Caribbean Series 2016: Scores, Results, Standings and Schedule After Friday
The final day of round-robin action at the Caribbean Series commenced Friday, setting the stage for the semifinals and championship game this weekend.
Mexico advanced as the top seed, finishing with a 4-0 record after Friday’s 8-4 win over Puerto Rico. Cuba ousted the Dominican Republic, 4-2, in the finale to secure the last spot in the semifinals.
Here is a look at the updated standings and schedule after Friday’s action:
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| Mexico | 4-0 |
| Venezuela | 3-1 |
| Puerto Rico | 2-2 |
| Cuba | 1-3 |
| Dominican Republic | 0-4 |
| Puerto Rico vs. Venezuela | VEN, 2-1 |
| Mexico vs. Dominican Republic | MEX, 3-2 |
| Cuba vs. Mexico | MEX, 9-3 |
| Venezuela vs. Dominican Republic | VEN, 8-7 |
| Venezuela vs. Mexico | MEX, 6-4 |
| Puerto Rico vs. Cuba | PUR, 12-1 |
| Venezuela vs. Cuba | VEN, 3-1 |
| Dominican Republic vs. Puerto Rico | PUR, 2-1 |
| Mexico vs. Puerto Rico | MEX, 8-4 |
| Cuba vs. Dominican Republic | CUBA, 4-2 |
| Semifinal 1: Puerto Rico vs. Venezuela | 2:30 p.m. |
| Semifinal 2: Dominican Republic/Cuba vs. Mexico | 6:50 p.m. |
| Championship | 3 p.m. |
Mexico 8, Puerto Rico 4
Mexico continued its remarkable undefeated run with a come-from-behind 8-4 win over Puerto Rico.
Tied 2-2 in the top of the eighth inning, Mexico churned out six runs to earn the tournament’s top seed.
Puerto Rico relief pitcher Efrain Nieves intentionally walked Luis Juarez to load the bases with one out, and pinch hitter Cyle Hankerd then smacked a two-run double to center field to open the floodgates.
A pitching change in favor of Alex Burgos didn’t offer much help, as Ramon Urias, Jeremias Pineda and Justin Greene each lined doubles to bring home four additional runs before Jorge Vazquez struck out swinging to finally end the inning.
Puerto Rico responded with a run in both the eighth and ninth innings, but it was too little, too late.
The Puerto Ricans were in position to steal the No. 1 seed with a win after taking a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning, when T.J. Rivera scored on a Danny Ortiz single and Henry Ramos scored on a throwing error by catcher Sebastian Valle.
But Mexico crept back in the seventh on a two-out bunt single by Greene that scored Pineda. ESPN Beisbol shared the replay:
The game-tying run gave Mexico the push it needed to rally in the eighth. Mexico now awaits Cuba, while Puerto Rico will take on Venezuela, which won 2-1 when the two teams met Monday.
Cuba 4, Dominican Republic 2
It took Cuba 11 innings to finally get its first win of the Caribbean Series, as the defending champs advanced to the semifinals and eliminated the Dominican Republic with a 4-2 victory in the finale of this week’s round-robin action.
Tied at 2-2 in the top of the 11th, Yurisbel Gracial loaded the bases by reaching on a sacrifice bunt, however, the following two batters struck out swinging as the Dominicans made a picking change in favor of 14-year MLB veteran Rafael Soriano.
But Jose Adolis Garcia answered on the Soriano’s first pitch by lacing a two-RBI single to center field that propelled the Cubans to victory, as shown by ESPN Beisbol:
The Dominican Republic were positioned favorably runners on second and third with one out in the bottom of the 11th, but pinch-hitter Lew Ford struck out and leadoff batter Leury Garcia grounded out to first to end the game.
The Dominicans started strong with a pair of runs in the second inning, courtesy of a two-RBI double by Wilkin Castillo. However, they were unable to manufacture any runs on the five hits they had the rest of the way.
Garcia, who allowed the seven batters he faced this week a .429 average, was credited the loss. Cuba reliever Miguel Lahera was credited the win after tossing 4.2 innings with no runs and just one hit allowed while fanning three.
Cuba next faces off against red-hot Mexico in Saturday’s semifinal and will look to rebound from its first meeting with the tournament’s top seed after falling 9-3 on Tuesday. The host Dominicans, meanwhile, are eliminated in massive disappointment as the early favorites to win the tournament on their own soil.
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