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02/08/2006 Archived Entry: "VIVA BEISBOL: Caribbean Series Day 5"
MONDAY, February 6, 2006
SILVA PITCHES WELL IN 3-1 LOSS TO LICEY
Hurler allows just 2 runs in 6.2 innings
MARACAIBO, VENEZUELA – It took five games, but the Mazatlan Venados finally got a well-pitched game from their pitching staff in the Caribbean Series. Starter Walter Silva rebounded from a poor relief performance earlier in the CS to toss a solid 6.2 innings, but it wasn’t enough as the Mexican bats fell asleep in Mazatlan’s 3-1 loss to the Licey Tigres Monday.
Silva let in just two runs and scattered seven hits for the Venados, who had allowed 44 runs in their previous four games. However, Mazatlan put together just three hits and one run after scoring an average of five runs per game in the Series as the Mexican Pacific League champs dropped to 0-5 for the tournament. Licey raised their mark to 4-1 heading into tomorrow’s showdown with unbeaten Caracas of Venezuela on the final days of the CS.
Silva and Licey pitcher Daniel Cabrera were locked up in a scoreless tie until Mexico drew first blood in the bottom of the fifth inning when Mario Valenzuela scored from third base on a Cabrera wild pitch. It was Cabrera’s only mistake as he only allowed hits by Valenzuela and Heber Gomez in five innings of work. Gomez finished the day with two safeties.
The Dominicans took the lead in the top of the sixth when Napolean Calzado and Alexis Gomez both drilled RBI doubles off Silva, who was cruising along through the first five frames. The Tigres notched an insurance run in the eighth when Timo Perez drove in Ronnie Belliard with their third and final score of the game.
Meanwhile, in Valencia, Caracas got a good outing from pitcher Wilfredo Rodriguez in a 5-1 win over the Carolina Gigantes of Puerto Rico. Rodriguez got the win as the Leones allowed just two Giant hits, both by Ruben Gotay. Gotay got things off on the right track for Carolina by stroking a solo homer in the top of the first, but the Leones pecked away with single runs in the third and sixth, two in the seventh, and another one in the eighth as Alex Cabrera and Franklin Gutierrez each had a pair of hits and Rafael Alvarez whacked a solo homer.
The Caribbean Series will close with two games Tuesday. Mazatlan tries to avoid a winless CS with a game in Valencia against 1-3 Carolina, while Caracas will try to clinch a Series win at home in Maracaibo against Licey in the final game of the six-day tourney.
Licey (DR) Tigres 3-11-1, Mazatlan (MX) Venados 1-3-1
WP-Daniel Cabrera, LP-Walter Silva.
Caracas (VZ) Leones 5-9-0, Carolina (PR) Gigantes 1-2-4
WP-Wilfredo Rodriguez, LP-William Collazo.
