By Reinaldo Oliveros
10 Feb 2024, 08:49 AM EST
The La Guaira Sharks of Venezuela take the title of the Miami 2024 Caribbean Series 3-0 against the Tigres del Licey. With this title, Venezuela adds 8 Caribbean crowns to one from Mexico.
La Guaira, with a team led by Ozzie Guillén, tied up the Licey offensive that was seeking the two-time Caribbean championship.
The Venezuelans’ pitching was intractable with Ricardo Pinto, Jorgan Cavanerio, Silvino Bracho, Anthony Vizcaya and Arnaldo Hernández. These five pitchers came together to stop the Tigres del Licey from the Dominican Republic.
On offense, Alcides Escobar produced the first run with a sacrifice fly scored by Odubel Herrera, who came in for Yasiel Puig after suffering an injury to one of his legs.
Venezuela increased the distance with a triple by Hernán Pérez that brought the second score in the legs of Wilfredo Tovar. And Pérez scored the third run with an infield ground ball.
Ricardo Pinto was chosen as the MVP of the match after pitching in 5.2 innings, 4 hits allowed, 6 strikeouts and was credited with the victory. The Venezuelan is the first player to be named Most Valuable in the final of the Venezuelan League and in the Caribbean Series.
Oswaldo Guillén became the second manager to have a World Series ring, a winter baseball ring and a Caribbean Series ring. The other leader to achieve it was Tom Lasorda with the Tigres del Licey.
Venezuela to a title from Mexico
Venezuela achieved its eighth Caribbean Series title, the first since 2009 when the Tigres de Aragua won it in Mexico.
The Venezuelan teams tied Cuba on the historical list and are one behind the Mexican representatives who have 9. Puerto Rico remains in second place with 16 and the Dominican Republic with 22.
The 2025 Caribbean Series will be in Mexicali and returns to the Mexican city after three years of absence.
A Mexican team has not won the Caribbean Series since the 2016 edition when the Venados de Mazatlán They defeated Tigres de Aragua from Venezuela.
Read more:
– No Hitter! Venezuela launches no-hit, no-run game against Nicaragua in Caribbean Series
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– Venezuela came back against Mexico and left it out of the race in the Miami 2024 Caribbean Series