...Opening Ceremony... ...46th Caribbean World Series...

Tigres de Aragua vs. Leones de Ponce
In the first game of the day, Aragua won 7-6 in ten innings vs. Ponce in a game which saw the score go back and forth. The Puerto Rican champion opened the score with two runs in the third inning when Raúl Nieves doubled and scored on an error. A fielder's choice resulted in the second run. In the home fourth, the Venezuelans took a 3-2 lead off of veteran pitcher Omar Oliveras. Two errors and an RBI-single by Alex Cabrera gave the Tigres its lead.
The Leones tied the score in the sixth inning on a sac-fly by Raúl Nieves, but in the home sixth, Aragua got the lead back immediately. After José Miguel Cabrera walked, Robert Pérez hit a 2-run homerun. In the Venezuelan Final, Pérez had hit four homeruns in the first four games.
Trailing 5-3, the Puerto Ricans tied the score again in the eighth inning with two outs. Carlos Rivera then singled, which brought in reliever Francisco Rodríguez. But the closer of the Anaheim Angels gave up a single to José Molina and then a 2-run double to Raúl Nieves. The score was then tied when another run was scored on a wild pitch.
In the ninth inning, Ponce took a 6-5 lead on a homerun by Luis López, but the score got tied once more in the home ninth when Robert Pérez reached on an error and scored on a fielder's choice.
In the tenth inning, the Venezuelans won the game. Luis Ordaz led off with a single and advanced on a one-out double by Alex Cabrera. Next, José Miguel Cabrera was walked intentionally to load the bases. Robert Pérez then followed with a game-winning, RBI-single to end the game.

Tigres de Licey vs. Tomateros de Culiacán
In the evening, Licey was leading 5-1 when Tomateros came alongside, but then scored a run in the seventh to win the game, 6-5.
Tomateros took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when José Macias tripled with one out and scored on an RBI-grounder by Benjamin Gil.
The Tigres then appeared to decide the game with a five-run rally in the fourth inning. Luis Castillo opened with a single, then Timoniel Pérez reached on an error. After Miguel Tejada struckout, David Ortíz followed with an RBI-double. The bases then got loaded when Izzy Alcántara walked and brought in pinch-runner Abraham Nuñez at third base. He scored when Henry Rodríguez also walked, leaving the bases loaded. The got got cleared on a 3-run double by José Offerman, giving Licey a 5-1 lead.
The Tomateros got a run back in the fifth inning on a lead-off homerun from Luis Carlos García and rallied for three runs in the seventh inning to tie the score. In the inning, Derrick White led off with a triple and scored on a single by Mario Valdez. With one out and after a pitching change, pinch-hitter Miguel Ojeda doubled and Darrell Sherman followed with an RBI-single. Next, José Macias reached on an error, which gave the Mexicans the tying run.
In the home seventh, Licey went on to score what would be the winning run. Rafael Furcal walked, stole second, advanced on a throwing error and was able to score when another error was committed on the play.
(February 2)

Tomateros de Culiacán vs. Tigres de Aragua
Tomateros de Culiacán, the Mexican champion, won its first game of the Series, beating Tigres de Aragua of Venezuela, 4-3. The Mexicans opened the score in the third inning when José Macias homered with two outs. Another run was scored in the fourth. Luis Carlos García led off with a single, moved on a one-walk for Mario Valdez, then scored on a two-out single by Adan Amezcua.
Aragua got scoring chances in the fifth and sixth inning. In the fifth, Eduardo Rios led off with a triple, but then the next three batters were retired. In the sixth, Luis Ardaz led off with a double, but was tagged out on third base on a fielder's choice grounder. Aragua then finally got a run back in the seventh inning. With one out, Eduardo Rios doubled, then the bases got loaded when both Alexander Delgado and Luis Rodíguez both were hit by a pitch. Rios then scored on a grounder by Juan Rivera.
Culiacán reacted immediately, scoring twice in the home seventh. Adan Amezcua led off with a single, followed by another single from Oscar Robles. Next, Amezcua was thrown out trying to steal third. Darrell Sherman followed with a single, putting another runner in scoring position. José Macias then followed with a 2-run double to give the Mexicans a 4-1 lead and forced a pitching change.
The Venezuelan champion managed to come back with two more runs in the eighth, but has to settle for a loss. In the inning, Magglio Ordoñez led off with a homerun on new pitcher Mark Kroon. Alex Cabrera followed with a double, which brought in new pitcher Mike García. He struckout the next batter, but then gave up a single to Eduardo Rios, which resulted in another pitching change. Luis Ignacio Ayala came in and was greeted with an RBI-single by Luis Landaeta, but then ended the inning.

...Rainy Quisqueya Stadium...

Tigres de Licey vs. Leones de Ponce
In the evening, Tigres de Licey shutout Leones de Ponce, 5-0, in a game which was stopped because of rain in the top of the seventh inning. Eventually, way passed midnight, it was called off definitively, giving the Dominican champion its second win and the Puerto Rican champs its second loss.
Licey scored its first run in the first inning when Luis Castillo scored on a triple by Rafael Furcal. The team added two runs in the fourth inning. Izzy Alcántara led off by reaching second base on an error, then Brandon Masters walked with one out. Alcántara then scored when Luis Castillo singled. The bases got loaded when Rafael Furcal walked. Next batter Miguel Tejada brought in another run on a hit by pitch, which led to a pitching change.
Two more runs were added in the sixth inning with two outs. Rafael Furcal then singled and the bases got loaded again on consecutive hit by pitches for Miguel Tejada and David Ortiz. Next, José Offerman followed with a 2-run single.
In the seventh, Licey got two runners on base with two consecutive singles when rain interrupted play. The umpire's crew chief finally called the game 40 minutes after midnight.
(February 3)

Tomateros de Culiacán vs. Leones de Ponce
Mexican champion Tomateros de Culiacán won its second game and handed Leones de Ponce (Puerto Rico) its third consecutive loss, 10-4.
Tomateros scored twice in the second inning on a 2-out, 2-run triple by Adan Amezcua, but the Leones tied the score in the third on RBI-singles by José Hiram Bocachica and Luis López. The Mexicans then re-took the lead to keep with a 4-run home third. With two outs, five consecutive hits gave the Mexicans a renewed lead. After Benjamin Gil and Derrick White singled, Kit Pellow followed with an RBI-single, Melvin Nieves hit a 2-run double and Mario Valdez connected for an RBI-single, which brought in a new pitcher, who ended the inning.
In the seventh, the Tomateros added two runs on a lead-off homerun by Benjamin Gil and an error. Two more runs were scored in the next inning on a 2-run single by Kit Pellow, who went 3-for-5, scored twice and had three RBI's.
Puerto Rico scored its last two runs in the ninth on a 2-run homerun by Raúl Gonzalez.

Tigres de Aragua vs. Tigres de Licey
Dominican champion Tigres de Licey remained unbeaten by winning its third game, a 4-3 victory in ten innings vs. Tigres de Aragua (Venezuela).
The Venezuelan Tigres took the lead in the second inning on a lead-off homerun by Alex Cabrera, then the Dominican Tigres came alongside in the third when Luis Castillo doubled and scored on a 2-out double by Miguel Tejada.
In the fourth inning, both teams left two runners behind, but Licey then scored its second run in the fifth on a 2-out homerun by Miguel Tejada. In the home fifth, Venezuela scored twice to take a 3-2 lead. Eduardo Rios led off with a single and advanced when Alexander Delgado reached on an error. Both then scored on a 2-run single by Luis Ordaz. Licey tied the score in the sixth on a homerun by Izzy Alcántara.
Both teams got a chance to decide the game in the eighth and ninth inning, but the two teams stranded two runners in both innings. In the tenth inning, Izzy Alcántara walked with one out and went on to score the winning run for Licey on a 2-out single by Mendy López, which was hit off of Francisco K-Rod Rodríguez, who had just came in to face López.
(February 4)

Leones de Ponce vs. Tigres de Aragua
Venezuelan champs Tigres de Aragua overcame a 3-0 deficit, then trailed 6-5, but won 7-6 on a 2-run rally in the eighth inning. Leones opened with two runs in the first inning when Carlos Rivera hit a homerun and another run was scored on an error. The team added a run in the second inning. Raul Gonzalez led off with a single and scored on a 2-out single by Gabby Martinez.
The Tigres came alongside in the fifth inning. After back-to-back singles from Eduardo Ríos and Gabriel Torres, Luis Ordaz hit a 3-run homerun with one out. The Venezuelans then took a 5-3 lead in the sixth on a 2-out, 2-run homerun by Eduardo Ríos.
Ponce re-took the lead by scoring three runs in the home sixth. Valentino Pascucci led off with a double, then scored when Raul Gonzalez homered after a pitching change. José Molina then walked and scored on a 2-out single by Carlos Baerga.
In the eighth inning, José Miguel Cabrera led off with a triple for Aragua, then scored the tying run on a grounder by Robert Pérez. Moments later, with two outs, Eduardo Ríos became the hero of the game by hitting his second homerun in the game, which gave Licey a 7-6 lead and the win.

...Sandy Martínez... ...game-winning homerun... (Photo: Tigres de Licey)

Tomateros de Culiacán vs. Tigres de Licey
In the evening, Dominican champions Tigres de Licey broke a 1-1 tie with two runs in the tenth inning to win 3-1 and remain unbeaten after four games.
Licey scored the first run of the game in the sixth inning when Miguel Tejada reached on an error, advanced when David Ortiz walked and then scored on a 2-out single by Izzy Alcántara. Tomateros tied the score in the home sixth. José Macias led off with a double, then Benjamin Gil walked. An error enabled Macias to score and Gil to reach second, who then advanced on a wild pitch. After a pitching change, two strikeouts followed, but a walk and hit by pitch loaded the bases. A strikeout, however, ended the Mexican threat.
Licey finally won the game in the tenth inning. With one out, Sandy Martínez hit a homerun, which gave the Dominicans a 2-1 lead, followed by a double from Luis Castillo. After a pitching change, Rafael Furcal walked, then an error on a grounder by Miguel Tejada resulted in an extra run. The bases got loaded, but Licey failed to add more runs.
In the home tenth, the Tomateros got one runner on, but couldn't score more runs.
(February 5)

Leones de Ponce vs. Tomateros de Culiacán
Leones de Ponce again failed to hold onto a lead and lost. The team led 5-3 after three innings, but went down 6-5 in 12 innings.
Ponce opened with a 3-run rally in the first inning. With one out, Robinson Cancel walked and scored on a double by Luis López. Two more runs were scored on RBI-singles by Valentino Pascucci and Juan Lebron.
The Mexicans scored their first run in the second inning on a lead-off homerun by Kit Pellow, but the Puerto Ricans got the run back in the home second. José Enrique Cruz then singled and advanced on an error, before scoring on a one-out single by Robinson Cancel.
Culiacán closed in with two runs in the third to make it 4-3 when Adan Amezcua singled and Miguel Tejada followed with a 2-run homerun. Again, Ponce was able to take some distance with a run in the home third on a 2-out homerun by Juan Lebron.
But after four scoreless innings, Culiacán tied the score in the eighth inning on a one-out, 2-run homerun by Melvin Nieves. Ponce grounded into a double play to end the eighth, left two runners in the ninth and tenth inning and failed to add more runs. Culiacán then scored the winning run in the twelfth inning when José Macias singled, advanced on a balk, moved on a sac-bunt and scored on a sac-fly by Kit Pellow.

Tigres de Licey vs. Tigres de Aragua
Tigres de Licey missed its first chance of winning the Caribbean World Series by losing 5-3 vs. Tigres de Aragua in the evening.
The Venezuelan opponent took command of the game early with two runs in both the first and second inning. In the first, Luis Rodríguez walked, then, with one out, Magglio Ordoñez singled. Next, Alex Cabrera and Miguel Cabrera followed with RBI-singles.
In the second, it again started with a walk. Tom Evans and Alexander Delgado walked, then an error loaded the bases with one out. Magglio Ordoñez then hit a 2-run double to make it 4-0.
In the sixth, Aragua increased the lead to 5-0 when Alexander Delgado doubled with two outs and scored on a single by Luis Rodríguez.
Licey answered with three runs in the home sixth, but was unable to turn the game around in its favor. With one out, Rafael Furcal singled, then Miguel Tejada doubled. David Ortiz followed with a 2-run double, which led to a pitching change. Another run was then scored on a sac-fly by Izzy Alcántara, but that was all for Licey.
(February 6)

Tigres de Aragua vs. Tomateros de Culiacán
Tomateros de Culiacán (Mexico) came from behind to win 6-5 vs. Tigres de Aragua (Venezuela) and only had a chance for the title when Tigres de Licey had lost later in the day vs. the Puerto Rican champs, but that didn't happen.
Aragua scored the first run in the first inning on a sac-fly, then Culiacán scored three runs in the second inning. Luis Carlos García and Mario Valdez singled and Melvin Nieves walked, then a run was scored on a wild pitch. Then, with one out, Heber Gomez hit a 2-run single.
Aragua answered with a 3-run rally in the home second. With two outs, Tom Evans singled and Alexander Delgado reached on an error, followed by a 3-run homerun by Luis Rodríguez.
In the fourth, Aragua took a 5-3 lead when Luis Landaeta tripled and scored on a single by Gabriel Torres. Then, in the sixth, the Mexicans tied the score on a basesloaded walk for Mario Valdez and a one-out RBI-single by Adan Amezcua.
In the eighth, Culiacán decided the game when pinch-hitter Miguel Ojeda reached on a fielder's choice and went on to score on an error that followed a single by Adan Amezcua.

Tigres de Licey vs. Leones de Ponce
In the evening, Leones de Ponce again took a lead, but ended up empty handed. The Puerto Ricans ended the event with six losses, as Dominican champion Tigres de Licey came from behind and won 4-3 to win the title.
Ponce took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Carlos Baerga tripled and scored on an error. They added a run in the second inning on a one-out homerun by Valentino Pascucci.
In the home second, Licey scored its first run on a single by Mendy López, but Ponce got the run back in the fourth inning on a lead-off homerun by Luis López.
Then, it was Licey all the way. In the home fourth, the Dominicans scored a run with two outs when José Offerman doubled and scored on a single by Izzy Alcántara. They tied the score in the fifth inning. With one out, Brandon Masters singled, then scored when an error followed a single by Luis Castillo.
In the sixth inning, Licey took the lead to keep. José Offerman walked and advanced on a single by Izzy Alcántara. With two outs, Brandon Masters singled to give Licey the lead.
In the ninth inning, Ponce got two runners on base with one out off of closer Francis Beltrán, who then struckout the next two batters to end the game. Beltrán, who ended with a Series record-tying three saves and won one game, was named the Most Valuable Player. He also was chosen in the Series All Star Team as Relief Pitcher.
Five more Licey-players were chosen in the All Star Team: José Jiménez (Righthanded Pitcher), Dámaso Marte (Lefthanded Pitcher), David Ortíz (3B), Izzy Alcántara (OF) and Mendy López (OF). Manager Manny Acta was chosen as the team's Manager.
(February 7)

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