Caribbean Series: Day One

Puerto Rico 3, Venezuela 1.  Ruben Gotay’s two-run single in the second gave Puerto Rico a 2-1 lead it would never relinquish.  Jeff Dominguez singled in a run in the eighth to give Puerto Rico and insurance run.  Dominguez and Gotay each had two hits for Puerto Rico, as did Jesus Feliciano.  Feliciano had the game’s only extra-base hit, a double.  Nelson Figueroa struck out eight in 6.2 innings to get the win, giving up a run on seven hits and two walks.  Saul Rivera gave up two hits but no runs in the ninth, striking out two to get the save.  For Venezuela, Cesar Suarez and Adonis Garcia each had two hits.  Seth Etherton took the loss, striking out seven in 4.1 innings but giving up two runs on five hits and two walks.  Twins who played were Rene Rivera, who was 0-for-3 for Puerto Rico, Nelvin Fuentes, who retired the only man he faced for Puerto Rico, and Pedro Guerra, who struck out two in one inning but gave up an unearned run on a hit and a walk for Venezuela.

Dominican Republic 2, Mexico 1.  Pedro Florimon’s RBI groundout tied the game in the second, and a run scored on a double play in the third to give the Dominican Republic a lead it would never relinquish.  Fernando Tatis of the Dominican Republic was the only player who had two hits in the game.  There were no extra-base hits.  Kris Johnson allowed an unearned run on three hits in five innings while striking out four to get the win.  Jairo Ascencio struck out two in a perfect ninth to get the save.  Luis Mendoza gave up two runs on seven hits and two walks in six innings while striking out five to take the loss.  Florimon was the only Twins player to appear in the game, going 0-for-3.