Crabbers lead winter league finals 2-0 as series moves to Ponce

Andrew Velázquez starred for Santurce, going 3-for-3 with a double, three runs scored and a walk.

By THE STAR STAFF

The Santurce Crabbers mounted a five-run rally in the second inning and went on to defeat the Ponce Lions 8-2 on Tuesday night at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in Hato Rey to take a 2-0 lead in the Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League finals.

After a rest day on Wednesday, the best-of-seven series moves to Ponce for three games. Game 3 is slated for 7 p.m. tonight at Francisco “Paquito” Montaner Stadium.

Andrew Velázquez starred for Santurce, going 3-for-3 with a double, three runs scored, and a walk.

Second baseman Shed Long Jr. led off the second inning with a single to right field, and Henry Ramos drew a walk. Brian Navarreto then drove in the Crabbers’ (Cangrejeros’) first run with a single. In the next at-bat, Velázquez laid down a bunt toward the pitcher and beat the throw to first base with his speed, loading the bases. Jack López then reached on a fielder’s choice with a ground ball to short, allowing Ramos to score and extending the lead to 2-0.

A run-scoring single by Rubén Castro to left field produced another run and prompted the removal of Lions (Leones) starter Orlando Ortiz-Mayr and the entry of veteran Freddie Cabrera to the mound. The right-hander was greeted by Yohandy Morales with a base-clearing double, giving Santurce a commanding 5-0 lead.

While this was happening offensively, Crabbers starting pitcher Eduardo Rivera (1-0) was sharp on the mound. The left-hander earned the win, pitching six innings, allowing two runs, six hits, and striking out four.

In the top of the third inning the Lions got on the scoreboard against Rivera with a sacrifice fly by Emmanuel Rivera. Later, in the sixth inning, Rivera hit the ball hard again, launching a solo home run over the left field fence to make it 5-2.

Santurce responded in the bottom of the inning with another run on a short hit by Jeremy Arocho off Ponce reliever Noel Pinto, bringing the score to 6-2. Then, in the eighth inning, Velázquez and López hit consecutive doubles before Castro drew a walk. With the bases loaded, Morales hit a ground ball single to third base, driving in two more runs to extend the lead to 8-2.

The loss went to Ortiz-Mayr (0-1) after he allowed five runs in one and two-thirds innings. The right-hander walked two batters and struck out one.