Patillas & Juncos to face off in Double-A final

The Patillas Leones will face off against the Juncos Mulos when the Double-A Superior Baseball League final series opens on Friday.

By The Star Staff

The Patillas Leones (Lions) qualified for the Double-A Superior Baseball League National Final Series on Saturday, defeating the Salinas Peces Voladores (Flying Fish) 5-0 in Game 7 of their semifinal series at Gaspar Cochran Stadium in Patillas.

It was only the second time the Patillas franchise has qualified for a final series, and the first since 2010.

Starter Luis Ayala dominated the first six innings, striking out five and allowing just three hits to earn the victory. Christian Bonilla and Luis López completed the relief work without allowing a hit.

The Leones took control early, with two runs in the second inning. After an error by third baseman Edwin Arroyo and a hit by Bryan Colón, Edgardo Báez’s double brought in Ozzie Martínez for the first run. Joel Santiago’s sacrifice fly plated the second run.

The two unearned runs came off veteran starter Mario Santiago, who pitched two innings and took the loss.

In the fourth inning, Patillas extended their lead with a two-run single by Santiago, and a grounder by Germán Morales brought in another run to complete the scoring.

The Leones will face the Juncos Mulos (Mules) in the final series starting this Friday. The Mulos eliminated the San Sebastián Patrulleros, 3-2, in Game 6 of their semifinal series on Friday night in Juncos.