Crabbers are winter league baseball champions for the 17th time

The Santurce Crabbers won their 17th winter baseball title in dominant fashion on Tuesday night, defeating the Ponce Lions 5-1 in Game 6 of the Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League finals.

By THE STAR STAFF

The Santurce Crabbers won their 17th championship on Tuesday night, defeating the Ponce Lions 5-1 in the sixth game of the Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League Final Series.

With a capacity crowd on hand at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in Hato Rey, Santurce’s offense was firing on all cylinders, while timely hitting only materialized for the Lions (Leones) in the ninth inning.

The Crabbers (Cangrejeros) put their first runners in scoring position in the second inning when two walks by Lions starter Jackson Goddard to Shed Long Jr. and Brian Navarreto combined with a bunt by Andrew Velázquez, resulting in a force out at third base. However, they were unable to score as Goddard bore down and struck out the next two batters to end the inning.

A similar scenario unfolded in the following inning. Goddard struck out Jeremy Arocho, the first batter in Santurce’s lineup, and then issued his third walk of the game to Rubén Castro. Next, Yohandy Morales was retired with a ground ball. Then, Nelson Velázquez reached base on an error by Ponce third baseman Emmanuel Rivera on a throw to first, allowing Castro to score Santurce’s first run of the game.

Two innings later, Navarreto led off the fourth with a single, and a double by Jack López to left field drove him in for the Crabbers’ second run as the speedy Navarreto electrified the crowd with his all-out dash from first base to home plate.

The Lions threatened in the fifth inning, ultimately to no avail. They loaded the bases with a double by Will Simoneit and two walks, the first of these, issued to Aldemar Burgos, forced the removal of Santurce starter Ashton Goudeau. The right-hander was replaced by lefty Jordan Morales, who, after issuing a second walk, retired Gabriel Cancel with a ground ball to third base -- a play that, thanks to a spectacular defensive effort initiated by López, resulted in Simoneit being thrown out at home plate -- and then got the dangerous Jesmuel Valentín to fly out.

Crabbers second baseman Long Jr. led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a double to left field, and Navarreto drove him in with a single to center, extending Santurce’s lead to 3-0. Velázquez then connected for his second hit of the night, and Ponce reliever Gabriel Rodríguez was replaced by Andrew Marrero. Against the right-hander, Johneshwy Fargas hit another single, driving in two runs to make the score 5-0.

The Lions’ only run was scored in the ninth inning on a ground ball for a force out by Cancel.

The win went to left-hander Jordan Morales (1-0) after he pitched two-thirds of an inning without allowing a run. The loss went to Goddard, who gave up two runs in his five innings pitched. It was his second loss in the finals.

The Most Valuable Player award went to Morales of Santurce. The first baseman finished the series with a .386 batting average, three doubles, one home run, six runs scored and four RBIs.