2020 Caribbean Series

The 2020 Caribbean Series (Serie del Caribe) was the fiftieth edition of the second stage of the Caribbean Series. It was played in San Juan, Puerto Rico from February 1-7, 2020, at Estadio Hiram Bithorn. It tied the 2019 Caribbean Series as the largest, with six countries competing, with Colombia participating for the first time in place of Cuba (which had visa problems), but the field was originally slated to expand even further to include Nicaragua. Several Cubans still appeared as defectors were on multiple teams.

Final Standings[edit]

Team	League	G	W	L	WPCT	Manager
Toros del Este‎	Dominican League	7	6	1	.857	Lino Rivera
Cardenales de Lara	Venezuelan League	7	5	2	.714	Luis Ugueto
Tomateros de Culiacán	Mexican Pacific League	6	4	2	.667	Benji Gil
Cangrejeros de Santurce	Puerto Rican League	6	2	4	.333	José Valentin
Astronautas de Chiriquí	Panamanian League	5	1	4	.200	Julio Mosquera
Vaqueros de Montería	Colombian League	5	0	5	.000	Ozney Guillen

Teams[edit]

The Tomateros de Culiacán won the Mexican Pacific League title for the 12th time and had won the Series twice, most recently in 2002.

The Cardenales de Lara were playing in their sixth Caribbean Series but had never won one.

The Cangrejeros de Santurce were five-time Series champs and had just won their 16th Puerto Rican League crown.

The Toros del Este had won their second Dominican League title, having come in second in their prior Caribbean Series, 2011.

The Astronautas de Chiriquí were an expansion team in the Panamanian League and had won the title their first year, winning them a trip to the Series.

The Vaqueros de Montería were the late addition, becoming the first Colombian League representative in the Series.

Leaders[edit]

Batting Average: .500 - Jose Guadalupe Chavez, Culiacán
Home Runs: Nine tied with one
Runs Batted In: 6 - Abraham Almonte, Este and Wilkin Castillo, Este
Wins: 2 - Paolo Espino, Este

Games[edit]

February 1[edit]

Game 1

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Montería	0	0	1	0	2	0	0	0	1	4	7	0
Lara	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	0	-	6	6	1
Win: Juan Sandoval (1-0) Loss: Sugar Ray Marimon (0-1) Save: Ricardo Gómez (1)

The Colombian debut went fairly well, with the team leading for a good portion of the game before a late Venezuelan rally. After Colombia had the minimum six batters in the first two innings, LF Robinson Cabrera opened the 3rd with a hit off Logan Darnell. He moved to second on a grounder and came home on a two-out single by SS Francisco Acuna.

In the 5th, 3B Mauricio Ramos singled and DH Jose Brizuela walked. A bunt by Cabrera moved the runners over and Darnell walked CF Izzy Wilson. C Arvicent Perez, the #9 hitter, singled off his native country's representative team to make it 2-0, then Acuna hit into a run-scoring force.

Edgar De La Rosa allowed one hit in five shutout innings for Montería. In the bottom of the 7th, Venezuela rallied from the 3-0 hole. 3B Carlos Rivero drew a walk from reliever Sugar Ray Marimon, 41-year-old RF René Reyes singled and DH Adonis García walked. CF Gorkys Hernández singled to break up the shutout, scoring two. Andury Acevedo relieved and Lara pulled off a double steal. After a lineout, LF Welington Dotel hit into a run-down that wound up with an out at home and two men in scoring position. Ronald Ramírez entered and gave up a two-run single to 2B Alexi Amarista to put Venezuela ahead. SS Alí Castillo walked and 1B Osman Marval doubled in two more to cap a six-run frame.

Colombia got one back in the 9th when PH Andres Angulo drew a one-out walk from Ricardo Gómez and 2B Jordan Diaz doubled him in but Perez lined into a game-ending double play.

Game 2

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Culiacán	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	5	1
Este	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	-	2	6	0
Win: Yuniesky Maya (1-0) Loss: Manny Bañuelos (0-1) Save: Ramon Ramirez (1)

The Dominicans got all the offense they needed for victory in the 3rd inning. After Yuniesky Maya left the bases loaded in the top of the 3rd, his teammates got to Manny Bañuelos in the bottom of the inning. 1B Peter O'Brien drew a four-pitch walk and CF Abraham Almonte doubled him in. After an out, 3B Diego Goris singled in Almonte for the 2-0 lead. The Mexican staff shut out Este after that but the damage had been done.

Following Maya, Tim Peterson, Wirfin Obispo and Jumbo Díaz also turned in goose eggs. In the 9th, the Tomateros finally got on board, against 38-yrar-old Ramon Ramirez. 1B Joey Meneses hit a leadoff double; with two away, PH Juan Carlos Gamboa singled him home but Ramirez retired PH Anthony Giansanti to end the game.

Game 3

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	R	H	E
Chiriquí	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	3	8	2
Santurce	0	0	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	1	4	9	3
Win: Fernando Cruz (1-0) Loss: Tyler Wilson (0-1)

The hosts had to go extra innings to top the defending champions, Panama. Santurce got on the board in the 3rd against Harold Araúz. C Roberto Peña, the #9 hitter, started it with a single. 2B Jack López singled as well, and with one out, so did SS Iván DeJesús Jr. 1B Vimael Machin's sacrifice fly brought home Peña.

For five innings, Hector Santiago kept the Astronautas off the board. When Devin Raftery took over in the 6th, though, the story changed. With one out, CF Jhonny Santos drew a five-pitch walk and swiped second. 1B Carlos Quiroz doubled in the tying run, then C Rodrigo Vigil singled. Bradin Hagens relieved Raftery but made an error on a pick-off attempt, scoring Quiroz. After a second out, LF Iraj Serrano got hit by a pitch and SS Eduardo Thomas Jr. singled for a 3-1 edge.

Santurce got one back in the home half of the 6th. Jean Corpas walked RF Jan Hernandez and Peña hit into an error by 3B Edgar Muñoz. López's single scored Hernandez. They then came alongside in the 7th. Machin doubled off Carlos Díaz and 3B Emmanuel Rivera coaxed a walk. David Vidal, a former Series MVP, bunted into an error by Díaz to load the bases then walked LF Henry Ramos to force in the tying run. Diego Moreno relieved and escaped the bases-loaded, no-out jam by getting Hernandez to line out and backup C Jonathan Morales grounded int a double play.

Nicholas Padilla worked a scoreless 8th for Santurce and Moreno cruised through the bottom of the 8th as well. Fernando Cruz allowed only a single in the top of the 9th and Tyler Wilson went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the 9th (Rivera walked but was caught stealing). Cruz had a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the 10th, though a runner started at second under the extra inning rules. In the bottom of the 10th, Hernandez bunted the starting runner (Ramos) over and Morales hit a fly to left to bring in Ramos with the winner.

February 2[edit]

Game 4

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Monteria	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2
Chiriquí	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	-	1	5	2
Win: Davis Romero (1-0) Loss: Pedro Echemendia (0-1) Save: Diego Moreno (1)

Davis Romero was dazzling, not allowing a hit until RF Brallan Perez singled with one out in the 6th. Diego Moreno closed out a combined two-hitter, the other hit not coming until there were two away in the 9th. Pedro Echemendia kept the Astronautas grounded for the first three innings, but they got the game's only run in the 4th. 1B Carlos Quiroz hit into a two-base error by 3B Mauricio Ramos and C Rodrigo Vigil singled him home.

Game 5

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Santurce	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	2	8	2
Culiacán	0	0	1	0	3	0	0	0	-	4	11	0
Win: Manny Barreda (1-0) Loss: Giovanni Soto (0-1) Save: Alberto Baldonado (1)

For the second day in a row, a Manny got the decision for Mexico, but this time it was a win. RF Jan Hernandez homered off Manny Barreda with two outs in the 2nd, the only run Barreda gave up in five innings. The Tomateros tied it in the 3rd on singles by SS Juan Carlos Gamboa and C Alí Solís off Giovanni Soto, a bunt by LF Edson Garcia and a run-scoring grounder from 2B Ramiro Peña.

In the 5th, Culiacán pulled ahead. Garcia reached on an error by 3B Emmanuel Rivera with one out and Peña singled. RF Sebastián Elizalde hit a three-run shot to chase Soto. The Puerto Rican bullpen shut out Mexico after that, but the damage had been done. In the 6th, Santurce got their last run. DH Iván DeJesús Jr. drew a walk from Sasagi Sanchez and Rivera hit a one-out double, then LF Henry Ramos grounded in DeJesús.

Game 6

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Lara	0	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	7	0
Este	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	2	7	0
Win: Wil Ledezma (1-0) Loss: Jorge Martínez (0-1) Save: Ricardo Gómez (2)

Lara edged Este to become the only unbeaten team after two days of play. They took advantage of wildness by Jorge Martínez in the 2nd, drawing three walks in a row, by RF René Reyes, DH Adonis García and CF Gorkys Hernández. C Juan Apodaca doubled in two; it would have been worse had Reyes not been caught stealing before García's walk. In the 3rd, 2B Alexi Amarista and SS Alí Castillo opened with singles to chase Martínez. Jhan Mariñez relieved and retired 1B Osman Marval on a grounder that advanced the runners. 3B Carlos Rivero got hit and Reyes hit a sacrifice fly to make it 3-0. Mariñez would finish the day with three hitless innings.

Wil Ledezma blanked the Dominicans for five. In the bottom of the 6th, RF Jordany Valdespin singled and LF Junior Lake walked. José Ascanio came in and retired cleanup man Peter O'Brien, then was replaced by Francisley Bueno. CF Abraham Almonte singled in Valdespin. It remained 3-1 until the bottom of the 9th. O'Brien singled off Ricardo Gómez. With two away, PH Jimmy Paredes singled to put the tying run aboard. PH Wilkin Castillo hit one deep but not deep enough, a ground-run double to put the tying run on third and the winning run on second. SS Jorge Mateo flew out to end the game.

February 3[edit]

Game 7

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Chiriquí	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	4	2
Culiacán	0	3	0	0	2	1	0	0	-	6	11	1
Win: Yoanys Quiala (1-0) Loss: Jose Mesa Jr. (0-1)

Mexico went to 2-1 with a good combination of pitching and offense. In the 2nd, they got plenty of offense against Jose Mesa Jr. DH Joey Meneses led off with a double and 1B Dariel Álvarez singled him in. With one out, 3B Ramón Ríos singled. Then with two away, SS Jose Guadalupe Chavez hit a two-run double to right for a 3-0 lead. In the 5th, they got more runs when 2B Ramiro Peña hit a one-out double, LF Anthony Giansanti hit into an error by 2B Gerald Chin, Meneses singled in Peña and Álvarez hit a sacrifice fly.

In the 6th, LF Edgar Muñoz and RF Rodrigo Orozco Jr. singled off Yoanys Quiala for the 2nd and 3rd Panamanian hits of the day. SS Eduardo Thomas Jr. grounded in Munoz to end the shutout bid. In the bottom of the inning, the Tomateros got their final run when Ríos reached on an error by 3B Isaías Velásquez, C Ricardo Valenzuela singled and Chavez contributed a sacrifice fly for his 3rd RBI from the bottom spot of the order.

Game 8

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Este	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2	0	4	5	0
Monteria	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0
Win: Paolo Espino (1-0) Loss: Luis Escobar (0-1)

Colombia got blanked for the second day in a row, but Randy Consuegra (2 H, 0 R in 5 2/3 IP) also shut out Este to match Paolo Espino. The Dominicans finally got on the scoreboard in the 7th against reliever Luis Escobar when RF Junior Lake walked and 1B Peter O'Brien drilled a two-run shot to right-center. In the 8th, they got some insurance off Carlos Diaz (one of two pitchers by that name in the Series). With one out, SS Jorge Mateo and LF Rubén Sosa singled. Anthony Vizcaya relieved and threw a run-scoring wild pitch, then intentionally walked DH Jordany Valdespin. Lake grounded in Sosa with the final run. Three relievers followed Espino in closing out the shutout.

Game 9

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	R	H	E
Santurce	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	2	8	3
Lara	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	3	3	0
Win: Jesús Sánchez (1-0) Loss: Fernando Cruz (0-1)

Venezuela remained unbeaten while the hosts took a second straight close loss, this time despite allowing only three hits.

Most of the game was a fine pitching duel. Adalberto Flores allowed only one hit in 6 2/3 IP for Santurce, while [{Angelo Palumbo]] scattered four hits in five shutout innings for Lara. In the bottom of the 4th, SS Alí Castillo got Venezuela's first hit, a double. 1B Osman Marval grounded him over and 3B Carlos Rivero drew a walk. RF René Reyes then hit a sacrifice fly to bring Castillo home.

After Palumbo left, Juan Sandoval and José Ascanio each turned in a shutout inning. In the 8th, Venezuela turned to four-time Venezuelan League Closer of the Year Hassan Peña. RF Jan Hernandez drew a walk and was bunted over by C Roberto Peña. After a second out, LF Henry Ramos hit a ground-rule double to tie it; it was one of three hits today for Ramos.

Following Flores, Puerto Rico got shutout relief from Bradin Hagens and Nicholas Padilla. In the top of the 10th, Jesús Sánchez got the first two outs but starting runner Rey Fuentes stole third. 2B Jack López singled to center to plate Fuentes and put the hosts ahead for the first time.

In the bottom of the inning, Puerto Rico's defense imploded. DH Adonis García singled off Fernando Cruz and an error on the play by Jan Hernandez made it 2nd-and-3rd. CF Gorkys Hernández was walked intentionally. C Juan Apodaca grounded into an out at home but throwing errors after that by Roberto Peña and Jan Hernandez let both García and Gorkys Hernández score to give Venezuela the game.

February 4[edit]

Game 10

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Chiriquí	0	1	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	3	8	2
Este	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	-	4	6	0
Win: Warner Madrigal (1-0) Loss: Diego Moreno (0-1) Save: Ramon Ramirez (2)

The Astronautas failed to soar again, dropping a one-run game to the Toros, who went to 3-1. Panama did lead for most of the game, though. In the 2nd, 3B Isaías Velásquez had a one-out single off Carlos Hernandez and the veteran stole second. With two away, LF Iraj Serrano singled. DH Rhandall Sanchez singled to right to bring in Velásquez.

In the 4th, 1B Carlos Quiroz singled off Hernandez and was bunted over by C Rodrigo Vigil. Velásquez singled him in for a 2-0 edge. In the 6th, Quiroz greeted reliever Tim Peterson with a double and Velásquez was again in the thick of it, with a RBI single one out later.

Andy Otero, meanwhile, was dominant for six innings, fanning seven and allowing only two hits and no walks. He tired in the 7th, walking CF Abraham Almonte. Almonte stole second and 1B Peter O'Brien singled. Diego Moreno took over for Otero but was not as sharp as two days prior. DH Jimmy Paredes reached thanks to a Quiroz error, scoring Almonte. C Wilkin Castillo then hit a 3-run homer that would be the winning hit.

After Peterson left, Este got strong relief from Warner Madrigal (W), Anthony Carter and Ramon Ramirez (Sv), who combined to retire all nine batters they faced.

Game 11

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Culiacán	1	0	1	5	0	0	0	0	0	7	13	0
Lara	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	3	6	10	2
Win: Anthony Vasquez (1-0) Loss: Mayckol Guaipe (0-1) Save: Alberto Baldonado (2)

Mexico handed Venezuela its first loss to put the two teams tied with Este at 3-1. While the Tomateros jumped to a 7-0 lead, the Cardenales did not go down without a fight.

Culiacán jumped on Mayckol Guaipe early. CF Rico Noel led off the game with a single; with two outs, he stole second and scored on a hit by DH Joey Meneses. Noel got it going in the third, with a bunt single (Venezuela challenged the call but it was upheld). 2B Ramiro Peña doubled and after an out, Meneses grounded Noel home.

In the 4th, C Alí Solís and SS Juan Carlos Gamboa both had one-out singles. Noel doubled them both in for his third hit of the day, making it 4-0. Noel then did more damage, stealing third and coming home on a throwing error by C Alixon Suárez for his third run and a 5-0 lead. Peña walked and Andrés Pérez relieved. With two outs, Meneses hit a two-run homer for a 4-RBI game. Pérez and Francisley Bueno quieted Mexico after that.

Anthony Vasquez blanked Lara for the first five innings but tired in the 6th. 2B Alexi Amarista had a one-out single, RF René Reyes had a two-out single and 3B Carlos Rivero homered to make it 7-3. In the 9th, Mario Meza came in to pitch for Mexico, their 4th hurler. DH Adonis García and LF Angel Reyes each singled with one away. With two outs, PH Alí Castillo singled in a run. Alberto Baldonado took over but SS Cesar Valera greeted him with a two-run double and suddenly the seven-run lead was almost gone, the potential tying run in scoring position. Baldonado got Amarista to escape further harm and save the game.

Game 12

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Montería	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	2	5	3
Santurce	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	3	10	0
Win: Joshua Torres (1-0) Loss: Anthony Vizcaya (0-1) Save: Fernando Cruz (1)

Colombia came their closest to a win but fell to the hosts when Santurce rallied. In the 2nd, Santurce went ahead against Julio Vivas. LF David Vidal singled, 3B Emmanuel Rivera doubled and SS Ozzie Martínez grounded in the run. Hector Hernandez pitched four no-hit innings for the Cangrejeros but CF Andy Vasquez homered to lead off the 5th, breaking up the no-hitter and the shutout.

In the 6th, C Andres Angulo drew a walk from Hernandez and stole second. 2B Jordan Diaz singled him home and the Vaqueros had their first lead since the opener. It didn't last long, as Puerto Rico came alongside in the bottom of the inning. 1B Vimael Machin reached on an error by Vivas. Anthony Vizcaya relieved and got an out, but Rivera hit into an error by his counterpart, Audy Ciriaco. Martínez then singled in Machin.

Machin got it going in the 8th as well, leading off with a single off Vizcaya. Vidal followed with another single and Rivera bunted them over. Andury Acevedo succeeded Vizcaya and intentionally walked the guy who had Puerto Rico's first two RBI, Martínez. RF Jan Hernandez grounded into a force at home. Acevedo then plunked C Jonathan Morales to force in Vidal with the winner.

February 5[edit]

Game 13

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Lara	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	5	4
Chiriquí	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	9	1
Win: David Martínez (1-0) Loss: Manny Correa (0-1) Save: Pedro Rodríguez (1)

Chiriquí outhit Lara in their final game, 9-5, but failed to score a run while Lara improved to 4-1. Astronautas starter Manny Correa allowed a leadoff triple to SS Alí Castillo and a single to CF Gorkys Hernández. He would pitch six more innings without another run and with just two more hits, but took the loss. David Martínez scattered eight hits in six shutout innings for Venezuela and Jesús Sánchez and Series veteran Pedro Rodríguez closed it out. Lara got an insurance run in the 9th. 1B Angel Reyes drew a walk from Tyler Wilson and RF Welington Dotel drew a two-out walk. Castillo then singled in Reyes.

Game 14

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Montería	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Culiacán	0	0	0	0	2	0	2	0	-	4	10	0
Win: Edgar Torres (1-0) Loss: Edison Frias (0-1)

Colombia's first Series ends with another poor offensive showing, their third no-run game in five contests, as they go 0-5. This time, they only manage one hit, by 2B Brallan Perez with one out in the first; he is promptly picked off. After that, Edgar Torres and Mario Meza are untouchable, allowing just one walk and facing one more than the minimum.

Montería again had respectable pitching, though, keeping Culiacán off the board for four innings. In the 5th, 2B Juan Carlos Gamboa singled off Edison Frias as did SS Jose Guadalupe Chavez. Two wild pitches scored Gamboa and a single by CF Rico Noel made it 2-0. In the 7th, Gamboa doubled against Luis Ortega and PH Ramiro Peña homered to double the lead.

Game 15

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Este	0	0	3	0	2	0	0	0	0	5	7	0
Santurce	0	0	1	3	0	0	0	0	0	4	10	1
Win: Jhan Mariñez (1-0) Loss: Jason Garcia (0-1) Save: Ramon Ramirez (3)

The hosts drop the last game of the round-robin but make it to the semifinals with their 4th-place finish in that round.

The Toros made Earl Weaver proud in the 3rd with another 3-run homer; LF Rubén Sosa drew a walk from Jason Garcia, RF Junior Lake hit into an error by 2B Jack López and DH Jordany Valdespin hit the bomb. Puerto Rico got one back in the bottom of the inning against 42-year-old Raúl Valdés. López doubled to lead off the inning; after two outs, 1B David Vidal singled and 3B Emmanuel Rivera singled in the run.

Santurce took the lead in the home half of the fourth. RF Jan Hernandez walked and CF Rey Fuentes singled (one of his 3 hits today). C Jonathan Morales bunted them over. López singled home Hernandez, but Fuentes was thrown out at home by Lake. Puerto Rico appealed the call but it was upheld. LF Henry Ramos singled and Jhan Mariñez relieved but he hit DH Iván DeJesús Jr. to load the bases. Vidal hit a two-run single for a 4-3 edge; this time, the Dominicans filed an appeal that did not go through. A wild pitch put two men in scoring position but Rivera lined out.

Este got the lead back in the 5th when Sosa walked, Lake singled and Valdespin doubled them both in for a 5-RBI day. Mariñez would pitch shutout ball in the 5th and 6th then Anthony Carter, Jumbo Díaz and Ramon Ramirez each worked a scoreless frame to close it out.

Standings after Round Robin[edit]

Team	Won	Lost
Toros del Este	4	1
Cardenales de Lara	4	1
Tomateros de Culiacán	4	1
Cangrejeros de Santurce	2	3
Astronautas de Chiriquí	1	4
Vaqueros de Montería	0	5

February 6[edit]

Game 16 Semi final

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Culiacán	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	9	0
Lara	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	-	1	2	0
Win: Logan Darnell (1-0) Loss: Zack Dodson (0-1) Save: Pedro Rodríguez (2)

The Cardenales avenged their lone loss; while they were outhit, 9-0, they did not allow a run as Logan Darnell, José Ascanio, Francisley Bueno, Ricardo Gómez and Pedro Rodríguez scattered those hits successfully. Meanwhile, Lara's two hits resulted in one run. Zack Dodson's lone rough spot was the third when CF Gorkys Hernández walked, C Juan Apodaca grounded him over and RF Welington Dotel hit a ground-rule double.

Game 17 Semi final

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Santurce	0	2	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	3	6	0
Este	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	2	-	4	7	1
Win: Fernando Abad (1-0) Loss: Nicholas Padilla (0-1)

For the second day in a row, Este edged Santurce by a run, this time for a spot in the finals. Santurce led most of the game; in the 2nd, they went ahead against Yuniesky Maya. CF Rey Fuentes drew a one-out walk, SS Ozzie Martínez singled and RF Jan Hernandez walked as well. C Roberto Peña bunted in Fuentes. With two outs, LF Henry Ramos singled in Martínez to make it 2-0; Hernandez tried to score but RF Junior Lake gunned down a man at home for the second time in two days.

In the bottom of the 3rd, the Dominicans made up one run against Hector Santiago. SS Jorge Mateo singled and LF Rubén Sosa bunted him over. Lake got plunked then was picked off. DH Jordany Valdespin drew a walk and 1B Peter O'Brien doubled home Mateo. In the 5th, the Cangrejeros made it 3-1; 2B Jack López singled and raced to third when Sosa made an error on the play, then Ramos grounded him home. Este's bullpen again dominated as Tim Peterson, Wirfin Obispo and Fernando Abad pitched four shutout innings, allowing one hit and no walks.

The Toros closed the gap in the 6th. O'Brien walked, CF Abraham Almonte singled and O'Brien stole third. C Wilkin Castillo singled in O'Brien for a 3-2 game. Luis Cruz relieved Santiago and escaped further harm by retiring 3B Diego Goris and getting 2B Gustavo Nunez to line into a double play. In the bottom of the 8th, Valdespin singled off Nicholas Padilla and O'Brien kept it going with his second double of the day. Fernando Cruz replaced Padilla and uncorked a wild pitch to tie it. Almonte then hit a sacrifice fly for the win.

February 7[edit]

Game 18 Final

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Lara	0	0	0	0	1	0	2	0	0	3	9	0
Este	0	0	1	2	2	1	0	3	-	9	12	0
Win: Paolo Espino (2-0) Loss: Wil Ledezma (1-1)

The Dominicans won their first Series in eight years, ending their longest drought. It marked the second straight Series won by a team called the Toros. Este's Paolo Espino and Lara's Wil Ledezma traded goose eggs for 2 1/2 innings. Then, the Dominicans exploded for the best offensive game of the Series. 2B Gustavo Nunez singled, stole second and scored on a one-out hit by LF Rubén Sosa.

In the 4th, Este tripled the lead. DH Jordany Valdespín walked and 1B Peter O'Brien. Francisley Bueno relieved Ledezma but CF Abraham Almonte greeted him with a RBI double. After an out, 3B Diego Goris singled in O'Brien. Lara got their only run off Espino in the 5th. DH Adonis García singled and CF Gorkys Hernández DH Adonis García walked. CF Gorkys Hernández doubled him home.

Este made it up in the bottom of the 5th. With two away, O'Brien, Almonte and C Wilkin Castillo singled off Jesús Sánchez to make it 4-1, then Goris singled off reliever Juan Sandoval for a 5-1 lead. In the 6th, RF Junior Lake drew a one-out walk from José Ascanio and advanced on a grounder, a wild pitch and a passed ball by Alixon Suárez to make it 6-1.

Venezuela closed the gap a bit in the 7th. Anthony Carter walked 3B Carlos Rivero then hit García with one out. Hernández singled in Rivero. Jumbo Díaz relieved and got the second out, then LF Welington Dotel singled for a 6-3 score.

The Toros made their final charge in the bottom of the 8th, doubling their lead. Hassan Peña allowed a double to SS Jorge Mateo and walked Sosa. Pedro Rodríguez relieved and Lake hit into a force at second. Félix Pie pinch-hit and singled home Mateo, then O'Brien was hit. Almonte hit a two-run double into right for the last runs of the Series.

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2020 Caribbean Series

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