Although Japan made history Saturday when it fielded its first team in a Caribbean Series, Japan Breeze, it was Leones del Escogido of the Dominican Republic that dominated play in Day 2 action at Nido de las Águilas Stadium in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico, in a 12-1 win.
Saturday evening, the Charros de Jalisco (Mexico) edged Cardenales de Lara (Venezuela) in the second game, 2-1.
Former Major League hurler Johnny Cueto, a key piece in manager Albert Pujols’ starting rotation in Escogido’s run to the Dominican League championship, continued his run of quality innings this winter with six frames of one-hit ball, one unearned run, two strikeouts and no walks to notch the win. In the Dominican Republic’s first two games, its pitching staff has not given up an earned run, shutting out the Cardenales in the tournament’s opener Friday.
On Saturday, Escogido’s offense was led by Yamaico Navarro, who went 2-2 with two walks, two runs scored and two RBIs. José Marmolejos also drove in a pair, while Sanber Pimentel hit the game’s only home run in the sixth inning off reliever Gaku Ueda.
Veteran starter Shuto Sakurai took the loss for the Japanese club, giving up four runs (three earned) in three innings.
Japan Breeze’s offense had seven hits, but no extra-base knocks against Cueto and relievers Gabriel Ynoa, Cesilio Pimentel and Henry Sosa.
With a record of 2-0 in the four-game round robin stage, the Leones are one step away from qualifying for the Caribbean Series’ sudden death semifinal round, to be played on Wednesday. On Sunday, the Dominican squad will face the host country’s Charros in the second game of the day. With an 0-1 record, Japan Breeze will play in Sunday’s first game vs. Indios de Mayagüez (Puerto Rico), a contest between two clubs seeking their first win in the tournament after opening with a loss.
MEXICO 2, VENEZUELA 1
In Saturday’s nightcap, Charros de Jalisco (Mexico) defeated Cardenales de Lara (Venezuela), 2-1, to move to 2-0 in the tournament and put themselves a win away from qualifying for Wednesday’s knockout semifinal round.
With the game tied at 1 in the top of the ninth, Michael Wielansky scored from third on Cardenales first baseman Rangel Ravelo’s fielding error of a Julián Ornelas grounder -- after doubling and subsequently advancing to third on the inning’s first error by second baseman Ildemaro Vargas -- to give the Mexico club managed by Benji Gil the lead. Trevor Clifton retired all three hitters he faced in the bottom of the frame for the save.
The game was a tight pitching duel. Charros starter Manny Bañuelos gave up just one run on five hits in six innings, with relievers Jesús Cruz, Stephen Nogosek and Clifton shutting down the Cardenales the rest of the way. Nogosek notched the win with a scoreless eighth.
The Venezuelan team managed by Henry Blanco also got a solid start from Jimmy Endersby, who hurled five innings of one-run ball, followed by scoreless frames from Anthony Vizcaya, Alex Scherff and Brian McKenna. Arnaldo Hernández took the loss with the unearned run allowed in the top of the ninth.
The Cardenales, now 0-2, have an off-day Sunday. They face a must-win situation in their game vs. Indios de Mayagüez (Puerto Rico) in Monday’s first contest, scheduled for 3 p.m. ET at Mexicali’s Nido de las Águilas Stadium.
LOOKING AHEAD TO SUNDAY
Sunday’s action at the 67th Caribbean Series feature one game between clubs seeking their first win of the tournament, followed by a contest of undefeated teams looking to punch their ticket to Wednesday’s knockout semifinal round at Nido de las Águilas Stadium in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico.
In the first game, Japan Breeze is trying for its first ever Caribbean Series win, after the nation’s debut in the event resulted in a 12-1 loss to Leones del Escogido (Dominican Republic). Also at 0-1, Indios de Mayagüez (Puerto Rico) will seek to rebound from its 8-1 loss to Charros de Jalisco (Mexico) on Friday.
In Sunday’s second game, the two most dominant clubs in the tournament so far will butt heads, with an assured spot in the semifinals on the line. The Leones, managed by Albert Pujols, won their first two games against Cardenales de Lara (Venezuela) and Japan Breeze by a combined score of 14-1. On the Charros side, Benji Gil’s club captured its first two contests over Mayagüez and Cardenales, outscoring them, 10-2, overall.
The winner of Sunday’s game between the Dominican and Mexican clubs will go to 3-0 and will clinch a semifinal spot. The losing team will fall to 2-1, but will still control its own destiny to advance to the knockout stage.