Cuba vs. DR in Do-Or-Die Game in the Caribbean Series
To advance to the semifinals of the Caribbean Series
HAVANA TIMES — Venezuela and Puerto Rico advanced Thursday to the semifinals of the Caribbean Series baseball tournament after beating Cuba and the Dominican Republic respectively. Cuba and the DR now square off Friday to determine the final four.
The other semifinalist, Mexico, rested on Thursday, after scoring three consecutive wins on the previous days.
The Venezuelan team defeated Cuba’s Ciego de Avila Tigers 3-1 at the Quisqueya Stadium in Santo Domingo. Starter Vladimir Baños (three runs, two earned) took the loss while reliever Arencio León was the winner. Boxscore
In the evening, Puerto Rico turned around a sensational pitchers’ duel defeating the Dominican Republic team by a score of 2-1 in 14 innings. Boxscore
Despite leading the game 1-0 going into the ninth inning, the hosts suffered their third consecuvite defeat in the tournament, the same as Cuba. One of the two teams will make it to the semifinals.
The Dominicans took the lead against Puerto Rico on a solo homer by Jimmy Paredes in the fifth inning, but the score was tied in the bottom of the ninth after an RBI triple by Puerto Rico’s Neftali Soto.
The Puerto Ricans sealed the victory and ticket to the semi-finals with a homer by Soto, the hero of the night, in the 14th inning.
In the Venezuela-Cuba game, the South American team jumped ahead 1-0 in the second inning and went up 3-0 in the third inning after a double by Alex Romero drove in Juniel Querecuto and a single by Jose Martinez brought home Romero.
Ciego de Avila scored its lone run in the seventh inning on a triple by Jose Adolis Garcia and a an RBI ground ball by Yordan Manduley .
Last year, the Cuban representative, Pinar del Río, gave the island its first Caribbean Series title in 55 years.
Today’s game between Cuba and the Dominican Republic (6:50 p.m. Cuban time), follows an afternoon game between Mexico and Puerto Rico. Venezuela has the day off.
The Caribbean Series brings together the five champions of the top division leagues of the Caribbean Baseball Confederation (Cuba, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Puerto Rico and Mexico).
The top four teams contest the semifinals, scheduled this year for Saturday, with the finals on Sunday.
Friday games
2:30 pm
Venados de Mazatlan (Mexico) vs. Santurce Crabbers (Puerto Rico)
6:50 pm
Tigres of Ciego de Avila (Cuba) vs. Lions of the Chosen (Dominican Republic)
Standings
| Pos | Team | G | W | L | PCT | Dif | CF | CC | DC | H-H | TQB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Venados de Mazatlán |
3 | 3 | 0 | 1.000 | – | 18 | 9 | +9 | 0 | |
| 2 |  Tigres de Aragua |
4 | 3 | 1 | .750 | 0.5 | 17 | 15 | +2 | 0 | |
| 3 |  Cangrejeros de Santurce |
3 | 2 | 1 | .667 | 1 | 15 | 4 | +11 | 0 | |
| 4 |  Leones del Escogido |
3 | 0 | 3 | .000 | 3 | 10 | 13 | -3 | 0 | |
| 5 |  Tigres de Ciego de Ávila |
3 | 0 | 3 | .000 | 3 | 5 | 24 | -19 | 0 |