Game 13 - México vs. Puerto Rico (Final)
Criollos de Aguas collected seven basehits in the game, including two by Yadiel Rivera, who also scored the lone run in the tenth inning.
Águilas de Mexicali was limited to only four basehits by three pitchers.
Puerto Rico got a chance to open the score in the top of the first inning off of starter Héctor Velazquez.
With one out, Iván DeJesús, Jr. singled and David Vidal doubled, but they were left behind.
After a runner was caught stealing in the third and the team was retired in order in the second and fourth inning, Puerto Rico got into scoring position again in the fifth.
Yadiel Rivera led off with a single, but was forced out on a bunt by Jesmuel Valentín.
He advanced when Jonathan Morales singled, but two flyouts followed.
Puerto Rico-starter Adalberto Flores had a very strong outing and gave up only one basehit in the six innings he pitched.
The righthander had no strikeouts, but dominated.
Flores was named Pitcher of the Year in the last two Puerto Rico Winter Leagues.
In the second and third inning, Flores hit a batter with a pitch, but both times, he was supported with a double play.
In the fifth, he walked lead-off hitter Chris Roberson, but he was caught stealing.
After five innings, Flores was still pitching a No-Hitter, but that ended in the next at bat.
With one out in the sixth, he gave up a single to Xorge Carrillo, but thereafter, the Puerto Rican defense turned its third double play.
Puerto Rican Winners |
1951 | Cangrejeros de Santurce |
1953 | Cangrejeros de Santurce |
1954 | Criollos de Caguas |
1955 | Cangrejeros de Santurce |
1972 | Leones de Ponce |
1974 | Criollos de Caguas |
1975 | Vaqueros de Bayamón |
1978 | Indios de Mayagüez |
1983 | Lobos de Arecibo |
1987 | Criollos de Caguas |
1992 | Indios de Mayagüez |
1993 | Cangrejeros de Santurce |
1995 | Senadores de San Juan |
2000 | Cangrejeros de Santurce |
2017 | Criollos de Aguas |
After Puerto Rico had stranded a runner on first base in the top of the seventh, México got into scoring position for the first time in its seventh at bat.
Andres Santiago, who took over from Flores, gave up a lead-off single to Chris Roberson, who then moved on a sacrifice bunt.
Hereafter, Santiago struckout the next two batters.
México again got in scoring position in the eighth inning.
Luis Juarez led off with a single and moved on a sacrifice bunt.
Next batter Jesús Castillo walked.
Hereafter, Ramon Ríos reached on an error, but that also led to the elimination of Juarez at third base.
The latter was initially ruled safe, but the call was overturned after a challenge and thus ended the at bat.
In the ninth, Puerto Rico was retired in order for the third time in the last four innings.
In the bottom of the ninth, México left a runner on first base and so, the game went into extra innings.
Puerto Rico then decided the game in the top of the tenth inning off of new pitcher Jake Sánchez.
He gave up a lead-off double to Yadiel Rivera, who then was brought to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Jesmuel Valentín.
Moments later, Rivera scored on a sacrifice fly by Jonathan Morales.
In the bottom of the tenth, México was retired in order by Miguel Mejia, who had taken over the pitching in the previous inning.
After a grounder accounted for the first out, Ronnie Mustelier lined out to rightfielder Eddie Rosario.
The game ended when Jesús Castillo lined out to short stop Yadiel Rivera.
And with that, he not only scored the winning run, but also made the final out.
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