(Story by Marco Stoovelaar)
   Águilas Cibaeñas win first Serie De Las Américas
Nederlands
 MIAMI, Florida (USA) -
Águilas Cibaeñas of the Dominican Republic has won the inaugural edition of the Serie De Las Américas, which was played this weekend at Marlins Park, the home of the Miami Marlins.
On Sunday-evening, the Águilas won 4-3 vs. the Cardenales de Lara from Venezuala in the final of the two-day event in Florida.
The event was the first-ever Caribbean Winter baseball-tournament that will include the leading teams from the professional Winter Baseball Leagues in Venezuela and the Dominican Republic.
The Águilas Cibaeñas and Tigres del Licey represented the Dominican Republic, while Cardenales de Lara and Navegantes del Magallanes came from Venezuela.
On Saturday, the two Venezuelan teams met in the afternoon, then the two Dominican squads faced each other in the evening.
The two losing teams played for third and fourth play on Sunday-afternoon, while the two winners met in the evening for the championship.
All games were official games to included in the standings of the respective Winter Leagues in the Dominican Republic and Venezuela.
It was the first time in the history that teams from the Caribbean Confederation played interleague-games in the USA.
The Serie De Las Américas was organized to give Latino baseball-fans the opportunity to see their favorite teams in the USA.
Marlins Park was also the site of one of the four group phases during the 2013 World Baseball Classic.
Playing for the teams were several players, who also play professionally in the USA and have played or are still playing in the Major League, but are now playing Winter Ball in their home country.
Included therein was infielder Ronny Cedeño, who has played ten years in the Majors (2005-2014) for seven different clubs, infielder Rafael Ynoa, who played in 72 games this season for the Colorado Rockies, infielder Danny Santana, who played in 91 games for the Minnesota Twins this year and pitcher César Jiménez, who has played in six Major League-season, including appearing in 16 games this season for the Milwaukee Brewers.
In the weekend the Águilas announced it has signed Major League-veteran Miguel Tejada.
The 41-year old infielder has played 16 years in the Majors (1997-2011; 2013) for six teams, including seven with the Oakland A's and five with the Baltimore Orioles.
On Saturday, the Cardenales won 6-1 vs. the Navegantes to reach the final on Sunday-evening.
In the second game on Saturday, the Águilas won 4-2 vs. the Tigres to become the second finalist.
On Sunday, the Tigres finished in third place by winning 4-2 vs. the Navegantes.
On Sunday-evening, Jonathan Villar led off the game with a homerun for the Águilas, which recently celebrated their 100th anniversary.
The Cardenales came alongside by scoring in the the bottom of the second inning.
Both teams scored again in the third inning.
The game remained tied at 2-2 through the eighth inning.
In the top of the ninth inning, with two outs and a runner on second base, Jonathan Villar got an intentional walk to set-up a force play.
But that failed.
Next batter Rafael Ynoa reached on an error that loaded the bases.
Hereafter, Zoilo Almonte delivered a single that brought in two runs and gave the Águilas a 4-2 lead.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, closer TJ Peña took over the pitching.
He gave up a run to the Cardenales with two outs, which made it a 4-3 score and builded up the suspense.
But Peña hold onto the lead and the Águilas went on to win 4-3 to become the first winner of the Serie De Las Américas.
Also included in the tournament was musical entertainment before and between the games.
On the two days of the event, the national anthems were performed by wellknown artists.
GRAMMY-winner Mariana Vega and five-time GRAMMY-winner Alfredo Matheus Diez performed the Venezuelan national anthem, while Alina Vargas sang the Dominican national anthem.
Shanteé and Jenny Love performed the American national anthem.
(November 22)
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