Criollos win Puerto Rican league crown, become most successful baseball club in LBPRC history

Criollos win Puerto Rican league crown, become most successful baseball club in LBPRC history
27/01/2021
The Criollos swept Indios de Mayaguez, as Jarred Duran earned series MVP honors.

The Criollos de Caguas became the most successful club in the history of the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League (LBPRC, Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente -- WBSC Associate Member), as they swept the Indios de Mayaguez in the final series to earn their 19th league title.

The Criollos shut out the Indios, 4-0, in the Game 1 opener and went on to win the next games, 7-5, 7-3 and 7-6.

The finale of the LBPRC championship series was described by the local press as "not advisable for those who suffer from a heart condition."

The Indios, playing on home turf, took a 6-5 lead into the ninth inning. Switch-hitting first baseman Victor Caratini, who plays for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB) and second baseman Vimael Machin batted in the go-ahead runs for Criollos.

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The Caguas used five relievers after starter Giovanni Soto exited the game. Joshua Torres earned the win, pitching one scoreless inning and Fernando Cruz recorded the save, pitching a perfect ninth. Mayaguez reliever Yacksel Rios suffered the loss.

Caguas center fielder Jarren Duran hit a home run, collecting his sixth RBI in the series, and was awarded series MVP honours. Duran is a top prospect in the Boston Red Sox organization and his club celebrated his accomplishment on Twitter.

The LBPRC is an Associate Member of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC).

Premier12 2019