. EFE