Mexico closes with a perfect record, Venezuela finally wins in the Caribbean Series

(AFP) Mexico earned its fourth win in the Caribbean Series 2025 by beating Japan 7-2, and Venezuela earned its first victory by defeating Puerto Rico 10-5 on Monday in the fourth day, held at the Eagles' Nest Stadium in Mexicali, in northern Mexico.

Earlier in the day, Venezuela's Cardenales de Lara came from behind to beat Puerto Rico's Indios de Mayagüez 10-5.

None of the starting pitchers could string together much success. Adrián Almeida of the Cardenales worked two innings and one-third. Daryl Thompson pitched three full innings on the mound for the Indios.

The start of the game was uphill for Venezuela, especially because of three errors by shortstop Eduardo García. The first two runs against were unearned for the pitcher.

Puerto Rico seemed to be on its way to a comfortable win when it got a 5-1 lead in the third inning with a home run by Danny Ortiz with two men aboard.

After that homer, the Cardenales relievers dominated the Puerto Rican hitters.

The Venezuelan offense became active in the third inning and scored at least one run in the final seven innings.

Venezuela tied it 5-5 in the sixth with a home run by Danry Vásquez. In the seventh and eighth, Hernán Pérez and Rangel Ravelo, respectively, produced two runs.

In the ninth, Jecksson Flores provided the punch with two stolen bases and scored to make it 10-5, taking advantage of a throwing error by catcher Alan Marrero.

"The aggressiveness we showed was key," commented Henry Blanco, manager of Venezuela. "Today we got confidence in ourselves, we hit timely with men on base."

Thus, both Venezuela and Puerto Rico were left with a record of one win and two losses.

Four out of four

In a stellar game, Mexico's Charros de Jalisco closed their participation in the first round with a perfect four-win pace with a 7-2 win over Japan Breeze of Japan, which suffered its third loss and has yet to win.

Luis Iván Rodríguez started for Mexico and led his team for five complete innings. From the mound he threw 81 pitches, with 55 called strikes, and struck out five opponents.

On offense, Jack Mayfield connected two hits in as many at-bats, scored two runs and drove in one.

Rintaro Hirama was Japan's starting pitcher. His work went four full innings with 70 pitches, 48 of them strikes, and he struck out five.

In the fifth inning, Gaku Ueda, the Breeze relief pitcher, in just a third of an inning on the mound, gave away two runs to the Charros with two consecutive balks.