5:51 AM UTC
Panama and Venezuela, the top two teams in the Caribbean Series so far, each pulled off dramatic wins on Day 4 of the tournament on Monday.
Here’s a recap of all the action from loanDepot Park in Miami:
In the most thrilling game of the day, the Federales de Chiriquí held on for a narrow 9-7 win and became the first team to secure a spot in the semifinals. Panama held a commanding 7-3 lead after scoring four runs in the second inning and three more in the following frame. Puerto Rico made things interesting by making it a one-run game after seven innings, but Panama ultimately secured yet another win in their undefeated tournament.
Panama saw all but one of their starters record a hit, including a multi-hit effort from four hitters. It marked the second straight game that Panama recorded double-digit hits. Panama will look to continue its winning ways in a big matchup on Tuesday with a 3-1 Venezuela team that is right behind in the standings.
For most of the game, Mexico held onto a 1-0 lead and looked poised to turn its fortunes around in the Caribbean Series. That is until Venezuela ripped off six runs in the seventh inning thanks to a hit parade up and down the lineup. Alexi Amarista — who recorded three hits in the game — tied the score with an RBI single. A pair of RBI singles from Wilfredo Tovar and Wilson Ramos put Venezuela up by two runs before Luis Torrens’ bases-clearing double opened up the floodgates.
With the win, Venezuela moved to 3-1, second in the tournament behind only the undefeated Panama squad. Fittingly enough, the two teams will face off on Tuesday night in what could be one of the most important matchups of the entire tournament.
After starting the tournament with a 1-2 record, Curacao recorded a much-needed victory to put them on track for a potential run to the finals. The game didn’t start well for Curacao after they fell behind 2-0 thanks to a pair of RBI doubles from Nicaragua’s Elian Miranda and Francisco Peguero. However, Curacao scored six unanswered runs by scoring three runs in the fourth inning and three more in the sixth inning.
On the offensive side, Curacao was led by catcher Hendrik Clementina — who hit a three-run home run in the sixth inning — and a two-hit, two-RBI performance from Jurickson Profar. On the mound, Shairon Martis tossed eight innings with two runs and didn’t allow one from the fifth inning on.
In the case of Nicaragua, they fell to a 0-4 record and remain the only team without a win in the tournament.
