Panama loses to Venezuela, now targets the Dominicans

Relying on their bull and timely attack, Tiburons from La Guaire (Venezuela) won with (5-4) and finished undefeated Chiriquí Federals in the final game this Tuesday night at Loandepot Park, and secured a spot in the semifinals of the Miami 2024 Caribbean Series.

The Panamanians now have to prepare against the Dominican Republic, for this Wednesday, February 7, which will be their last game of the regular season.

Second reliever Elvis Araujo (1-0) was responsible for the victory, whom he saved Arnaldo Jose Hernandez (3), and the defeat came with a basket by Abdiel Saldana (0-1), in a game in which Venezuela had 6 goals and made 1 mistake, while Panama scored 9 goals and did not miss from the field.

In front of an audience of almost 12,000 fans, led by former great Leegas Ozzie Guillén They were down 3-1, but turned the score around in the bottom of the sixth inning when, with 2 outs and the bases loaded due to walks by Wilfredo Tovar, Wilson Ramos and Yasiel Puig, Hernán Pérez hit a low-power but well-placed hit on a short ball to right field which became a double and brought the tie and the lead, all at the expense of starter Frías. And then Alcides Escobar’s 400-foot home run off reliever Abdiel Saldana brought peace in the bottom of the seventh.

Federales marked the territory in the same first inning against Ariel Miranda, when he hit 2 consecutive home runs from Allen Córdoba (376 feet) and Ivan Herrera (384 feet) and added another in the third thanks to a ground ball from Christian Bethancourt for an infield that drove out Edgar Muñoz from third base. The fourth came in the ninth inning against closer Arnaldo José Hernández.

For their part, the Tiburones plated their first run in the bottom of the second on a double to left by Hernán Pérez that scored Wilson Ramos from second.

Per Venezuela Hernán Pérez stood out, going 2-for-2, both doubles, and 4 RBIs with 2 shutouts, accompanied by Alcides Escobar, who went 2-for-3, including the aforementioned home run, while Allen Córdoba went 5-for-5 for Panama. -3 with 1 home run.

Venezuela will play tomorrow against second-placed Nicaragua in the night shift and PanamaThey will do so against the Dominican Republic in the afternoon.

The starter for Venezuela was Ariel Miranda who went 2.1, 3 earned runs, 4 hits, 4 strikeouts and 2 walks. Anthony Castro came behind (2.2); Elvis Araujo (1.0); Jorgan Cavaneiro (1.0); Anthony Vizcaya (1.0) and Arnaldo José Hernández (1.0): Meanwhile for Panama after starter Antonio Frías, who allowed 3 earned runs in 5.2 with 3 hits, 4 walks and 6 walks, Abdiel Saldana (0.2) and Ronald Ramírez (1.2).

After these results, the position table shows the following order: Venezuela (4-1) Panama (4-1); Dominican and Puerto Rico (3-2); Curacao (2-3) and Mexico (2-4) and Nicaragua (0-5)

This Wednesday on the closing day of the qualifying round Puerto Rico and Curacao Starting at 9:30 a.m., a key match awaits them, in the afternoon (3:30 p.m.) the Dominican Republic and Panama will play in a no less interesting match, and in the evening (8:30 p.m.) Venezuela and Nicaragua will close. curtains.