(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photo by Henk Seppen)
    Tigres wins again; one win away from Nicaraguan title
Nederlands
 RIVAS (Nicaragua) -
Tigres de Chinandega won 3-1 on Tuesday-evening (Januaru 17) against Gigantes de Rivas in Game 4 of the best-of-seven Championship Final of the Liga de Béisbol Profesional Nacional on Tuesday-evening (January 17) to take a 3-1 lead in the Series.
With this, Tigres is now one victory away from the Nicaraguan title.
Tigres had won the first two games, winning 9-6 in Friday and 6-5 in Saturday.
Reigning champion Gigantes then won 6-5 on Sunday to avoid a sweep.
The Series continues on Wednesday-evening.
Tigres collected nine basehits, including two by Netherlands National Team-player Curt Smith, who also had an important run batted in.
The Tigres-pitching gave up only three basehits.
Playing at home in Estadio Yamíl Ríos Ugarte, Gigantes opened the score in the bottom of the first inning.
With two outs, Wuillians Vásquez and Donell Linares hit back-to-back doubles off of starter Mainor Mora to produce the first run.
Tigres came alongside in the top of the second inning off of starter Carlos Teller.
With two outs, the lefthander gave up an infield-hit to Dashenko Ricardo.
The Netherlands Team-catcher then advanced to third base on a single by Jimmy González and scored when next batter Jesús López also singled.
But hereafter, two runners were left behind.
After Gigantes was retired in order in the bottom of the second inning, Tigres added another run in the third to take a 2-1 lead.
Everth Cabrera led off with a double and advanced on a single by Edgard Montiel.
Moments later, Cabrera scored on a wild pitch to put Tigres ahead.
Montiel moved to second base, then Curt Smith reached on an infield-hit.
Gigantes-starter Mainor Mora then retired the next three batters to avoid giving up more runs.
Gigantes got its next baserunner in the fourth inning when Donell Linares singled with one out, but he stranded on first base.
The same happened to Curt Smith in the top of the fifth when he walked for Tigres with two outs.
He also was left on first base when next batter Yurendell de Caster flied out.
In the top of the sixth, it was Tigres who got another chance to do some scoring again.
With one out, Dashenko Ricardo doubled down the rightfield-line, but he also stranded as pitcher Carlos Teller struckout the next two batters.
...Curt Smith...
...two basehits, one RBI...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
In the seventh, Tigres got another runner in scoring position.
Ismael Munguía led off with a walk and advanced on a sacrifice bunt.
That led to a pitching change, as Juan Bermúdez took over.
The righthanded side-armer struckout Edgard Montiel, then walked Curt Smith intentionally.
However, Tigres stranded two runners when Yurendell de Caster grounded out.
Gigantes reached base again in the bottom of the eighth for the first time since the fourth inning.
The team was retired in order in the fifth, sixth and seventh at bat.
After 13 consecutive batters had been retired in order, Mark Joseph was hit by a pitch with two outs in the eighth.
But he stranded, as a grounder ended the at bat.
In the top of the ninth, Tigres finally added an insurance run.
Jesús López led off with a single and moved on a sacrifice bunt.
Hereafter, Everth Cabrera received an intentional walk from reliever Juan Bermúdez, who was then replaced by closer Jonathan Aristill.
A flyout followed, but that didn't enable the runners to advance.
Curt Smith then singled into short leftfield, just out of reach of leftfielder Wuillians Vásquez.
On this hit, López scored the third run for Tigres.
Cabrera, who came from first base, then overran third base and was tagged out to end the inning, but Tigres now led by two runs.
In the bottom of the ninth, Tigres-closer Wilber Bucardo got three grounders to end the game and earn a save.
(January 17)
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