César Valdez provided a solid opening and the Dominican Republic’s Aguilas Cibaeñas got a late response from local Tomateros de Culiacán to win 4-2 and take their second win in the tournament.
Valdez (1-0) dominated the offense of the Mexicans for six beautiful empty innings to win a game in which he gave up only two hits and struckout six. The loss went to starter Héctor Velázquez (0-1) after giving up one run and four hits in 4 2/3 innings.
“I always have a good mindset, I came up with the strategy to attack the attack zone quickly and then use my breaking throws,” the Dominican starter said after the game. “Mexico is a great team and all of their hitters are tough, but today we got the job done.”
The Eagles then opened the score in the third inning Melky Cabrera a single, advanced to second base with an unstoppable star Robinson Cano and scored on a Ronald Guzmán RBI-single.
The Dominicans scored again with a Junior Lake RBI-double in the sixth inning, then reached the plate with a homerun by Juan Lagares – who knocked him out of the park for the second day in a row – in the seventh and top of the ninth , Melky Cabrera hit an RBI-single to take a 4-0 lead.
The Tomateros de Culiacán responded in the background of the last episode, when Jesse Castillo and Julián León linked RBI singles to get closer to the scoreboard, but reliever Jhan Martínez dominated pinch-hitter Juan Carlos Gamboa with a ground ball to end the game .
“To them credit for being able to get hold of all four races and have an advantage in the last inning. I am proud and satisfied with my players for their efforts, they did not stop fighting until the last game, ”said Mexico’s manager Benjamin Gil. We have three tough games left. Here they are all champion teams and every game is difficult ”.
The Tomateros will also take on the Criollos de Puerto Rico on Tuesday, also 1-1. For their part, the Águilas Cibaeñas, with a 2-0 record, will face Panama’s Federales de Chiriquí, who have also won their first two commitments.
“You have to recognize Panama, who have won their first two games. But we have to stay focused to get the results. Tomorrow a team will go 3-0 and go to the semi-finals, and we hope to be ours, ”said Félix Fermín, manager of the Dominican Republic.