MEXICO – The Aragua Tigres of Venezuela have won their first Caribbean Series championship after going 5-1 in the week-long tournament in Mexicali, Mexico. The Tigres reeled off five straight wins out the gate at the Series, clinching the title Friday night with a 5-3 win over Mexico’s Mazatlan Venados for Venezuela’s seventh CS crown.

Third baseman Luis Maza led the Tigres regulars with a .300 batting average as the team hit just .235. Aragua had only one homer in the Series, but it was a big one. Hector Gimenez’ bomb gave the Tigres a 1-0 win in 11 innings over Mazatlan Tuesday. The pitching was better, as Tim Harikkala shut out Mazatlan over six innings in his only start, and closer Francisco Butto had four saves in as many chances for manager Buddy Bailey’s team.

GONZALEZ BROS LEAD MEX PAC TITLISTS TO SECOND PLACE
It was the Gonzalez Brothers Show at the Caribbean Series for the Mazatlan Venados, who finished second at 3-3. Adrian Gonzalez, a National League All-Star for San Diego in 2008, led all batters with three homers and eight RBIs. All three homers came Wednesday night against Licey in a wild 12-9 Venados win. Edgar Gonzalez, who hit .274 in 111 games playing next to his brother in San Diego last year, won the CS batting race with a .457 mark. Mazatlan shortstop Heber Gomez added a solid .400 average to the Mexican lineup.

Among Mazatlan pitchers, Mexican veteran Walter Silva was outstanding Monday night against Ponce, shutting out the Lions on three hits over seven innings. Although Silva lost the Series finale to Licey Saturday, he ended up with a 2.25 ERA and 13 Ks in 12 frames.

LACK OF OFFENSE DOOMS PUERTO RICAN CHAMPS
The Ponce Leones finished the Caribbean Series with a pair of wins after combining with past Puerto Rico League champions to lose eleven straight games dating back to 2006. Ponce scored just six runs over their first four games this year, all losses, before notching three against Licey on Friday and nine more against Aragua on Saturday to end up at 2-4.

Luis Figueroa batted .389, Carlos Rivera hit .360 and Andy Gonzalez finished at .333, but Puerto Rico League MVP Jorge Padilla batted just .182 while MLB veteran catcher Raul Casanova hit .091 (going 1 for 11). Pitcher Josue Matos hurled five shutout innings in Ponce’s 3-0 whitewashing of Licey Friday, while Giancarlo Alvarado won Saturday’s game over Aragua. Alvarado struck out 16 batters in 11.2 innings for manager Eduardo Perez’ club.

DOMINICAN KINGPINS FAIL TO DEFEND 2008 CS TITLE
The Goddess of Fortune has finally stopped smiling upon the Licey Tigres. One year after the Tigres won the Caribbean Series after being the number two team from the host Dominican Republic due to no winterball in Puerto Rico, Licey barely slipped in the Dominican League playoffs this winter before winning their 20th pennant in the postseason.

Things went sour early for the defending champs, as the Tigres lost four of their first five games and were never in contention. Licey was not without some good performances, however. Catcher Ronny Paulino led Dominican batters by hitting .381 with two homers and five RBIs. Pitcher Alfredo Simon pitched shutout ball over seven innings to win his only start.

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Tags: Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Venezuela