By The Star Staff
The Mayagüez Indians (Indios de Mayagüez) became 20-time champions of the Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League on Friday night, defeating the San Juan Senators (Senadores de San Juan), 5-2, in Game 6 of the league finals at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in Hato Rey.
Mayagüez hit the first of its four home runs in the top of the second inning, when Isán Díaz went deep to right field for the first two runs of the game.
In the sixth inning, Anthony García led off with a solo home run to left. Two outs later, Danny Ortiz hit a towering blast to right field that extended the visitors’ lead to 4-0.
The Tribe sealed the victory with two gone in the 7th inning when shortstop Rubén Tejada could not secure García’s sharply hit ground ball, allowing Bryan Torres to score from third for Mayagüez’s fifth run.
The Senators scored twice with one gone in the bottom of the eighth when Vimael Machin’s RBI double chased right-hander Jorge López and Cornelius Randolph’s bases-loaded liner to left off reliever Nelvin Fuentes drove in the host’s second and final run.
In the following at-bat, Díaz caught Brantley Bell’s line drive to shortstop and threw to second base to complete the double play and end the threat.
The Senators threatened once more in the bottom of the ninth by again loading the bases, but closer Justin Yeaguer locked down the win for his fourth save of the series.
Díaz finished the night going two for three with two RBIs, one run scored and an intentional walk. García also went two for three, with an RBI and a run scored.
Mayagüez got a strong pitching performance from left-hander Eduardo Rivera, who pitched five scoreless innings with five strikeouts.
Miguel Martínez took his second loss of the series for San Juan, allowing four runs in five and two-thirds innings.
After the game, Díaz was selected as the most valuable player of the series. He finished with a .450 batting average, with three doubles, a home run, five RBIs and four runs scored.
The Indians are now preparing to represent Puerto Rico in the 2025 Caribbean Series, in Mexicali, Mexico.
Commentaires