Santurce is a win away from winter league title

Daryl Thompson picked up the win for Santurce after allowing one run in his five innings of work, scattering four hits and striking out four.

By THE STAR STAFF

The Santurce Crabbers defeated the Ponce Lions 8-4 on Friday night in the third game of the Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League finals, putting them one game away from being crowned champion.

Santurce benefited from another solid outing by Daryl Thompson (1-0), who contained the Lions’ (Leones’) threats in the second and fourth innings. The right-hander earned the win after allowing one run in his five innings of work, during which he also gave up four hits and struck out four. He walked two batters.

The Crabbers (Cangrejeros) got on the scoreboard first at Francisco “Paquito” Montaner Stadium in Ponce, producing a pair of runs on doubles combined with an error in the sixth inning. Import player Yohandy Morales led off the inning with a double to left field, and Nelson Velázquez followed with another to right field to score the first run of the game. Brian Rey then flew out, and Shed Long Jr. hit a ground ball to pitcher Brady Tedesco. The Lions’ left-hander fielded the ball in time, but made an errant throw to first base, allowing Velázquez to score another run to make it 2-0 Santurce.

In the bottom of the inning, Jesmuel Valentín and Emmanuel Rivera singled for Ponce, prompting Thompson to be relieved on the mound by Andrew Vásquez. The left-hander retired the next batter before walking Sammy Hernández to load the bases. Then, Matt Batten reached base on a fielder’s choice with a ground ball to the shortstop, and Valentín scored to make the score 2-1.

The Crabbers erupted for six runs in the next inning, first loading the bases with no outs on two walks and a bunt by Andrew Velázquez, at which point Lions manager Andy González called on Andrew Marrero from the bullpen. The right-hander struck out Rubén Castro, but a wild pitch allowed the Crabbers’ third run to score, and the flood gates were open. Santurce scored five more runs, two on a double by pinch-hitter Juan Centeno and three on another double by catcher Brian Navarreto, making it 8-1.

A double by Valentín drove in two runs for Ponce in the bottom of the seventh to make the score 8-3, and Will Simoneit singled in the fourth and final run for the Lions.

The loss went to Tedesco (0-1) after he allowed seven runs in his five and one-third innings pitched. He struck out two batters.

Game 4 was slated for Sunday night at Montaner Stadium.