Dominican Republic rallies past Mexico 3 2; Cuba advances, Puerto Rico out of Caribbean Series
By Octavio Benitez
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico _ Elian Herrera got the game-winning hit and the Dominican Republic rallied for two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to beat Mexico 3-2 on Thursday night in the Caribbean Series.
The victory by the Dominican Republic (2-1) eliminated host Puerto Rico from the tournament and helped Cuba (1-3) advance to the semifinals.
Mexico (2-1) and Venezuela (3-0) also have advanced.
Venezuela beat Cuba 6-2 earlier Thursday. Balbino Fuenmayor homered and drove in two runs, and Cesar Valdez pitched seven solid innings.
Fuenmayor, a 25-year-old former Blue Jays minor leaguer, hit a solo shot off reliever Livan Moinelo in the sixth. He added an RBI single in a four-run third inning. Cuban starter Yoanni Yera (0-1) allowed four runs and six hits in 2 1-3 innings.
Valdez (1-0) allowed two runs and seven hits, striking out eight.
Cuba (1-3) scored on solo homers by Alexander Malleta in the first and Luis Valdes in the seventh.
Puerto Rico (0-3) had the day off Thursday and will play the Dominican Republic on Friday.
Alwin Marshall-Squire is the Editor-in-Chief of S-Q Publications Inc., overseeing editorial strategy for GTA Weekly, GTA Today, and Vision Newspaper. He leads the publications’ mission to deliver bold, original journalism focused on the people and communities of the Greater Toronto Area, Canada, and the global Caribbean diaspora.
Also writes for GTA Weekly and GTA Today.
