Puerto Rican League: Games of January 17

The last day of the round robin.  A two-run homer by Daniel Ortiz isn't enough for Mayaguez.  A win isn't enough for Ponce.

PONCE 4, MAYAGUEZ 3 IN PONCE

Twins:  Daniel Ortiz (Mayaguez) was 1-for-4 with a two-run homer, his second.  Kennys Vargas (Mayaguez) was 1-for-4.  Josue Montanez (Ponce) struck out two in two shutout innings, giving up one hit and no walks.

Mayaguez:  Noel Cuevas (Dodgers) was 1-for-3 with a walk, scoring once and driving in one.  Luis Montanez was 2-for-3 with a double.  Jose Morales was 1-for-4 with a double and a run.

Ponce:  Geraldo Valentin was 4-for-4 with a double, scoring once and driving in two.  Benji Gonzalez (Pittsburgh) was 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs.  Fernando Cruz struck out two in two shutout innings, allowing three hits and no walks.

The game:  Valentin singled in a run in the first to put Ponce up 1-0, but Mayaguez tied it in the second on a Cuevas RBI single.  Valentin brought home two in the third with a double-and-error to make it 3-1 Ponce, but Mayaguez tied it again in the fifth on an Ortiz two-run homer.  Ponce went back in front in the bottom of the fifth on three singles, two of them coming with two out.  This time the lead held.  Mayaguez put men on first and second with one out in the sixth, but a double play ended the inning.  Mayaguez did not get a man past first after that.

CAROLINA 9, CAGUAS 1 IN CAGUAS

Carolina:  Jobduan Morales (Houston) was 3-for-4 with a double, scoring two and driving in three.  Mel Rojas (Pittsburgh) was 3-for-4 with a walk and a double, scoring once and driving in one.  Felix Diaz retired all nine men he faced, striking out five of them.

Caguas:  Neftali Soto (Cincinnati) was 1-for-4 with a home run, his second.

The game:  Soto homered in the first inning to give Caguas a 1-0 lead.  It was all Carolina after that.  Morales' RBI single tied it in the third.  Osvaldo Martinez (Dodgers) doubled in the go-ahead run in the fifth and a sacrifice fly later in the inning made it 3-1.  Johneshwy Fargas (San Francisco) singled in a run in the sixth and five singles added up to three runs in the seventh to put the game out of reach.

PLAYOFF STANDINGS

Mayaguez, 8-4
Caguas, 7-5
Ponce, 6-6
Carolina, 3-9

The round-robin is over, and the finals are set.  Mayaguez will take on Caguas in a best-of-seven series.