Cangrejeros, Leones, Criollos notch wins in LBPRC
By THE STAR STAFF
The Cangrejeros of Santurce, Leones of Ponce, and Criollos of Caguas were winners on Sunday in the Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League (LBPRC).
The Cangrejeros defeated the Gigantes of Carolina 12-11 in 10 innings.
It was the first loss of the season for league-leading Carolina (4-1).
With the game tied 11-11 at the end of the ninth inning, the tie-breaker rule was applied, placing a runner in scoring position for both teams. Cangrejeros veteran Juan Centeno entered as a pinch-hitter and grounded the ball into the infield, advancing designated base-runner Derick Andiarena to third base. Anthony García then drove him home with a base hit to right field for the winning run.
Leading the way for the Cangrejeros (3-2), catcher Brian Navarreto went 5-for-5, hitting a home run, driving in five runs and scoring four more; he finished just a double shy of hitting for the cycle. García also stood out for Santurce, going 4-for-5 with three runs scored and two RBIs.
The win went to Santurce right-hander David Lebrón (1-0), while the loss was charged to Carolina right-hander Albert Oliva (0-1).
Elsewhere, the Leones defeated the Senadores of San Juan 8-4 at Hiram Bithorn Stadium.
Right-hander Harold Cortijo (1-0) earned the win for Ponce (2-3) after pitching two scoreless innings, while Sidney Duprey (0-1) took the loss for San Juan (1-2), allowing two runs in two-thirds of an inning. Right-hander Juan Marcano recorded his first save of the season for the Leones.
After a home run by San Juan’s Antonio Jiménez evened the score at 4-4 in the bottom of the second inning, Ponce broke the tie two innings later on a two-run double by Colton Becker. Jacob Reimer’s two-run home run in the sixth extended the Leones’ lead to 8-4.
At Isidoro “Cholo” García Stadium in Mayagüez, the Criollos notched their second win of the season by defeating the Indios, 9-2.
Catcher Onix Vega went 3-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI for Caguas (2-1), which opened the game with a five-run rally.
The win went to Criollos left-hander Jorge Benítez (1-0), who pitched one and one-third innings in relief, allowing only one hit and striking out two batters. The loss was charged to Indios starter Kazuto Taguchi (0-1), who was responsible for five runs during his start, which lasted just two-thirds of an inning.
Mayagüez fell to 1-4.
