(Press Release; WBSC-AMERICAS BASEBALL).- The opening day of the baseball tournament of the Central American and Caribbean Games in San Salvador was marked by close and exciting duels.
First thing in the morning, Mexico national team defeated Cuba 4-0, a game that was not really decided until the last innings and in which both teams leaned on pitching.
For Mexico Wilmer Rios pitched five innings in which he gave up two hits, with two walks and three strikeouts, with no runs allowed to secure the victory. The relief of three Mexican pitchers completed the victory.
Offensively for Mexico, Fernando Villegas stood out by batting 3-for-3 with three runs scored and an RBI, as was Jesús Ávila who went 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
In the second game, the Venezuelan team sentenced Puerto Rico, coming from behind to win 4 to 3 and eliminating a threat in the last turn at bat for the Puerto Ricans during the game.
Offensively, Juan Infante led the way for Venezuela by going 2-for-3 with two RBIs, while Alex Monsalve also scored two runs by also going 2-for-3 in the game.
For its part, the Dominican Republic needed extra innings to overcome Nicaragua 6 to 5, including erasing a threat from their rival in the seventh inning that could have walked them of.
For the Dominican, Darlin Germán stood out offensively, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs, while Paulino Hansel was key on the mound, pitching the last two scoreless innings with a walk and four strikeouts.
The opening day closed with the only open score duel of the day, Curaçao defeated the host 12-4.
The islanders relied on the offense of Anderlton Simmons who hit 3-for-4 with two RBIs and one run scored, while Ericson Leonora went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and Stephan Vidal who went 1-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI.
The tournament continues this Sunday, in the first duel of the day Venezuela visits the Dominican Republic, followed by Curaçao receiving Cuba, later Puerto Rico will be local against Nicaragua and El Salvador will be a visitor against Mexico.
(Media Department; WBSC-AMERICAS BASEBALL)
