Mexico's C.J. Retherford hit a two-run homer and drove in three runs, and teammate Jason Bourgeois hit two triples to lead the Aguilas de Mexicali to a 7-2 victory over the Dominican Republic's Tigres de Licey in Thursday's night game at Estadio Tomateros.
Mexico's victory is the second in two nights for the defending champs. The loss drops the Dominican Republic team to 0-2. Dating back to the 2016 Caribbean Series, a team from Mexico has now won eight games in a row. A team from the Dominican Republic has lost eight in a row during the same span.
The teams exchanged runs in the first inning, and the Dominican Republic pulled ahead, 2-1, on an RBI single by designated hitter Leury Garcia of the Chicago White Sox in the bottom of the third.
The lead did not last long.
Bourgeois' first triple drove in two runs in the top of the fifth to increase Mexico's lead to 4-2. Retherford's two-run homer extended the lead to 6-2 in the seventh, and Chris Roberson drove in another run in the eighth for a five-run lead.
Bourgeois also hit a triple and scored in the three-run seventh.
NOTABLE PERFORMERS: Roberson and Bourgeois combined to go 7-for-9 with three RBIs and three runs scored. Bourgeois, who has played parts of eight seasons in the big leagues with the White Sox, Brewers, Astros, Royals, Rays and Reds, signed a Minor League deal with the White Sox on Jan. 7.
PLAY OF THE GAME: Roberson, who finished 4-for-5, set the tone for the evening with a 10-pitch at-bat to start the game. He eventually singled and scored the game's first run on a single by Retherford.