Juncos is a win away from another Double-A title

By The Star Staff

After defeating the Patillas Leones 8-2 on Sunday at Francisco “Paquito” Montaner Stadium in Ponce, the Juncos Mulos are one step away from winning their 11th championship in the Double-A Superior Baseball League.

Star right-hander Rubén Ramírez pitched seven strong innings for Juncos, scattering five hits, allowing one run and striking out seven to earn his second win of the series.

Kenny Burgos went the rest of the way in relief.

The Juncos offense racked up 13 hits and took control of the game in the first inning with a three-run rally. Luis Román opened the scoring with a single that drove in Gerardo “Coco” Velázquez, followed by another RBI single by Jan Rivera and a groundout by Jean Ortiz that brought in the third run.

In the third inning, a sacrifice fly by Rivera extended the lead to 4-0. The Leones (Lions) responded in the sixth inning with their first run when Ozzie Martínez grounded into a double play.

Ortiz drove in the Mulos’ (Mules’) sixth run in the seventh, and Román sealed the deal with a two-run triple in the eighth. Patillas added its second run in the ninth, on Reymond Fuentes’ two-out single.

Román went 4-for-5 with three RBIs and three runs scored, along with two triples, for Juncos.

Starter Christian Bonilla took the loss for the Leones, after allowing three runs in just two innings.

The series will continue this Friday at 8 p.m. with Game 6 at Mariano “Niní” Meaux Stadium in Juncos.