Vegueros of Pinar del Río just lost in its debut in the Caribbean Series to the Tomateros of Culiacan (Mexico). First outing to the playground of the Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, first loss. A fast defeat, without anesthesia, perhaps to announce early that is not enough to go armed to the teeth, if ultimately cracks are eloquent. There is no one to hide them behind a brittle shell.
It was a flash game that opened the floodgates in Puerto Rico, in less than three hours the Mexicans destroyed the forecast of a Cuban triumph. Nine innings side by side, without clear advantages, where those designated to climb the mound, in each case, didn’t disappoint. For Mexicans, it was the lefty Anthony Vasquez, for Cubans, Freddy A. Alvarez.
Both were determined to fill with zeros the board, dominating all that came to the home plate. From the beginning, the duel was raised, the advantages that both teams would be drawn would be minimal, there would be no respite for the bats. But the Cuban Green sox took command, based on the swift legs of Yulieski Gourriel who reached first on dead ball and anchored in second base after stealing it. From there he was batted in thanks to a drive line to the opposite field by Frederich Cepeda.
That is how far Pinar del Rio went, there were no more threats, more feints, the effective bullpen of the Tomateros neutralized all, apart from the wild rides of Cuban players who could come into bases. It was quite the opposite of their rivals that, in the first slip, the first relaxation, took the opportunity to sneak into the kitchen. In a play over the mound, Freddy chose wrongly, sought one out in the third when in first he had every advantage and at that moment the collapse began.
In the next inning Alfonso Urquiola gave the mission to Jonder Martínez to relieve to preserve the tie, but his lack of control, lack of command on pitches prevented him from achieving that. To the rescue left-handed pitcher Moinelo was also called and was responsible for the single that allowed the Mexicans to score the winning run. It was a dooming seventh inning. It is that Cuban pitchers are not yet ready for intermediate relieve? That despite of the fact there is much talk about it, there is no such specialization?
With the score 2 to 1, the Mexican coach Benji Gil didn’t hesitate and paraded through the mound the best of its staff. After Anthony Vasquez, he brought flamethrower Marin, and to close it veteran Oscar Villarreal. The former MLB pitcher would have to face the two best Cuban hitters, Yulieski Gourriel and Alfredo Despaigne, who could, with a swing, tie the game. There was hope. Nothing more.
