2014 Caribbean Series

The 2014 Caribbean Series (Serie del Caribe) was the forty-fourth edition of the second stage of the Caribbean Series. It was held in Estadio Nueva Esparta from February 1-8, 2014. The series featured five teams from Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Venezuela. It marked Cuba's return to the Series after last appearing in 1960. The Naranjeros de Hermosillo were the winners, defeating the Indios de Mayagüez in the final game, 7-1.

For all the talk about Cuba's return to the tournament, Villa Clara's performance was very disappointing, as they were eliminated after the round-robin part of the tournament, in which they lost their first three games before eking out a 2-1 victory in their last contest.

Final Standings

Team	League	G	W	L	WPCT	Manager
Naranjeros de Hermosillo	Mexican Pacific League	6	4	2	.667	Matías Carrillo
Indios de Mayagüez	Puerto Rican League	6	3	3	.500	Carlos Baerga
Navegantes del Magallanes	Venezuelan League	5	3	2	.600	Carlos García
Tigres del Licey	Dominican League	5	2	3	.400	José Offerman
Leopardos de Villa Clara	Cuban Serie Nacional	4	1	3	.250	Ramón Moret

Teams

• Villa Clara, managed by Ramón Moret, were in their first Caribbean Series after winning the 2012-2013 Cuban Serie Nacional. They were playing as a special guest of host country Venezuela.

• The Tigres del Licey, managed by José Offerman, won their 21st Dominican League title and had won 10 prior Series, twice as many as any other team. Their most recent title was in 2008.

• The Naranjeros de Hermosillo, guided by Matías Carrillo, took their 17th Mexican Pacific League pennant. They won the 1976 Caribbean Series.

• The Indios de Mayagüez were managed by Carlos Baerga. They had won 18 Puerto Rican League championships and four Caribbean Series, their most recent Caribbean Series title coming in 1998.

• The Navegantes del Magallanes, piloted by Carlos García, captured their 12th Venezuelan League title. They won two Caribbean Series, both in the 1970s.

Leaders

• Batting Average: .438 - Emilio Bonifacio, Licey
• Home Runs: 3 - Zelous Wheeler, Hermosillo
• Runs Batted In: 7 - Sebastián Valle, Hermosillo
• Wins: 2 - Juan Delgadillo, Hermosillo

All-Star Team

• C: Sebastián Valle, Hermosillo (.333/.375/.733, 2 HR, 7 RBI)
• 1B: Ramón Lunar, Villa Clara (.438/.438/.500)
• 2B: Alberto Callaspo, Magallanes (.333/.400/.500)
• SS: Héctor Gómez, Licey (.333/.450/.588, 5 RBI)
• 3B: Yunesky Sánchez, Hermosillo (.381/.409/.429)
• RF: Yuniet Flores, Villa Clara (.385/.385/.615)
• CF: Chris Roberson, Hermosillo (.370/.393/.704, 2 HR, 6 R, 6 RBI)
• LF: Jon Weber, Hermosillo (.333/.385/.417)
• DH: Ronny Paulino, Licey (.429/.526/.571)
• RHP: Juan Delgadillo, Hermosillo (2-0, 0 R, 8 H, 0 BB, 9 K in 14 IP)
• LHP: Elvis Araujo, Magallanes (1-0, 0 R in 3 IP)
• Reliever: Tyler Herron, Mayagüez (3 Sv, 0 R in 3 IP)
• Manager: Matías Carrillo, Hermosillo

Games

February 1

Game 1

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	R	H	E
Mayagüez	1	0	0	0	4	1	0	0	0	1	7	10	1
Licey	2	1	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	9	1
Win: Rivera (1-0) Loss: Mota (0-1) Save: Herron (1)

The game was a tale of two halves, with Licey going up to a 6-1 lead after four only for the Indios to rally to win. 3B Irving Falú hit a one-out homer off Yunieski Maya (who refused to pitch against his Cuban countrymates, so was used against the Dominicans instead) in the first to get Puerto Rico in front early. Licey quickly came back against Giancarlo Alvarado. With two outs in the bottom of the first, CF Francisco Peguero and DH Ricardo Nanita both singled. LF Eugenio Velez hit into a run-scoring error by 2B Rey Navarro. 2B Emilio Bonifacio singled and so did SS Héctor Gómez, scoring Peguero. In the bottom of the second, RF Juan Perez went deep off Alvarado. Licey tacked on some more in the third as Bonifacio drew a two-out walk and Gómez homered, chasing Alvarado. The blitz continued in the 4th as 3B Leury Garcia drew a walk from Michael Nix, Perez doubled and Peguero hit a sacrifice fly for their 6-1 edge. Puerto Rico would use six relievers over the final six innings, though, and they combined for two hits and no runs allowed. Steve Smith would pitch two shutout innings, Saul Rivera would get the win and Tyler Herron the save.

Puerto Rico began their comeback in the 5th. 1B Kennys Vargas cracked a one-out double and 39-year-old SS Luis Figueroa singled him in. LF Daniel Ortiz singled, then Navarro smacked a two-run double to close the gap to two. Zack Segovia relieved the fading Maya but threw two wild pitches, scoring Navarro to make it 6-5. In the 6th, DH Randy Ruiz singled. RF Jeffrey Domínguez bunted into a force at second. Vargas drew a two-out walk from Segovia, who was relieved by Kelvin Villa. Figueroa greeted Villa with his second RBI single of the day to tie it up.

Things then remained quiet until the top of the 10th. Guillermo Mota came in to pitch for Licey and Navarro doubled off him. Falú bunted the runner over, then CF Eddie Rosario was intentionally walked. Ruiz grounded into an error by Gómez to score Navarro with the winner.

Game 2

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Villa Clara	0	1	0	0	2	0	0	0	1	4	7	2
Hermosillo	2	0	0	2	5	0	0	0	-	9	15	1
Win: A. Aceves (1-0) Loss: Álvarez (0-1)

Villa Clara marked the return of Cuba to the Series on a rough note, with a 5-run Mexican 5th the big difference in an otherwise even game. Hermosillo started quickly with Series veteran CF Chris Roberson leading off with a single against Freddy Asiel Álvarez. 2B Carlos Alberto Gastelum singled, then LF Jon Weber singled to right to score Roberson and an error by RF Alfredo Despaigne didn't help. DH Zelous Wheeler hit into a double play, Gastelum taking third, then 3B Yunesky Sanchez hurt his countrymates with a run-scoring single.

Despaigne got Villa Clara on the board in the second when the slugger went deep off Alfredo Aceves. In the bottom of the 4th, RF Luis Fonseca drew a leadoff walk from Álvarez, and was followed by singles from 1B Luis Garcia and C Jonathan Aceves. SS Gil Velazquez hit a sacrifice fly for a 3-1 lead, then Roberson also hit a sacrifice fly. Ismel Jiménez, usually a starter, relieved Álvarez. Gastelum grounded to SS Yordan Manduley, who fired home to catch Aceves to prevent further harm. In the top of the 5th, Cuba closed the gap to one on a two-out walk from CF Yordanys Linares and a homer by LF Yuniet Flores.

Mexico pulled away in the 5th. Sanchez led off with a ground-rule double and scored on a hit by Fonseca. Garcia whiffed, but a wild pitch advanced Fonseca and he scored on a fly from Jonathan Aceves. Velazquez walked. Robelio Carrillo relieved Jiménez but that backfired as Roberson hit a three-run homer for a 9-3 cushion. In the top of the 9th, against Mario Mendoza Jr., Despaigne singled. 1B Ariel Borrero hit into an error by Garcia. With one out, DH Ramón Lunar doubled in Despaigne to end it.

Roberson finished 4 for 5 with a double, homer, two runs and four RBI while Sanchez got three hits.

February 2

Game 3

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Hermosillo	0	0	0	0	4	0	0	0	2	6	11	1
Mayagüez	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	3	7	2
Win: Delgadillo (1-0) Loss: Albaladejo (0-1)

Hermosillo improved to 2-0 thanks to a stellar pitching effort by Juan Delgadillo, who tossed 7 shutout innings with four hits and no walks. Puerto Rican starter Logan Williamson also allowed no runs but left after 3 2/3 IP thanks to five walks. In the 5th, Hermosillo got to reliever Jonathan Albaladejo. With one out, SS Gil Velazquez singled. CF Chris Roberson tripled and 2B Carlos Alberto Gastelum doubled for a 2-0 lead. Kanekoa Texeira relieved and got RF Jon Weber but LF Zelous Wheeler smacked a two-run homer.

The game remained 4-0 until the 9th. PH Jose Aguilar hit a two-out ground rule double off Hector Hernandez, Randy Fontanez relieved Hernandez and Wheeler followed with his second two-run shot of the day. After Delgadillo's 7 brilliant innings, Jason Urquidez had tossed a shutout 8th but Oliver Perez was horrid in the 9th. PH Miguel Abreu singled, PH Enrique Hernandez walked and PH Ramón Castro doubled in Abreu. Figuring pinch-hitters were working, Carlos Baerga had Luis Montanez pinch-hit as well and he grounded in Hernandez. C Martin Maldonado singled home Castro to cut it to 6-3. Perez got 1B Kennys Vargas to fly out to right to end it, though.

Game 4

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Villa Clara	0	1	0	0	4	0	0	0	0	5	11	2
Magallanes	0	1	3	2	0	0	0	2	-	8	12	0
Win: Guerra (1-0) Loss: N. Ruiz (0-1) Save: Machi (1)

Cuba again got good offense but the pitching and defense were again a problem as they fell to Venezuela. Cuba got on the board first as 2B José Miguel Fernández drew a walk from Daryl Thompson and both DH Ramón Lunar and C Yulexis La Rosa singled. In the bottom of the second, Magallanes tied it against Norge Ruiz. RF Cory Aldridge walked, then DH Ramón Hernández hit into an error by 3B Yulieski Gourriel. With two outs, 3B Adonis García (a Cuban defector) singled in Aldridge, but Hernández was thrown out trying to score as well on the hit.

In the bottom of the third, the Navegantes went ahead. SS Eduardo Escobar and CF Endy Chávez both singled. 2B Alberto Callaspo hit into a force at second. 1B and #3 hitter Mario Lissón, a star of the 2013 Series, struck out, but Aldridge walked. Hernández singled in one run. C Robinson Chirinos was plunked on the hand and had to leave the game due to the injury. LF Ezequiel Carrera singled in another run to make it 4-1, chasing starter Ruiz in favor of Jonder Martínez. In the 4th, Venezuela padded the lead on a single by Escobar and a two-run shot by Chávez.

Cuba got most of their offense in the 5th. La Rosa led off with a double. With one out, LF Yuniet Flores singled and SS Yordan Manduley hit a two-run triple. Amalio Diaz relieved Thompson but Gourriel greeted him wit ha RBI double, then stole third. RF Alfredo Despaigne grounded out but 1B Ariel Borrero singled to cut it to 6-5; Cuba would get no further, though.

In the top of the 8th, they had a chance as Borrero doubled off Juan Gutierrez and advanced to third on a wild pitch. With one out, though, he was caught at home (in a delayed double steal?). In the bottom of the 8th, backup LF Lew Ford doubled for Magallanes, Callaspo singled and Lissón hit a sacrifice fly off Diosdany Castillo. Vicyohandri Odelín relieved but allowed a run-scoring single to Hernández, his third run-scoring hit of the day, to cap the scoring.

February 3

Game 5

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Licey	1	2	1	2	0	0	0	3	0	9	12	1
Villa Clara	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2	5	2
Win: Leicester (1-0) Loss: Y. Hernández (0-1)

Things continued to go poorly for Cuba in their return to the Series. Licey kept putting runs on the board while the Villa Clara bats, their bright spot in the first two games, were silent till the end. Licey 3B Leury Garcia and SS Héctor Gómez led off with singles off Yasmani Hernández. After an out, a wild pitch and another out, DH Ronny Paulino was walked intentionally. The move failed when 2B Emilio Bonifacio drew a five-pitch unintentional walk, then 1B Julio Lugo struck out to end the inning. In the second, C Wilkin Castillo drew a one-out walk, Garcia hit into an error by 3B Yulieski Gourriel and Gómez singled for a 2-0 lead. Ismel Jiménez relieved but the defending Cuban MVP made a run-scoring error on a ball hit by RF Juan Perez.

In the third, Bonifacio singled, advanced on a grounder by Lugo and scored on a ground-rule double by LF Eugenio Velez. Gómez walked to open the 4th and stole second and third. With one out, backup 1B Wilson Valdez (Lugo, Bonifacio and Garcia had all switched positions in that substitution) walked. Paulino hit a RBI single and Jonder Martínez was summoned. He allowed a RBI single to Lugo to make it 6-0. Martínez then shut down the Dominicans for two innings and Alain Sánchez added another goose egg. Irvin del Rio relieved in the 8th, though, and the Tigers woke back up. Paulino hit a two-out double, Bonifacio walked and Lugo socked a three-run homer.

Meanwhile, Jon Leicester was dominant, holding the Leopardos to three hits and one walk in seven shutout innings, with Warner Madrigal turning in a scoreless 8th. In the 9th, Juan Cedeno entered and veteran DH Danel Castro greeted him with a double. With one out, backup CF Lázaro Ramírez walked, then a wild pitch and strikeout followed. 1B Ramón Lunar singled for his third hit of the day, scoring both runners and allowing Cuba to avoid a shutout, then Cedeno whiffed RF Andy Zamora to end the contest.

Game 6

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Magallanes	1	3	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	6	9	2
Hermosillo	0	0	0	2	0	1	0	0	0	3	5	1
Win: Zambrano (1-0) Loss: Reed (0-1) Save: Machi (2)

The two unbeaten teams squared off. The hosts got on the board first. CF Ezequiel Carrera opened the game with a single off Nate Reed and stole second as 2B Alberto Callaspo walked. Carrera then swiped third as well. 1B Mario Lissón hit into a run-scoring double play. 3B Adonis García hit a two-out single in the second then LF Jose Pirela singled him to third. A botched pick-off by Reed scored García and sent Pirela to third. SS Eduardo Escobar singled for a 3-0 edge then Carrera doubled home Escobar, chasing Reed after just 1 2/3 IP in favor of Bryan Evans. Evans would toss four shutout innings.

Hermosillo rallied in the bottom of the 4th. 2B Carlos Alberto Gastelum, RF Jon Weber and LF Zelous Wheeler drew walks from Carlos Zambrano. 1B Daryle Ward grounded home Gastelum and 3B Yunesky Sanchez grounded in Weber to close it to 4-2. CF Chris Roberson opened the bottom of the 6th with a bunt single, advanced on an error by García on the play and took third on a wild pitch from Zambrano. Gastelum hit a sacrifice fly to make it 4-3. Jesus Martinez relieved and Weber greeted him with a triple. Luis Ramirez replaced Martinez with the potential tying run up and retired both cleanup man Wheeler and #5 batter Ward to escape further harm. In the 8th, Dennys Reyes plunked RF Cory Aldridge with two outs, Jose Lopez relieved and C Ramón Hernández smacked a two-run shot to give Magallanes some insurance. In the bottom of the 9th, Ward and Sanchez both had two-out singles off closer Jean Machi but DH Adan Munoz went down swinging.

February 4

Game 7

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Mayagüez	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	3
Villa Clara	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	-	2	8	0
Win: Odelín (1-0) Loss: Piñeiro (0-1)

Cuba finally got a win, as their pitching turned in their first strong effort, veteran Vicyohandri Odelín outdueling fellow vet Joel Piñeiro. CF Eddie Rosario gave Puerto Rico its only run with a two-out first-inning homer. DH Ramón Castro followed with a double; Odelín would allow no more hits and would retire the next 17 batters. Cuba tied it quickly. In the bottom of the first, CF Yuniet Flores singled off Piñeiro. SS Yordan Manduley and 3B Lourdes Gourriel both grounded Flores over a base. LF Alfredo Despaigne flew to left and an error by LF Daniel Ortiz scored Flores. Piñeiro settled down for five shutout innings after that, though he was not perfect like Odelín.

In the bottom of the third, Gourriel hit a two-out double and took third on a wild pitch but Despaigne grounded out. In the 4th, DH Danel Castro and C Yulexis La Rosa singled but C Martin Maldonado picked off a runner to end the threat. In the top of the 6th, 2B Rey Navarro drew a one-out walk to become Puerto Rico's first baserunner since the first. With two outs, Rosario and Castro both walked as well, but 1B Kennys Vargas grounded out to end it. Castro would be Puerto Rico's last baserunner against the dominant Odelín.

In the bottom of the 7th, Cuba scored the winning run. 1B Ramón Lunar singled off Piñeiro and was bunted over by La Rosa. PH Ariel Borrero hit into an error by Navarro. Flores whiffed, then Manduley hit into another error, this time by 3B Irving Falú to score Lunar.

Game 8

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Licey	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	4	1
Magallanes	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	-	2	4	1
Win: Araujo (1-0) Loss: A. Castro (0-1) Save: Machi (3)

Both games today wind up as 2-1 pitching duels, with the hosts improving to 3-0. CF Ezequiel Carrera opened the home half of the first off Angel Castro. 2B Alberto Callaspo grounded him over and, after another out, RF Cory Aldridge singled for a 1-0 lead. From there, the pitchers kept both sides off the board until the 8th. Tyson Brummett (4 IP, 2 H, 1 BB), Elvis Araujo (2 IP, 0 H, 0 BB), Hassan Pena (1 IP, 0 H, 0 BB) and Juan Gutierrez (1 IP, 0 H, 1 BB) were holding the Dominican bats off the board altogether.

In the bottom of the 8th, Magallanes got insurance off Victor Marte. LF Lew Ford doubled, advanced on a grounder by C Eliezer Alfonzo and scored on a fly from SS Eduardo Escobar. In the top of the 9th, the Dominicans finally scored, off closer Jean Machi. With one out, CF Francisco Peguero singled, then came in on a two-bagger by SS Héctor Gómez. With the tying run in scoring position, Machi walked DH Ronny Paulino. 1B Julio Lugo lined into a 1-3 double play to end it.

February 5

Game 9

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Hermosillo	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	3	0	6	9	0
Licey	0	1	4	0	0	1	1	0	-	7	12	2
Win: J. Castillo (1-0) Loss: C. Vargas (0-1) Save: Marmol (1)

Hermosillo staged a light rally and fell short as both teams went to 2-2. In the bottom of the second, RF Francisco Peguero drew a walk from Mexico starter Jesus Castillo and SS Héctor Gómez singled. DH Ronny Paulino hit into a double play, Peguero moving to third. 3B Julio Lugo then delivered a RBI single. The next inning, SS Leury Garcia (having replaced Gómez there) and 2B Emilio Bonifacio singled with one out. RF Juan Perez (Peguero having moved to CF) hit into a run-scoring force, then Peguero doubled in Perez. Jose Lopez relieved the ineffective Castillo but served up a 2-run homer to backup LF Eugenio Velez.

In the bottom of the 6th, Velez went deep again, this time off Mario Mendoza Jr. to make it 6-0 Licey. Mexico had done nothing in six innings against Claudio Vargas (2 H, 0 R) but came alive against the Dominican bullpen, starting with Pedro Figueroa. In the 7th, 1B Daryle Ward hit a one-out single. With two away, DH Luis Garcia doubled in Ward. C Sebastián Valle went deep to close the gap to 6-3. Guillermo Mota relieved Figueroa and escaped the inning despite some more baserunners.

In the top of the 7th, Licey got insurance, with Bonifacio hitting a two-out single off Oscar Felix. Jason Urquidez relieved and Bonifacio stole second. Perez then singled in Bonifacio but was out trying to stretch it into a double. In the bottom of the 7th, Hermosillo continued to rally. 3B Zelous Wheeler hit a one-out dinger off Warner Madrigal. Ward doubled, then RF Luis Fonseca hit into an error by Leury Garcia. Victor Marte relieved and Luis Garcia greeted him with a two-run double to make it 7-6, but Valle fanned this time and SS Gil Velazquez grounded out. Carlos Marmol then went 1-2-3 in the 9th to wrap it up.

Game 10

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Magallanes	0	0	0	1	0	0	3	0	0	4	8	0
Mayagüez	1	0	0	3	1	0	0	0	-	5	9	1
Win: Nix (1-0) Loss: Monasterios (0-1) Save: Herron (2)

The home team fell to end the first round with no unbeaten or winless teams. The scoring began in the first; CF Eddie Rosario had a two-out single off Carlos Monasterios, stole second and came home on a double by DH Randy Ruiz (the first of three hits for Ruiz). In the 4th, the Navegantes tied it briefly. 2B Alberto Callaspo singled against Jonathan Albaladejo and 3B Adonis García walked. C Martin Maldonado picked off Collaspo, then García stole second as RF Cory Aldridge fanned. C Ramón Hernández hit into an error by 3B Luis Figueroa to even the game at one.

In the bottom of the 4th, the Indios pulled away. Ruiz singled with one out and advanced on a wild pitch. Figueroa singled him in, then Maldonado doubled in Figueroa for a 3-1 lead. Edgar Martínez relieved and allowed a sacrifice fly to 1B Kennys Vargas. In the bottom of the 5th, SS Ozzie Martínez homered off Edgar Martínez for a 5-1 edge for Puerto Rico.

Venezuela rallied in the 7th after manufacturing little offense against Albaladejo (4 IP) and Michael Nix (2 IP). With two outs, 1B Mario Lissón singled off Andres Santiago and CF Ezequiel Carrera singled. Logan Williamson relieved Santiago but it was no relief as Callaspo smacked a 3-run homer for his third hit. Saul Rivera was tried next and he and Tyler Herron would shut out Venezuela the rest of the way to seal it.

Standings after Round Robin

Team	Won	Lost
Navegantes del Magallanes	3	1
Naranjeros de Hermosillo	2	2
Tigres del Licey	2	2
Indios de Mayagüez	2	2
Leopardos de Villa Clara	1	3

February 6

Game 11 Semi final

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Licey	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	2	4	0
Hermosillo	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	3	6	1
Win: O. Perez (1-0) Loss: Mota (0-1)

Mexico advanced to the finals with a late comeback. Licey got on the board against starter Alfredo Aceves when 3B Leury Garcia was hit, stole second and advanced on grounders by 2B Emilio Bonifacio and RF Juan Perez. In the bottom half of the inning, Mexico tied it against Yuniesky Maya. CF Chris Roberson singled and stole second, took third on a grounder by 2B Carlos Alberto Gastelum and scored on a single by LF Jon Weber.

The game remained deadlocked until the top of the 7th. Perez singled to open the Licey inning and CF Francisco Peguero was plunked. SS Héctor Gómez hit into an Aceves error to load the bases and DH Ronny Paulino hit a sacrifice fly. Aceves balked then LF Eugenio Velez grounded to Gastelum, who fired home to get Peguero to prevent further harm. 1B Julio Lugo flew out to end the inning. Aceves would leave with only 3 hits in 7 IP.

In the bottom of the 8th, Hermosillo rallied. C Sebastián Valle drew a walk from Licey relief pitcher Victor Marte and was bunted over by SS Gil Velazquez. Roberson flew out but Marte hit Gastelum. Juan Cedeno relieved and walked Weber. José Offerman tried Guillermo Mota next and he issued a six-pitch walk to DH Zelous Wheeler to force in Valle. 1B Luis Garcia flew out. In the bottom of the 9th, 3B Yunesky Sanchez singled, then RF Luis Fonseca laid down a bunt hit. Valle cracked a sacrifice fly to score the winning run and eliminate Licey.

February 7

Game 12 Semi final

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Mayagüez	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	2	3	0
Magallanes	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	2
Win: Smith (1-0) Loss: Peña (0-1) Save: Herron (3)

The game was a tightly fought pitching duel. Daryl Thompson (Magallanes) faced the minimum in his first four innings and Giancarlo Alvarado (Mayagüez) faced the minimum in his first three. In the bottom of the 5th, Magallanes got the first rally going. C Ramón Hernández drew a leadoff walk from Alvarado and LF Ezequiel Carrera had a one-out single. DH Lew Ford grounded the runners into scoring position, but SS Eduardo Escobar flew out to CF Eddie Rosario to end the threat. Thompson left after a leadoff walk in the 6th and Alvarado was yanked in the 7th in favor of Steve Smith.

With the score still 0-0 in the top of the 8th, Venezuela turned to their fourth hurler, Hassan Peña. 1B Kennys Vargas drew a walk and Luis Montanez pinch-ran. RF Jeff Domínguez laid down a sacrifice bunt, then backup LF Miguel Abreu walked. 2B Irving Falú struck out. Venezuela's defense then imploded in front of a crowd of 15,722 at home. SS Ozzie Martínez grounded into an error by his counterpart, Escobar. Jesus Martinez relieved Peña. Rosario hit a fly to short left, but Escobar let it drift out of his reach, giving Rosario a two-run game-winning single. Smith then tossed a perfect 8th and Tyler Herron fanned two of three batters in the 9th for the save.

February 8

Game 13 Championship

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Mayagüez	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	5	0
Hermosillo	0	0	0	0	0	6	0	1	x	7	11	0
Win: Delgadillo (2-0) Loss: Texeira (0-1)

Mexico turned to Juan Delgadillo, who had beaten Puerto Rico in their earlier match, to try to lock up their third title in four years. Meanwhile, Puerto Rico (14 years removed from their last title) turned to Joel Piñeiro, winner of over 100 major league games who had suffered a tough-luck loss to Cuba 4 days prior thanks to bad defense. Through five innings, Delgadillo and Piñeiro were continuing the recent pitching-dominant theme, neither having allowed a run.

However, Mexico broke open the floodgates in the 6th, after Pineiro had departed, when CF Chris Roberson hit a solo homer off reliever Kanekoa Texeira that broke the scoreless tie. Hermosillo would score five more runs that inning. With one out, LF Jon Weber singled and DH Zelous Wheeler walked. Nelvin Fuentes relieved but allowed a RBI single to Daryle Ward. Saul Rivera was the third hurler of the frame and got an out then allowed a single to RF Luis Fonseca and a grand slam to C Sebastián Valle. The rest of the game was academic. Delgadillo left after seven innings, having allowed no runs on only four hits while striking out five. Hermosillo added a seventh run in the 8th, then Puerto Rico avoided a shutout with a run off reliever Alex Avila in the 9th, but the game had been won in the 6th-inning outburst.

Chris Roberson was named the tournament MVP after going 10 for 27 with two homers, including the key one in the final game.