Salgado shines as Ponce stays alive in winter league finals

Bryant Salgado worked six innings without allowing any hits or runs and striking out seven, as three Ponce pitchers held Santurce to a lone hit with two gone in the ninth inning and the Lions avoided a sweep.

By THE STAR STAFF

Starter Bryant Salgado worked six innings without allowing any hits or runs as the Ponce Lions blanked the Santurce Crabbers 7-0 to prevent a sweep on Sunday in the fifth game of the Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League finals.

Despite the nearly no-hit loss, Santurce still leads the series 4-1.

Salgado (1-0) struck out seven batters in a standout performance at Francisco “Paquito” Montaner Stadium in Ponce. Jalen Miller followed with two scoreless innings, while Andrew Marrero closed out the ninth inning, allowing Santurce’s only hit, a single by Johneshwy Fargás with two outs.

Will Simoneit led Ponce on offense with a grand slam and a run scored. Gabriel Cancel also hit a home run, scored twice, and drove in one run.

Cancel opened the scoring with a home run in the first inning.

The Lions (Leones) extended their lead in the fifth inning with an RBI single by Sammy Hernández, followed by Simoneit’s grand slam.

In the eighth, Aldemar Burgos scored the seventh run on a base hit by Matt Bottcher.

Left-hander Eduardo Rivera (2-1) took the loss for the Crabbers (Cangrejeros) after allowing two runs on four hits, including a home run, and walking two.

The series moves back to Hiram Bithorn Stadium in Hato Rey for Game 6 today at 7 p.m.