Comerío, Yabucoa on the verge of Double-A finals faceoff

The Pescadores del Plata beat the defending champion Mulos of Juncos 9-0 on Saturday to move within one victory of the Superior Double-A Baseball League finals. (Aldwin Santiago)

By THE STAR STAFF

The Pescadores del Plata of Comerío and the Azucareros of Yabucoa were winners on Saturday, moving closer to the Puerto Rico Superior Double-A Baseball League championship series.

Both teams won on the road to take a 3-1 lead in their respective semifinal series, pushing the defending champion Mulos of Juncos and the Gigantes of Carolina to the brink of elimination.

Comerío ace left-hander Luis Leroy Cruz pitched seven solid innings, allowing just two hits, to lead the Pescadores del Plata to a 9-0 victory over the Mulos at Mariano “Niní” Meaux Stadium in Juncos.

Cruz struck out seven batters to earn the win. He was relieved by Maykol García and Víctor Vargas, who completed the shutout. 

The loss went to Mulos lefty Luis Cintrón, who gave up six runs and eight hits in just three innings.

José “Pocholo” Rivera kickstarted the Comerío offense in the second inning with a two-run home run, while Luis Fernando Colón delivered another standout offensive performance, going 3-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs scored. Across their three victories in the series, the Pescadores del Plata have scored 34 runs against Juncos pitchers.

In the other semifinal series, the Azucareros defeated the Gigantes 4-3 in 10 innings at Roberto Clemente Walker Stadium in Carolina. 

The winning run came with the game tied 3-3 in the top of the 10th, when Alexis Rodríguez Sepúlveda hit a ground ball toward first base and reached on a fielder’s choice, allowing Kevin Santa to score from third base.

Santa scored three runs and had two hits for Yabucoa.

Reliever Alberto Rosario was credited with the win after recording one out, while Joan Román earned the save. The loss went to Luis Ayala, who allowed one run in two innings.