Cleveland Sports Forum

Columbia 3 up and 3 down in the top of the 8th inning.

Game heading into the bottom of the 8th,

Cuban pitcher, Raul Valdez, has gone 8 innings, 5 hits, 3 runs, 2 walked, and 4 strikeouts keeping the Dominicans in the ballgame. He's tossed six scoreless innings since the Columbians scored 3 in the top of the 2nd inning.

Bottom of the Dominican 8th inning.

Benoit on in reliief.

Dominicans go down 1-2-3.

Urena grounded out to short, Siri struck out swinging, and Alberto grounded out to short.

Columbia 3-1 end of 8.

Valdez still on the mound to start the top of the 9th inning. Pitch count at 113.

Rodriguez leads off the top of the 9th inning for the Columians with a base hit to right field. Marinez on in relief of Valdez.

With Rodriguez on at first with a base hit. Angulo singled to right, Rodriguez to third. Ramos grounded into a double play, Rodriquez scored to make it a 4-1 ball game. Figueroa walked but Sandy Leon grounded out to end the inning.

Coming up, bottom half of the 9th inning. Dominicans down 4-1.

Benoit out to start the bottom half of the 9th inning in relief.

Cano flied out to center, Ozuna flied out to right, Urrutia singled to center, Valdespin grounded into a fielder's choice to shortstop, Urrutia out at second.

COLUMBIA IS THE 2021-2022 CARIBBEAN CHAMPS !

7TH DAY SERIES DEL CARIBE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME



Historic victory of the Caimanes de Barranquilla in the Caribbean Series

Colombia, who arrived in the Dominican Republic without having won a game since their participation in this competition in 2020, surprised the hosts to take the Carbbean Series Championship

February 3, 2022

The Dominican dominance in the Caribbean Series is over. Caimanes de Barranquilla beat the hosts Gigantes del Cibao 4-1 in the Grand Finals to become the first Colombian team to secure the title.

The Dominicans bet on the historic Raúl Valdez and he gave them eight innings, in which he barely blinked. But that minimal blunder was enough for the Colombians.

With doubles from Mauricio Ramos and Dilson Herrera plus a single from Brayan Buelvas, Caimanes took the lead with three runs in the second inning and that was enough to seal the victory.

On the mound they had a dominant Elkin Alcala, who in five innings and two thirds allowed the Dominicans to score once, at the top of the sixth with a single by Robinson Canó.

Luis Moreno, Juan Diaz and Rodrigo Benoit combined to hold off the Giants and preserve the victory.

Already in the ninth with a shot by Ramos, the Caymaines put the icing on the cake by scoring their fourth run.



pioneers

The Colombian champions began to participate in the Caribbean Series in 2020. The Cowboys from Montería were the first to attend the classic and a year later it was the turn of the Caymans themselves. On none of those occasions did they even achieve a victory.

This year they arrived in Santo Domingo reinforced, eager to make history. And boy did they comply.

Strengthened by solid pitching and a timely offense, they finished with the second best team in the regular round with a 3-2 record. They defeated the Navegantes del Magallanes (Venezuela) in the semifinals and a day later they beat the Giants for the championship.



<




[ This year they arrived in Santo Domingo reinforced, eager to make history. And boy did they comply. ]

Cuban National Series

Live Game Industriales vs Holguin

Drag bar to beginning of video to view game


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvA_09UQkaI

Reynaldo Rodríguez, Most Valuable Player of the Caribbean Series

February 4, 2022

The first baseman of the Caimanes de Barranquilla, the Colombian Reynaldo Rodríguez, was chosen as the Most Valuable Player of the Santo Domingo 2022 Caribbean Series, which concluded with the title for his team after beating Gigantes 4-1 in the final. of the Cibao of the Dominican Republic at the Quisqueya Juan Marichal stadium.

Rodríguez, who went 2-for-4 on Thursday scoring two of Caimanes' four runs, finished the series with an average of .500, product of 13 hits in 26 at-bats. He fell one short of tying the record for most hits in the Caribbean Series, which is shared by Puerto Rican Roberto Alomar (1995), Randy Ready (1986) and Cuban Pedro Formental.

The popular 'Chencho' drove in four runs in the tournament and in the semifinal, against Venezuela, he hit a solo home run.

The man from Cartagena, who was also included in the 'All Stars', reinforced Caimanes in the Caribbean Series after playing in the Colombian League with Cowboys from Montería, who fell in five games in the final against the Barranquilla team.

"In my first Caribbean Series, being the Most Valuable Player of the tournament for me is very rewarding, I owe it to God, to my family, to my wife, and now to enjoy it," said Rodríguez, 35, after the game. . "I came with a plan, I was able to execute it and the results came."

<



Caymans did it! Brilliant champion of the Caribbean Series

February 3, 2022

Caimanes de Barranquilla claimed the title of the Caribbean Series after defeating Gigantes del Cibao (Dominican Republic) 4-1 on Thursday at their own home.

This achievement, unprecedented for Colombian sports, is achieved only in the third participation of our country in this event as a guest. Colombia, who attended for the first time with Cowboys in 2020 and with Caimans in 2021, reached this edition with a record of zero wins and 10 losses.

Led by José Mosquera Crissón, who in January won the two-time championship with Caimanes, this team proposed to change history and not settle for just winning a game, but to fight for the title. And the feat was achieved this Thursday against the strong Dominican team, which they beat twice in this tournament, as well as Navegantes del Magallanes (Venezuela). Mosquera was chosen the best manager of the tournament.

In the final, with a great job from their starter Elkin Alcalá and a three-run rally in the second episode, Caimanes began to dream of victory and the title. The Colombian team took advantage of the only blink of veteran Cuban pitcher Raúl Valdés to start making the difference in the game over the Dominicans.



In the second inning, a double by Reinaldo Rodríguez, a sacrifice fly by Andrés Angulo, and two more doubles by Mauricio Ramos and Dilson Herrera put Caimanes ahead. The third run came as a result of a single by Sandy León that brought Herrera to the plate, who reappeared after leaving the game against Mexico after a strong blow to the ribs.

From there, Valdés tied up the reptilian artillery. Only in the ninth did they hit him again. Valdez surrendered a lead off single to Reinaldo Rodríguez. Jhan Marínez came into the game in relief of Valdez, who was immediately greeted with a single by Andrés Angulo that advanced Rodríguez ito third, who later scored on a play in which Mauricio Ramos hit into a double play.



Gigantes del Cibao scored their only run in the sixth after Robinson Canó hit a single that drove in Richard Ureña, who reached base on a walk granted by Elkin Alcalá.

The historic victory was taken by Alcalá, who pitched five and two-thirds innings, in which he gave up four hits, one run, gave a base on balls and struck out seven batters. Also on the mound were Luis Moreno (0.1), Juan Díaz (1.1) and Rodrigo Benoit (1.2). The latter scored a saved game.

The loss went to Raúl Valdés, who pitched eight complete innings, allowed six hits, four runs, two walks and struck out four.

Caimanes, who had already beaten Gigantes del Cibao 2-1 in the first round, a team led by Luis Urueta from Barranquilla, eliminated Navegantes del Magallanes in the semifinals by winning 8-1. In the entire tournament they only lost two games: against Charros from Mexico (0-1) and against Criollos from Puerto Rico (2-6).

All the tickets were sold out for SC final game

All the tickets for the championship game between the Caimanes de Barranquilla and the Gigantes del Cibao were sold out and have been sold out a day in advance informed the administrator of the Juan Marichal Stadium, Parmenio Rodríguez.

José Mosquera and Reynaldo Rodríguez, in the 'All Stars' of the Caribbean Series

February 3, 2022

Colombians José Mosquera Crissón and Reynaldo Rodríguez, manager and first baseman of Caimanes, respectively, were chosen for the 'All Stars' team of the 2022 Caribbean Series.

The announcement was made by the Caribbean Professional Baseball Confederation after hearing the vote of the journalists accredited to cover the event.

Mosquera led Caimanes to the final of the tournament and Rodríguez was the player with the best offensive average (.500) in the first phase, tied with José Alejandro Cardona, from Charros de Jalisco (Mexico). He also was one of the players with the most hits (9), including one home run and two doubles.

The 'All Stars' were the following:

Catcher: Christian Betancourt (Panama).

First base: Reynaldo Rodríguez (Colombia).

Second base: Robinson Canó (Dominican Republic).

Third base: Niuman Romero (Venezuela).

Short stop: Hanser Alberto (Dominican Republic).

Left fielder: Felix Perez (Mexico).

Center fielder: José Sirí (Dominican Republic).

Right fielder: Danry Vasquez (Venezuela).

Designated hitter: Juan Francisco (Dominican Republic).

Starting pitcher: Tyler Alexander (Dominican Republic).

Relief pitcher: Luis Felipe Castillo (Dominican Republic).

Manager: Jose Mosquera (Colombia).

Harold Vázquez: a rookie with prospects

02 FEBRUARY 2022

Since last season, 2021, of Cuban baseball , the name of Harold Vázquez Rizo has been heard among coaches from the lower levels of baseball in Santiago relating to his discipline who describe him as a rookie with prospects.

This judgment is supported by his results in his first youth year, when he achieved an average of 390, had 42 hits, drove in 27 runs, was the leader in doubles and was selected as the best catcher in the championship.

Vázquez Rizo was born on March 30, 2002 in the municipality of Santiago de Cuba and after showing good qualities in training for the 61 National Series , he managed to join the “Las Avispas” senior team.

Regarding his inclusion among the four receivers of the Santiago team, he told the Cuban News Agency to fulfill the dream of being able to debut with the big team and wear the red and black jersey, winner of eight national championships.

He says that he came to the baseball fields thanks to a movie called Babe Ruth's Bat, which inspired him to practice the sport in the neighborhood and at school, where he was caught by the coaches of the specialty academy.

As a player in the youth leagues, Harold had many victories, but he remembered with more significance the year of his debut where he managed to reach the finals against Granma with his team.

We were losing by two runs and I had a good turn because I got a hitl and we took the gold, winning the game 5-3, a tense but nice moment, the Harold stressed.

Harold's strength is power hitting, standing out in the production of home runs, four of them among the leaders with other teams.

I prepare myself physically and mentally to be able to contribute the Wasps' long-distance hitting, but since I work as a catcher, I also have to be defensive and for this I practice a lot blocking skills, catching fast balls for reaction, and a lot of throwing, he commented.

Our aspiration is to fight for the championship and my personal goal: to debut in style and wear the shirt with the four letters, that's why I ask the fans for support and trust because we are a mostly young team, but with a lot of talent, he asserted.

On the other hand, the rookie confessed his desire to wear the number 4 on the back of his shirt, the same number as Yadiel Molina, one of the best catchers in the Major Leagues and one of his favorite players, like Ariel Pestano from Villa Clara. .

His favorite food is conger eel, fries and pork, he enjoys watching action movies, listening to music in his little free time and his favorite color is red.

<



Baseball: My speed is down, but I'm here to get it back, says Rookie of the Year

22 JANUARY 2022

Bayamo, For certain reasons, in 2021 I had several training sessions, both for the LX National Series, and in order to participate in international events, my speed decreased; but I come to recover it in the coming campaign.

Commenting exclusively with the Cuban News Agency was the young pitcher from Mayabeque, Marlon Vega, who earned the Rookie of the Year nomination last season, which he could not close with the speed he had in his pitches at the beginning.

At the Awards Gala of the previous campaign, Vega told ACN that it was a dream to obtain this award by debuting in a national series, and that this is an encouragement to face the new season with his Hurricanes of Mayabeque if he manages to integrate again with the Cuban team.

In 2021 I had several training sessions and that was very exhausting, hence the imbalance in my speed; but I gradually adapted to everything that was presented to me and now I am ready to face this new competition that is much longer with the Mayabeque team, Vega said.

The right-hander from Bejucal, 19 years old and weighing 95 kilograms, thanked the help he received from the mentor Eriel Sánchez and the entire group, when he joined the Cuba team in his first year as a player, which finished fourth in the Copa del World under 23 years.

Since I was little I always wanted to be a starter to be among the main pitchers of the teams, and right now I have been given that opportunity although I have also thrown in a reliever role. I have accommodated myself to the relief role because it is a better, easier function and it suits me because I am one of the younger players and I am not prepared to throw so much among the older players, he commented.

<



Armando Dueñas believes he can give his best in the upcoming Baseball Series

DECEMBER 22, 2021

Matanzas, Dec 22 Armando Dueñas, age 22, a talented Cuban pitcher, believes he can "exploit" his qualities to the fullest in the LXI National Baseball Series (SNB) , after undergoing rigorous training to improve control of his pitches.

A member of Cocodrilos de Matanzas in the domestic tournament, told ACN that, five months before starting the official preparation with the current runner-up of Cuba, he developed a sequence of personalized exercises to gain confidence when locating his pitches.

Along with Haykel Parra, also a pitcher for those led by Armando Ferrer, I worked with rubber bands and balls in different activities that contributed to the goal of gaining stability in movements, said the fastball throwing right-hander, a member of the Cuba team. who. in 2018 enlisted for participate in the Central American and Caribbean Games.

Dueñas, a native of the municipality of Perico, revealed that he is also currently working on expanding his repertoire, mastering the split-finger and perfecting the curve, the latter to use in contrast to his fast slider.

So far, his performances were very good and I hope that this will also be the dynamic during the season, the pitcher confessed son of the former Henequeneros shortstop of the same name.

The coaches and the fans give me a lot of encouragement and agree that I can achieve greater goals, so the only thing left to do is go for the results, he said after pitching a good game closing against Leones de Industriales, in a preseason clash at the Victoria stadium in Girón, in this city.

According to the official baseball site on the Island, Armando Dueñas, with experience in five SNBs, has accumulated a balance of 11 wins and 10 losses, with 15 saves and an ERA of 4.65, in addition to 94 strikeouts and the same number of bases on balls in 476.0 innings.

<



After a successful 2021, Naykel Cruz already thinks about shining in the National Series

09 DECEMBER 2021

Matanzas, Naikel Y. Cruz Saldívar, one of the greatest pitching talents in Cuba, acknowledged in exclusive statements to the Cuban News Agency that he relies on Yoanni Yera, a renowned pitcher for the national team, to help in his progress in the baseball.

The 21-year-old young man, a member of the Crocodiles of Matanzas, stated that he pays close attention to the throwing movements of the left-handed Yera, a close reference who is also a member of the current baseball champions in Cuba.

Cruz Saldívar even revealed that the ace of the Reds' pitching staff advised him on more effective ball grips, which he tries to perfect in the bullpen first, and then taking advantage of them in the game.

Regarding the outstanding performance during the regular season of the current Series 60, mainly in the last two starts, the inexperienced pitcher stated that this season he feels physically strong, because he knew how to take advantage of the period of isolation due to the spread of the known disease like COVID-19.

This year I had in mind to win a starting position in the rotation of champions, so the preparation was very different from that of previous years, confessed the also member of the Cuban roster for the Under-23 Pan American Championship, based in Honduras the previous February.

In addition, I notice greater maturity in the psychological aspect, now I think more before each delivery and I frequently use the breakers so as not to abuse the fastball, added the hard throwing pitcher who is able to sustain the speed in the 90's, with higher peaks .

With a couple of wins without losses (one shutout included), Cruz Saldívar has accumulated 22.2 innings of work to date, with an ERA of 4.37 earned runs per game, 22 strikeouts and 10 walks, while opponents batted him for 264 on average.