Photo: Calixto N. Llanes (JIT)
By Orlando González Cruz.
Havana, February 6 (RHC)-- The Cuban team of Agricultores saw their aspirations of advancing to the fight for the medals in the 65th Caribbean Baseball Series fall away after losing today to the Vaqueros de Monteria of Colombia by 5-4.
Carlos Marti's disciples were obliged to win at La Rinconada stadium in order to maintain real options to fight for the title of the tournament. The chosen starter for the eastern team was Jonathan Carbó, who pitched the first two innings without complications.
In the bottom of the third, a double (a connection that looked like it could be hit, but finally hit in front of left fielder Dennis Laza, to whom the ball then made a "strange") was combined with a ticket and another two-base hit that brought the first runs of the game to the plate.
At the beginning of the fourth inning, the Cuban team negotiated the tie with a ticket to Raico Santos, a double by Yosvany Alarcón, who was emulated by his older brother, Yordanis, with a rocket that drove in the first Cuban runs and, in this way, decreed the tie and the "explosion" of the Colombian starter. Hernando Mejia came to his rescue and prevented greater evils for the South Americans.
In the bottom of the fifth, Carbó had to leave the mound after being hit by a single, followed by Gustavo Cantero's home run to right field and another hit. To his rescue came Joel Mojena, who made a good relief, but could not prevent another run in the inning.
With three up on the scoreboard, the Colombians opened the top of the sixth with Oscar Marcelino as the new pitcher. The right-hander came in out of control, hitting balls to Laza and Alarcón (Yordanis) and receiving a biangular from Rafael Viñales, who brought one to the plate. Samuel Burgos was the one chosen to quench the Agricultores' energy, but the Antillean torpedo Andres De La Cruz continues to demonstrate that he is in very good shape, and on the first pitch he hit a cannonball to center field that brought another one for home.
The bottom of the seventh was opened by left-hander Miguel Paradelo on the mound for the Cubans and his performance was calm and to the beat of the conga, retiring the three batters he faced, a rhythm that continued in the bottom of the eighth.
Agricultores went to use up their last chance at bat, losing by one on the scoreboard; but they could do nothing against the Vaqueros' closer, who retired all three batters he faced.
Now the Cubans will have to win their remaining games and appeal to mathematics for a qualification that right now looks quite improbable.
