Caribbean Series off to exciting start with Day 1 action
A historic Caribbean Series opened Thursday at Miami’s loanDepot Park, marking the first time the annual tournament of winter league champions has been played in a Major League stadium.
Three games were played on the opening day of the event, with Puerto Rico taking on Nicaragua, Mexico facing off against Curaçao and Venezuela meeting the Dominican Republic.
Here’s a recap of all the action from Day 1:
Puerto Rico 5, Nicaragua 2
Jack López delivered a go-ahead triple in the sixth inning to break a 1-1 tie, Vimael Machín went 2-for-5 with an RBI single later in that frame and Heliot Ramos delivered some insurance with an RBI single in the eighth as the Criollos de Caguas opened the tournament with a win over Nicaragua.
Right-hander Eduardo Rivera started on the mound for Puerto Rico, giving up one run on four hits over 3 1/3 innings. He walked two and struck out five, giving way to the bullpen in the fourth inning. Puerto Rico’s relief corps was solid, with six relievers combining to work around traffic to hold Nicaragua to one run on four hits the rest of the way.
• Yadi pursues another championship ... this time as manager
Curaçao 6, Mexico 5
Curaçao withstood a late rally by Mexico to escape its first game of the Series with a narrow victory.
Former Yankees star shortstop Didi Gregorius came through with a bases-loaded triple to score Andrelton Simmons, Roger Bernadina and Jurickson Profar in the third inning after Curaçao had fallen behind early, 2-0.
Former MLB All-Star Jonathan Schoop and Ademar Rifaela launched back-to-back homers in the sixth, and Wladimir Balentien added what proved to be a crucial solo homer in the eighth to extend the Suns’ lead to 6-2.
Mexico mounted a comeback effort in the ninth, when Aaron Altherr delivered an RBI single and Julian Ornelas belted a two-run homer. But reliever Anthony Herrera got Augustin Murillo to pop out to end the contest.
Venezuela 3, Dominican Republic 1
In the nightcap, Venezuela took a 1-0 lead in the third inning thanks to an Alexi Amarista RBI single. Ramon Flores extended the lead to 2-0 with an RBI single of his own in the sixth that scored former Major League catcher Wilson Ramos. Former Dodgers star outfielder Yasiel Puig smashed a 416-foot solo homer in the eighth to cap the scoring for the Tiburones de la Guaira.
Right-hander Miguel Romero started for Venezuela and tossed 5 1/3 strong innings, yielding a run on three hits with three strikeouts. He then turned the ball over to the Tiburones’ bullpen, which was stellar -- five relievers combined for 3 2/3 scoreless frames to preserve the victory.