The Dominican Republic scored in six of the nine innings played tonight at 18 de Junio stadium in Montería, to claim the game against its classic rival Puerto Rico, by a score of 9-6.
Both pitchers, Dominican Harol Gonzalez and Puerto Rican Osvaldo Berrios remained scoreless in the first two episodes.
At the opening of the third inning the Dominican Republic third baseman Eguy Rosario singled to start the offense of his team, and then Jeison Guzman produced the first two runs of the game with a hard line drive over the center field fence.
Puerto Rico also scored in its third attack, with a solo homer by left-hander Lean Carlos Marrero to the opposing field, to put the game 2-1.
In the fourth the Dominican scored again two runs, single by Ariel Sandoval and two run home run by Andretty Cordero to the left field line.
The Puerto Ricans responded with two runs in the bottom of the same period. Emmanuel Rivera started with a hit to left field, and Aldemar Burgos reached by an error of the pitcher, leaving two runners in scoring position. One out later Jan Alexis Hernandez hit a long fly ball to center field, which was caught spectacularly by outfielder Gilberto Celestino, allowing Rivera to score from third. Then Burgos crossed home with the third run of the Puerto Ricans, thanks to a balk of the pitcher.
However the Dominican offense continued making damage in the following four innings, scoring in six consecutive innings during the game. The winners scored one run in the fifth with a single from Julio Rodríguez to plate Wendell Rijo; another one in the sixth, product of a wild pitch; two more in the seventh with a two-run home run by Rodríguez and one in the eighth, when Rosario scored with a bases loaded hit by pitch.
The Puerto Rican team put together a rally of three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, product of three hits and an error, to put the game 9-6.
And in the bottom of the ninth Puerto Rico put the hypothetical tiying run in the batting box, after a single by Isan Diaz and a walk by Rivera. However, Eduardo del Rosario sealed the game for the Dominicans striking out Burgos to end the match.
For the Dominican team the winner was Sandro Cabrera in 1.1 innings, with no hits. The game was saved by Rosario. The loss went for the starter Berrios, who worked for 4 periods, receiving 5 hits and 4 runs, without tickets or strikeouts.
The Dominican Republic will play its second game of the tournament this Saturday against Korea at 3 pm local time. On the other side, Puerto Rico will face Venezuela in the last game of the day at 20 pm.
