Game 7 - México vs. Colombia (Play-Off 1)
In the first Play-Off game, Caimanes Olímpica de Barranquilla (Colombia) won only 1-0 against Tobis de Acayucan (Mexico).
With this, Colombia advances to the next round, facing Panamá on Saturday, while México was eliminated.
The lone run was scored in the eighth inning.
The pitching and defense dominated in the first six innings of this game.
In that span, both teams got only one runner in scoring position.
Mexican starter Sergio Lizarraga retired the first six batters he faced.
The righthander then gave up a lead-off single to Gerson Jiménez in the third inning.
The runner advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Ronald Ramírez, then reached third base when Cristian Cano followed with another single.
Jiménez then stranded when a double play ended the inning.
In the fourth, Lizarraga gave up a lead-off single to Efraín Contreras.
Two flyouts followed, then Contreras was caught stealing, ending the at bat.
Colombian starter Ronald Ramírez Montoya also did fine.
He gave up an one-out single to Cristian Zazueta in the first inning, but two flyouts followed.
In the second inning, the lefthander gave up an one-out single to José Castañeda and he walked lead-off batter Daniel Sánchez in the third, but both times, the Colombian defense followed with a double play.
In the bottom of the fourth, all three Colombian outfielders made an out, including a nice over-the-shoulder-running-catch by centerfielder Efraín Contreras.
México then got its first runner in scoring position in the fifth.
Pedro Díaz led off with a double, then José Castañeda was hit by a pitch.
The Colombian defense then turned its third double play that began with a nice play by short stop Adrian Sánchez.
Díaz advanced to third base in this situation, but stranded when a flyout ended the at bat.
Both pitchers retired the side in the sixth.
With that, Lizarraga had retired eight batters in a row since giving up the basehit in the fourth inning.
Things changed somewhat in the seventh inning.
After having retired eight consecutive batters, Sergio Lizarraga saw the first two Colombian batters reach in the top of the seventh.
Lizarraga first hit Efraín Contreras with a pitch.
After he had stolen second base, a walk for Adrian Sánchez followed and that also marked the end for Lizarraga.
Lefthander José Perez was brought in to face powerhitter Arthur Charles.
That was successful, as the American popped up for an infield-fly.
Perez had done his job and was replaced by righthander Omar Espinoza, who retired the next two batters.
There also was a Mexican pitching change in the bottom of the seventh.
Ronald Ramírez Montoya first eliminated the lead-off hitter, but the was relieved by Erick Gonzalvez
Ramírez had retired 11 of the last 13 batters he had faced.
Gonzalvez continued that job, as he retired the next two batters.
Colombia then opened the score in the top of the eighth inning.
Gerson Jiménez led off with a double down the leftfield-line and was replaced by pinch-runner Edwin Fuentes.
He moved to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Ronald Ramírez and a pitching change followed.
Jonathan SIntes took over and pinch-hitter Steve Brown lined into centerfield where Daniel Nuñez made a great diving catch just before the ball was to hit the ground.
Instead of tagging up and scoring after the ball had been caught, Fuentes had left third base on the hit and had to return to third base.
Moments later, he did score the first run after all when Fidel Peña followed with an infield-hit.
In the bottom of the eighth, México created an opportunity to come alongside, but failed to do so.
With one out, Adán Velásquez doubled and Daniel Sánchez walked.
A pitching change followed and Angel Tovar struckout pinch-hitter Sergio Pérez.
Hereafter, José José became the new pitcher fol Colombia and he got a flyout from Daniel Nuñez that ended the inning.
In the top of the ninth, Colombia got another runner in scoring position, but was unable to add an insurance run.
Reliever Jonathan Sintes struckout the first two batters, then gave up a single to Gerson Montilla.
After the runner had advanced to second base on a wild pitch, Sintes closed with another strikeout.
A suspenseful bottom of the ninth inning followed.
Luis Liria became the new pitcher for Colombia.
With one out, veteran Karim García drove the ball into centerfield, where it went by centerfielder Steve Brown, enabling the former Major Leaguer to advance to third base.
Instead of a single plus an error, it was ruled a triple.
But whatever the ruling, García slid into third base and a very close play followed on the throw from the outfield.
Panamanian Home Plate Umpire Cesar Rodríguez had moved towards third base and made the correct call by ruling García safe.
Third baseman Gerson Montillia received the ball in time, but tagged García on his chest just after his foot had touched the base.
A heated argument followed, involving Colombian Manager Carlos Balcázar, some players and five of the six umpires, but the call was correct and with that México had the tying run on third base with only one out.
García was replaced by pinch-runner Eliezer Ortíz and Cuban Joan Carlos Pedroso was the next hitter.
Liria threw two ball high inside to the experienced veteran, who was then hit by the next pitch.
Pedroso also was replaced by a pinch-runner.
Hereafter, Colombia did what it does best this tournament, playing fine defense.
Pedro Díaz hit a hard grounder through the middle, but Colombia then turned its fourth double play to end the game and advance to the next Play-Off round.
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Colombia eliminates México in Serie Latinoamericana
MANAGUA (Nicaragua) -
On Friday-evening (January 29), Caimanes Olímpica de Barranquilla, the champion of Liga Colombiana de Béisbol Profesional (Colombia) won only 1-0 against Tobis de Acayucan, the champion of Liga Invernal Veracruzana de Béisbol Profesional (Mexico), in the first Play-Off Game of the fourth edition of the Serie Latinoamericana.
With this, Colombia eliminated México and advanced to the second round of the Play-Offs.
The team now will meet Nacionales de Panamá, the champion of Liga Profesional de Béisbol de Panamá, on Saturday-evening.