2010 Caribbean Series

The 2010 Caribbean Series (Serie del Caribe) was the fourtieth edition of the second stage of the Caribbean Series. It was held at Estadio Nueva Esparta in La Asunción, Nueva Esparta. The series featured four teams from Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Venezuela. The Leones del Escogido won the Series and were managed by Ken Oberkfell. The Most Valuable Player was Fernando Martinez, an outfielder for Escogido.

Teams

• The Leones del Escogido won the Dominican League title. They made their first appearance since the 1992 Caribbean Series. They won the 1988 Caribbean Series and 1990 Caribbean Series. They were managed by Ken Oberkfell. They had five All-Stars in 1B Kevin Barker (.250/.438/.750), 2B Pablo Ozuna (.333/.412/.400), LF Fernando Martinez (.316/.316/.684), RHP Nelson Figueroa (1-0, 1.00) and LHP Raul Valdes (2-0, 4.09).

• The Leones del Caracas took the Venezuelan League title, their 17th, most in league history. They last appeared in the 2006 Caribbean Series, which they won. They also won the 1982 Caribbean Series. Dave Hudgens was their skipper. The lone bright spot on the last-place team was All-Star DH Raúl Padrón.

• The Indios de Mayagüez claimed their 16th Puerto Rican League title, the most in that circuit's annals, despite a cumulative 26-28 regular season and postseason record. They last played in the 2005 Caribbean Series. They won the 1978 Caribbean Series, 1986 Caribbean Series, 1992 Caribbean Series and 1998 Caribbean Series. Mako Oliveras was their skipper, his 6th Series as a manager. They led the Series with 7 All-Stars, with the big bats being Jesus Feliciano (.481/.517/.630, 5 RBI) and Angel Sanchez (.409/.409/.455, 5 R).

• The Naranjeros de Hermosillo won their 16th Mexican Pacific League title in 2009-2010. They last played in the 2007 Caribbean Series. Their lone victory to date was the 1976 Caribbean Series. They were managed by Homar Rojas. Their lone All-Star was 3B Vinny Castilla (.263/.391/.474).

Final Standings

Team	League	G	W	L	WPCT	Manager
Leones del Escogido	Dominican League	6	5	1	.833	Ken Oberkfell
Indios de Mayagüez	Puerto Rican League	6	4	2	.667	Mako Oliveras
Naranjeros de Hermosillo	Mexican Pacific League	6	2	4	.333	Homar Rojas
Leones del Caracas	Venezuelan League	6	1	5	.167	Dave Hudgens

Leaders

• Batting Average: .481 - Jesus Feliciano, Mayagüez
• Home Runs: 2 - Fernando Martinez, Escogido; Kevin Barker, Escogido
• Runs Batted In: 5 - Jesus Feliciano, Mayagüez; Juan Francisco, Escogido
• Wins: 2 - Raul Valdes, Escogido

All-Star Team

• C: Edwards Guzman, Mayagüez (.313/.353/.375)
• 1B: Kevin Barker, Escogido (.250/.438/.750, 2 HR)
• 2B: Pablo Ozuna, Escogido (.333/.412/.400, 5 R)
• SS: Angel Sanchez, Mayagüez (.409/.409/.455, 5 R)
• 3B: Vinny Castilla, Hermosillo (.263/.391/.474)
• RF: Armando Ríos, Mayagüez (.313/.389/.438)
• CF: Jesus Feliciano, Mayagüez (.481/.517/.630, 5 RBI)
• LF: Fernando Martinez, Escogido (.316/.316/.684, 2 HR)
• DH: Raúl Padrón, Caracas (.300/.300/.450)
• RHP: Nelson Figueroa, Escogido (1-0, 1.00, 3 H, 8 K in 9 IP)
• LHP: Raul Valdes, Escogido (2-0, 4.09)
• RHRP: Peter Parise, Mayagüez (0 R in 6 IP, 7 K)
• LHRP: Efrain Nieves, Mayagüez (1-0, 0 R in 3 2/3 IP)
• Mgr: Mako Oliveras, Mayagüez

The Games

February 2

Game 1

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Mayagüez	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	7	2
Escogido	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	2	4	2
Win: Valdes (1-0) Loss: Santiago (0-1) Save: Veras (1)

Bad defense and good pitching were the themes of the opener as the two teams combined for just 11 hits and one earned run, but four errors and two unearned runs.

Escogido got going quickly. CF Freddy Guzman opened the Series by grounding to veteran 2B Luis Figueroa, who made an error to put Guzman aboard. After a sacrifice bunt and a steal, LF Juan Francisco grounded back to P Mario Santiago. Santiago tried for the out at home, but failed, as Guzman scored for a 1-0 lead.

From there, Santiago and Escogido's Raul Valdes traded goose eggs until the 6th. Valdes finally cracked in the sixth. LF Miguel Abreu and CF Jesus Feliciano both singled, then Figueroa bunted them over. RF Edgardo Baez grounded to SS Ramon Santiago, who threw to third to get Feliciano as Abreu came home to tie it at one. 1B Randy Ruiz singled, but DH Raul Casanova grounded out to end the threat.

The tie did not last long. With one out in the bottom of the 6th, 1B Kevin Barker went yard off Santiago to put the Leones up 2-1. Veterans Joel Peralta and Dario Veras combined to shut down the Indios over the final three frames, Veras getting the save.

Game 2

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Hermosillo	2	0	0	4	0	0	1	0	0	7	9	1
Caracas	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	2	7	2
Win: Ortega (1-0) Loss: Moscoso (0-1)

The veterans carried the day for the Naranjeros, who kicked off with an easy win over the home country.

In the first, 26-year-old Guillermo Moscoso was no match for the Mexican vets. 42-year-old 3B Vinny Castilla drew a two-out walk, then 31-year-old 1B Luis García reached on an error by SS Gregorio Petit. 36-year-old RF Rubén Rivera then tripled home Castilla and García.

Hermosillo kept it up in the 4th. With two outs again, they got rolling, as 2B Carlos Alberto Gastelum singled. CF Chris Roberson doubled, then LF Nelson Teilon doubled in both runners to make it 4-0. Eric Junge replaced Moscoso but could not stop the double parade, as Castilla doubled in Teilon. García once more hit into a Petit error, putting the Naranjeros up 6-0.

Hermosillo's Pablo Ortega allowed a run in the bottom of the 4th on singles by LF Michael Ryan, DH Raul Padron and 3B Oscar Salazar. In the bottom of the sixth, Ortega left after giving up a Ryan single. Reliever Francisco Felix issued a walk; one out later, an error by SS Heber Gómez loaded the bases. Jackson Melián drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 6-2. Homar Rojas summoned reliever Mario Mendoza Jr. to try to stop the Leones from getting closer. He succeeded, getting Petit on a grounder to Gastelum.

The Naranjeros finished the scoring in the 7th on a solo homer by Castilla off Yoel Hernandez.

Castilla finished with 3 times on base in 5 plate appearances, 3 runs, 2 RBI, a double and a homer.

February 3

Game 3

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Escogido	4	2	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	7	10	0
Hermosillo	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	3	0
Win: Figueroa (1-0) Loss: Rodriguez (0-1)

2008 Caribbean Series star Nelson Figueroa turned in another Series gem, this time against Mexico (the country he had played for in '08). Figueroa struck out eight while allowing only three hits in shutting down Hermosillo.

With one out in the first, the Leones got off the ground and never looked back. SS Ramon Santiago doubled off Hector Rodriguez. 3B Juan Francisco struck out, but reached on a third-strike wild pitch. Veteran DH Willis Otanez doubled in two runs, then young LF Fernando Martinez homered for a 4-0 lead.

Escogido kept on rolling in the second. as RF Victor Mendez led off with a hit, followed by a single by 2B Pablo Ozuna. Rodriguez threw a wild pitch, then CF Freddy Guzman plated both runners with a single to make it 6-0. In the 6th, Martinez singled with one out and advanced on a wild pitch. 1B Brayan Pena singled. Juan Pablo Oramas relieved Rodriguez and promptly gave up a run-scoring single to C Wilkin Castillo.

The only score Figueroa allowed came in the bottom of the 8th, when 2B Carlos Valencia led off with a home run.

Game 4

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Caracas	0	2	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	5	11	2
Mayagüez	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	11	2
Win: Estanga (1-0) Loss: Padilla (0-1) Save: Moreno (1)

The home country got its first win of the tournament. Puerto Rican starter Juan Padilla struggled in this outing. In the second, Caracas 1B Jesus Guzman singled with one out. An out later, DH Raúl Padrón homered to make it 2-0.

In the third, 3B Oscar Salazar singled for Caracas with one out; with two away, Guzman singled. C Carlos Maldonado and Padrón hit back-to-back singles to right, each driving in a run, for a 4-0 edge. They did more damage against reliever Nelvin Fuentes in the 4th as SS Gregorio Petit, CF Erold Andrus and 2B Luis Maza all singled to produce a 5th Leones run.

The Indios closed the gap to 3 in the bottom of the 4th, on a solo homer by DH Randy Ruiz and a run-scoring error by Petit to bring home RF Edgardo Baez. SS Angel Sanchez finished with three hits in a losing cause.

February 4

Game 5

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Hermosillo	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	1	3	8	0
Mayagüez	3	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	5	12	4
Win: Pulsipher (1-0) Loss: Blackley (0-1) Save: Rivera (1)

The Indios finally got a win, the last team to do so in this Series, behind the arm of 36-year-old Bill Pulsipher and a balanced offense.

Mayagüez gave Hermosillo starter Travis Blackley no mercy. CF Jesus Feliciano greeted the Australian hurler with a leadoff double, then 2B Luis Figueroa singled. LF Miguel Abreu doubled in Feliciano and 1B Randy Ruiz singled home Figueroa and Abreu. RF Edgardo Baez singled for a 5th straight hit, all into the outfield, before Blackley whiffed 3B Danny Valencia for out number one.

In the 4th, Hermosillo made it a one-run game. 3B Vinny Castilla led off with a single off the younger Pulsipher, then 1B Luis A. Garcia singled; an error by Baez on the play put both men in scoring position. RF Rubén Rivera hit into an error by SS Angel Sanchez to close it to 3-1. DH Carlos Valencia hit into a double play, Garcia moving to third. C Saúl Soto hit into an error by Figueroa, making it 3-2, for Puerto Rico's 3rd error of the inning.

In the 6th, facing Naranjeros reliever Francisco Campos, Sanchez laid down a one-out bunt single. DH Michael Hernandez then launched a 2-run insurance homer to left to put the Indios ahead 5-2. Hermosillo would battle back in the 9th. With one out, PH Humberto Cota singled versus Saul Rivera and was bunted over by CF Chris Roberson. LF Luis Cruz singled in Cota. The potential tying run, Castilla came up, but lined to Sanchez at short to end the game.

Game 6

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Caracas	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	6	0
Escogido	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	0	0	3	5	4
Win: J. Veras (1-0) Loss: Cubillan (0-1) Save: D. Veras (2)

Escogido went to 3-0, the only team with a winning record halfway through the tournament, squeaking past Caracas in a duel of the two Leones.

Caracas got on board first. Against Nerio Rodriguez in the third, 2B Luis Maza singled, then 3B Oscar Salazar homered to left for a 2-0 lead. In the meantime, Jose Ortegano was shutting down the Dominicans through the first five innings. In the bottom of the sixth, the young hurler finally faded. He began by walking #9 hitter/2B Pablo Ozuna. A wild pitch by Ortegano advanced Ozuna. CF Freddy Guzman singled Ozuna to third. SS Ramon Santiago singled in Ozuna to close it to 2-1. Edgar Estanga relieved and got two outs, with Guzman and Santiago pulling off a double steal. An intentional walk to Willis Otanez loaded the bases for prospect Fernando Martinez, who popped out to end the threat.

In the bottom of the 7th, Escogido again rallied. With two away, Ozuna got things going with another walk, this one from Darwin Cubillan. Guzman also walked. Edgar Alfonzo Jr. relieved and gave up a game-tying hit to Santiago, Guzman taking third. Guzman then came through with a dramatic steal of home, his third swipe of the game, to put the Dominicans ahead for good, 3-2.

Julio Manon went 1-2-3 in the 8th and Dario Veras 1-2-3 in the 9th to lock up the win.

February 5

Game 7

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Escogido	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	1	0	3	8	1
Mayagüez	3	0	0	0	0	3	1	0	-	7	11	2
Win: Román (1-0) Loss: Diaz (0-1)

Mayagüez handed Escogido its first loss of the tournament, going ahead in the first and not looking back.

CF Jesus Feliciano led off with a single off Felix Diaz, then advanced on a Diaz error. Wiht two outs, 1B Randy Ruiz walked, the first of four times on base. DH Raúl Casanova hit a ground-rule double to plate Feliciano, then 3B Danny Valencia doubled in two more for a 3-0 lead.

Puerto Rico starter Andrew Baldwin allowed his first run in the third on a single by 2B Pablo Ozuna, an error by SS Angel Sanchez and a single by DH Juan Francisco. Two innings later, SS Ramon Santiago drew a two-out walk and Francisco doubled him in to make it 3-2. Veteran hurler Orlando Román relieved Baldwin and tossed 2 1/3 perfect innings.

In the meantime, Mayagüez was building their lead. In the bottom of the sixth, Ruiz singled, as did Casanova. Valencia singled to make it 4-2. Sanchez bunted the runners over and an intentional walk loaded the bases. LF Miguel Abreu hit into a run-scoring force, then Feliciano singled for a 6-2 edge.

In the 7th, the Indios scored again. RF Edgardo Baez and Ruiz both singled to greet reliever Pedro Viola. Valencia hit into a force, then Sanchez singled in Baez to make it 7-2. Escogido got a little closer in the 8th against 38-year-old Bill Simas on hits by 1B Kevin Barker, LF Fernando Martinez and C Wilkin Castillo but that was it. Mayagüez pulled within a game of the Leones.

Game 8

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	R	H	E
Caracas	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	8	1
Hermosillo	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	1	3	10	0
Win: Mendoza (1-0) Loss: Serrano (0-1)

A loss would eliminate either team from hopes for the title. For the host Venezuelans, a loss sent them into sole possession of last place at 1-3, as Hermosillo's veteran sluggers again did the job. It came just one year after the Venezuelan entry had won the Series.

Caracas cleanup man/LF Michael Ryan got the scoring going in the second with a solo homer off 2008 Mexican League ERA leader Juan Delgadillo. A frame later, CF Erold Andrus hit a two-out double, 2B Luis Maza singled and 3B Oscar Salazar singled to make it 2-0.

Delgadillo settled down from there, holding Caracas scoreless for the next five innings. Edgar Huerta and Mario Mendoza Jr. would follow with two innings of scoreless relief.

In the meantime, Jose Sanchez had faced the minimum through three innings. The Naranjeros got on the board in the bottom of the fourth. CF Chris Roberson singled to left, then advanced to second on Ryan's error. RF Karim Garcia then did what you do not expect from a 34-year-old power hitter - lay down a bunt single. After a strikeout by 3B Vinny Castilla, 1B Luis Alfonso García grounded out to third, scoring the swift Roberson.

Hermosillo tied it in the 6th versus Sanchez on a solo homer by Karim Garcia. They got two men on in the 7th with one out against Eric Junge but C Saúl Soto hit into a double play. In the 9th, the Naranjeros loaded the bags with one out. Soto came up and again hit into a twin killing - 1B Raúl Padrón to C Jose Lobaton, then back to Padrón.

In the bottom of the 10th, 32-year-old backup SS Heber Gómez led off with a single for Hermosillo. Roberson bunted him over, then Karim Garcia was intentionally walked by Elio Serrano. That brought up 42-year-old Castilla, retired from the majors for four years and having not played winter ball in the 2007-2008 or 2008-2009 seasons. Vinny did not miss a beat, singling to left to bring home Gómez with the game-winner.

February 6

Game 9

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Hermosillo	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	4	1
Escogido	2	0	1	1	2	0	1	0	-	7	10	1
Win: Phillips (1-0) Loss: Silva (0-1)

Escogido remained the front-runner while Hermosillo was eliminated from title hopes in this game.

CF Chris Roberson began the game with a single off Heath Phillips; two outs later, 1B Luis García homered to left for a 2-0 lead. That was about it for Hermosillo - Phillips only gave up one more hit in the next 6 1/3 innings and relievers Joel Peralta and Julio Manon combined for one hit over the final two, as the Naranjeros did not score again.

The Leones tied it quickly. With two outs in the bottom of the first, 3B Juan Francisco singled and 1B Kevin Barker went deep off Walter Silva to even it. They took the lead for good in the third on hits by 2B Pablo Ozuna and CF Jesus Guzman, a sacrifice bunt and a sac fly from Francisco.

In the bottom of the 4th, Mets prospect Fernando Martinez took Silva out for a 4-2 lead. The next inning, Guzman singled; with one out, Francisco homered, the third long ball surrendered by Silva, ending his day. Escogido scored once more in the 7th to put the final touch on a 7-2 win.

Game 10

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Mayagüez	0	0	1	0	3	3	0	0	0	7	11	0
Caracas	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	4	2
Win: Nieves (1-0) Loss: Totten (0-1)

The Indios kept their hopes alive with their third win in a row, while the host country remained stuck in the cellar with another poor showing. While Escogido's starter Heath Phillips put on a strong show, Caracas's starting Heath, Heath Totten, was ineffective.

With two outs in the third, Mayagüez LF Miguel Abreu singled. CF Jesus Feliciano and 2B Luis Figueroa both followed with singles, making it 1-0, but Figueroa was caught stealing second to end hopes for another run.

In the fifth, 3B Danny Valencia led off with a home run. SS Angel Sanchez hit into a miscue by his counterpart, Marwin Gonzalez. C Edwards Guzman singled Sanchez to third. Abreu hit into a run-scoring double play, then light-hitting Feliciano homered for a 4-0 lead.

Caracas got its lone run in the bottom of the 5th. Brodie Downs plunked RF Jackson Melián, who stole second base. C Jose Lobaton singled, the only hit Downs allowed. A walk to Marwin Gonzalez forced Downs out in favor of teenager Efrain Nieves. Nieves fanned CF Erold Andrus, but 2B Luis Maza hit a sacrifice fly to cut it to 4-1.

The Indios wiped out that run and then some in the 6th. 1B Randy Ruiz led off with a single off Rayner Oliveros. DH Raúl Casanova walked. Oliveros threw a wild pitch, then walked Valencia. Sanchez singled in one run. Gabriel Garcia relieved, then Guzman singled in another score, still with none out. Abreu hit a grounder to Garcia, who threw home for out number one. Feliciano hit into a run-scoring force and it was now 7-1, Puerto Rico, to clinch the best finish by a Puerto Rican entry in three years. If they won and Escogido lost tomorrow, the Indios would become the first Puerto Rican team to win it all in 10 years.

February 7

Game 11

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Mayagüez	0	3	0	0	2	3	0	0	0	8	13	1
Hermosillo	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	8	1
Win: Santiago (1-1) Loss: Ortega (1-1)

Mayagüez kept their hopes alive with their fourth win in a row after an 0-2 start.

The Indios got to Pablo Ortega with two outs in the second. SS Angel Sanchez singled, then C Edwards Guzman doubled; on that play, CF Chris Roberson made a run-scoring error. LF Miguel Abreu, the #9 hitter, tripled in Guzman, then scored on a single by CF Jesus Feliciano.

Hermosillo got within a run in the home half of the 4th. 1B Luis A. Garcia reached on a Sanchez error, then SS Luis Cruz homered off Mario Santiago to close it to 3-2; the Mexicans would get no closer.

In the 5th, Feliciano drew a leadoff walk and 2B Luis Figueroa bunted into a force at second. RF Armando Ríos doubled and took third on Roberson's throw, Figueroa scoring. Mario Mendoza Jr. relieved and gave up a RBI single to DH Randy Ruiz.

In the sixth, Mayagüez padded their lead. Sanchez opened with a double, but Mendoza quickly got two outs. Feliciano singled in a run, then Figueroa singled as well. Edgar Huerta replaced Mendoza but gave up a two-out two-run two-bagger to Ríos to cap the scoring.

Game 12

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Escogido	4	0	0	0	2	0	1	0	0	7	10	1
Caracas	0	0	0	1	3	0	0	0	0	4	3	5
Win: Valdes (2-0) Loss: Ramirez (1-1) Save: D. Veras (3)

Caracas starter Ramon Ramirez set the tone for his team with a rotten first inning, as the Leones would wind up with more errors than hits in a bad game as they finished last despite home-country advantage.

Escogido CF Jesus Guzman opened the contest with a walk, then SS Ramon Santiago beat out a bunt hit. 3B Juan Francisco struck out. With 1B Kevin Barker up, Guzman and Santiago pulled off a double steal, Guzman getting his fifth swipe of the Series. On the play, Caracas C Jose Lobaton made a run-scoring throwing error. Barker wound up walking. DH Willis Otanez struck out. LF Fernando Martinez then singled in a run, with an error by CF Jose Duarte letting in a third tally. Ramirez then balked home Martinez to make it 4-0. Escogido almost scored a fifth first-inning run as C Wilkin Castillo singled and advanced to third on a wild pitch before RF Ben Copeland struck out.

In the bottom of the 4th, Caracas scored their first. SS Gregorio Petit doubled, took third on a wild pitch and came home on a sacrifice fly by DH Michael Ryan.

Escogido quickly made up that run. In the top of the fifth, Santiago singled against Eric Junge and Francisco doubled. A throwing error by 2B Marwin Gonzalez scored Santiago and put Francisco on third. Barker then brought in Francisco to make it 6-1.

Caracas got their big hit in the bottom of the 5th. With one out, 1B Eduardo Perez was plunked by Raul Valdes. Duarte singled, then RF Cesar A. Quintero, the #9 hitter, smacked a 3-run homer to close it to 6-4. Escogido would let them get no closer.

Santiago led off the 7th with a walk from reliever Edgar Estanga. With one out, Estanga threw a wild pitch, then walked Barker. Otanez singled to load the bases, then another Estanga wild pitch brought Santiago home with his third run of the day. Juan Pérez, Joel Peralta, Julio Manon and Dario Veras each turned a scoreless relief inning to put away the title-clinching win for Escogido.