Game of February 11--Australian League Championship Series

BRISBANE 3, MELBOURNE 1 IN MELBOURNE

It was 1-1 through five.  In the sixth, a walk and a single put men on first and third for Brisbane with one out.  A passed ball scored the go-ahead run.  A walk and a fielder's choice loaded the bases and a ground out brought home an insurance run.  The lone Melbourne run scored on a Cody Jones homer leading off the fourth.  They loaded the bases on three singles with one out in the eighth, but a pair of strikeouts ended the threat.  Aaron Whitefield was 1-for-5 with an RBI for Brisbane.  Logan Wade was 1-for-4 with a double for Brisbane.  Kramer Champlin pitched seven innings for Brisbane, giving up one run on one hit and no walks with four strikeouts.

Brisbane wins the best-of-three series 2-0 and is awarded the Claxton Shield.  It's too bad the World Series trophy doesn't have a cool name like the Claxton Shield.

Game of February 10--Australian League Championship Series

BRISBANE 6, MELBOURNE 2 IN MELBOURNE

Trent Oeltjen hit a two-run homer in the first and Brisbane led all the way.  The lead was only 3-2 through two innings, though, and after a David Rodriguez homer in the third made it 4-2 there was no more scoring until the eighth.  In that inning, back-to-back homers by Logan Wade and Kevin Padlo put the game out of reach.  Five relievers combined to shut out Melbourne over the last 6.2 innings of the game.  Aaron Whitefield was 1-for-5 with a run for Brisbane.  Wade was 3-for-4.

Brisbane leads the best-of-three series 1-0.

Game of February 7--Caribbean Series Championship

PUERTO RICO 1, MEXICO 0 IN MEXICO (10 INNINGS)

Puerto Rico put men on first and third with one out in the top of the first.  No one on either team reached third base again until the tenth.  Yadiel Rivera opened the top of the tenth with a double for Puerto Rico.  He advanced to third on a bunt and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jonathan Morales.  Mexico only twice put a man on second, in the seventh and eighth.  Adalberto Flores pitched six shutout innings for Puerto Rico, giving up one hit and one walk with no strikeouts.  Eddie Rosario was 0-for-4 for Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico wins the Caribbean Series Championship.

Games of February 6--Caribbean Series

PUERTO RICO 9, VENEZUELA 6 IN MEXICO

Three singles, two walks, and another single produced four first-inning runs for Puerto Rico.  It was 9-2 through seven, but Venezuela scored four in the eighth to make the final score look better.  And in fact, Venezuela opened the ninth with three singles to bring the winning run up to bat, but a strikeout, a fly out, and a strikeout ended the game.  Orlando Roman struck out seven in five innings for Puerto Rico, giving up one run on seven hits and three walks.  Henry Ramos was 3-for-5 with a triple and two runs for Puerto Rico.  David Vidal hit a home run for Puerto Rico.

MEXICO 1, CUBA 0 IN MEXICO

The game's lone run scored in the fifth, when Agustin Murillo singled home Ronnier Mustelier.  Cuba had only two hits in the game and also only drew two walks, giving them only four baserunners for the game, and one of them was picked off.  Miguel Pena pitched five shutout innings for Mexico, giving up two hits and a walk with four strikeouts.  Daniel Rodriguez did even better for Mexico, pitching three perfect innings with five strikeouts.

Tonight will be the championship game of the Caribbean Series between Puerto Rico and Mexico.

Games of February 5--Caribbean Series

VENEZUELA 4, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 3 IN MEXICO

The Dominican Republic led 3-1 through seven, but Ronny Cedeno's RBI double was followed by a two-run homer by Rene Reyes to give Venezuela a 4-3 lead and eventual win.  Jose Castillo also homered for Venezuela.

CUBA 4, MEXICO 0 IN MEXICO

Cuba scored all its runs in the fifth inning, as Alfredo Despaigne hit a three-run homer and William Saavedra followed with a solo homer.  Vladimir Banos pitched 8.2 scoreless innings for Cuba, giving up six hits and two walks with five strikeouts.

FINAL STANDINGS

Cuba, 3-1
Mexico, 3-1
Venezuela, 3-1
Puerto Rico, 1-3
Dominican Republic, 0-4

SEMI-FINALS

Cuba v. Venezuela
Puerto Rico v. Mexico

Games of February 4--Australian League Preliminary Finals

BRISBANE 18, ADELAIDE 2 IN BRISBANE

Leading 4-1 after six, Brisbane scored six in the seventh and eight in the eighth to win the game and the series.  Aaron Whitefield was 2-for-5 with a walk and a run for Brisbane.  Logan Wade was 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs for Brisbane.  Rick Teasley struck out nine in seven innings for Brisbane, giving up one run on three hits and no walks.  Mitch Nilsson was 4-for-6 with two home runs for Brisbane, scoring three times and driving in four.  David Rodriguez was 3-for-6 with a home run and a double for Brisbane, scoring three times.  Thomas Milone was 3-for-5 with a run for Brisbane.  Trent Oeltjen hit a home run for Brisbane.  Ryan Battaglia hit two home runs for Brisbane.

Brisbane wins the best-of-three Preliminary Final Series 2-1.  They will play Melbourne in the best-of-three Championship Series beginning Friday.

Games of February 4--Caribbean Series

PUERTO RICO 10, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 2 IN MEXICO

Already leading 3-2, Puerto Rico scored three in the fifth and three in the sixth to put the game out of reach.  Ivan DeJesus, Jr. was 3-for-4 with a double and a walk for Puerto Rico, scoring three times and driving in two.  David Vidal was 3-for-4 with a double and a walk for Puerto Rico, scoring once.  Rusney Castillo hit a two-run homer for Puerto Rico.

VENEZUELA 8, CUBA 3 IN MEXICO

Ronny Cedeno's RBI single in the fourth put Venezuela up 4-3 and a three-run fifth gave Venezuela control of the game.  Freddy Galvis was 3-for-4 with a double and a walk for Venezuela, scoring twice and driving in two.  Cedeno was 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI.

STANDINGS

Mexico, 3-0
Cuba, 2-1
Venezuela, 2-1
Puerto Rico, 1-3
Dominican Republic, 0-3

TODAY'S TILTS

Dominican Republic v. Venezuela
Mexico v. Cuba

Games of February 3--Australian League Preliminary Finals

ADELAIDE 8, BRISBANE 4 IN BRISBANE (12 INNINGS)

Mitch Dening hit a two-run homer in the twelfth to break a 4-4 tie and Adelaide added a couple more insurance runs later in the inning.  Jordan Cowan was 4-for-6 with a double for Adelaide, scoring twice and driving in one.  Marcus Greene, Jr. was 3-for-6 with a two-run homer and two runs for Adelaide.  Josh Altmann was 3-for-6 with a run and an RBI for Adelaide.

The best-of-three series is tied 1-1.

Games of February 3--Caribbean Series

CUBA 6, PUERTO RICO 1 IN MEXICO

A three-run third broke a 1-1 tie, putting Cuba up 4-1 and in control of the game.  Vladimir Garcia pitched six innings for Cuba, giving up one run on five hits and a walk with two strikeouts.  William Saavedra was 3-for-4 with a two-run homer and a double for Cuba, driving in three.  Eddie Rosario was 1-for-3 with an RBI for Puerto Rico.

MEXICO 5, VENEZUELA 1 IN MEXICO

Sebastian Valle hit a walk-off grand slam with none out in the ninth to break a 1-1 tie.  Barry Enright struck out five in five innings for Mexico, giving up one run on five hits and no walks.

STANDINGS

Mexico, 3-0
Cuba, 2-0
Venezuela, 1-1
Dominican Republic, 0-2
Puerto Rico, 0-3

TODAY'S TILTS

Dominican Republic v. Puerto Rico
Cuba v. Venezuela

Games of February 2--Australian League Preliminary Finals

BRISBANE 3, ADELAIDE 1 IN ADELAIDE

Jordan Cowan's RBI triple put Adelaide up 1-0 in the sixth.  In the eighth, two singles and an error tied the score and Trent Oeltjen's two-run double put Brisbane in front to stay.  Aaron Whitefield was 0-for-3 with a run for Brisbane.  Logan Wade was 1-for-4 for Brisbane.  Justin Erasmus struck out five in 5.2 innings, giving up one run on one hit and one walk.

Brisbane leads the best-of-three series 1-0.

Games of February 2--Caribbean Series

VENEZUELA 4, PUERTO RICO 3 IN MEXICO

Jesus Flores hit a two-run homer in a three-run second that put Mexico up 3-0.  It was 4-1 through seven, when David Vidal hit a two-run homer to cut the margin to 4-3.  Puerto Rico did not get the tying run past first base.  Eddie Rosario was 0-for-4 with a walk for Puerto Rico.  Omar Bencomo struck out six in five innings for Venezuela, giving up one run on four hits and two walks.

MEXICO 7, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 2 IN MEXICO

Jason Bourgeois hit a two-run triple in the fifth to give Mexico a 3-2 lead and C. J. Retherford hit a two-run homer in a three-run seventh that put the game out of reach.  Hector Velazquez struck out seven in five innings for Mexico, giving up two runs on four hits and three walks.  Chris Roberson was 4-for-5 with two runs and an RBI for Mexico.  Bourgeois was 3-for-4 with two triples, scoring once and driving in two for Mexico.

STANDINGS

Mexico, 2-0
Cuba, 1-0
Venezuela, 1-0
Dominican Republic, 0-2
Puerto Rico, 0-2

TODAY'S TILTS

Puerto Rico v. Cuba
Venezuela v. Mexico

Games of February 1--Caribbean Series

CUBA 4, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 0 IN MEXICO

Roel Santos tripled and scored in the first and had a two-run double in a three-run fifth.  Lazaro Blanco struck out six in 6.1 scoreless innings for Cuba.

MEXICO 4, PUERTO RICO 2 IN MEXICO

There was no score until the seventh, when David Vidal homered to put Puerto Rico up 1-0.  Mexico responded with three in the seventh, with two coming on a Chris Roberson homer.  Each team scored once in the eighth, with Ivan De Jesus, Jr. hitting a home run for Puerto Rico and Yuniesky Betancourt homering for Mexico.  Daniel Rodriguez pitched six shutout innings for Mexico, giving up one hit and two walks with four strikeouts.  Eddie Rosario was 0-for-3 for Puerto Rico.

STANDINGS

Cuba, 1-0
Mexico, 1-0
Venezuela, 0-0
Dominican Republic, 0-1
Puerto Rico, 0-1

TODAY'S TILTS

Venezuela v. Puerto Rico
Mexico v. Dominican Republic