Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.- Raúl Valdés from the pitching mound and Robinson Canó combined to lead the home squad to a 5-3 victory over Puerto Rico. The local team remains undefeated with two wins, while Puerto Rico suffered its second loss
In the same first inning, the Dominican Republic took the lead, with one out, Hanser Alberto singled to center field and then Robinson Canó tripled to left-center to score Alberto with the 1-0 lead. Cano scored on a sacrifice fly to center Marcell Ozuna.
Robinson Canó himself responded with a line hit to the middle to drive in a couple of runs against left-handed reliever Nelvin Fuentes and extend the lead to four runs against one at the end of the seventh roll.
The answer came quickly. In the top of the eighth roll, Danny Vidal hit the fence to the left, homer with one on board to put the board four runs against three.
Ronald Guzmán grounded slowly to shortstop in the eighth with two outs and the ‘bear’ Marcell Ozuna scored the fifth run for the Dominican Republic.
Puerto Rico was present in the sixth inning. With two outs, David Vidal singled to right and Danny Ortíz sent him to the plate with a double to left.
For the Dominican Republic, Raúl Valdés (1-0) started on the pitching mound and remained for five and two-thirds of four hits, allowed one run and struck out five. He was relieved by Ryan Kusmaul who retired a batter. Huascar Brazoban worked one third, followed by Luis Felipe Castillo worked two thirds, Reymín Guduan allowed two runs in two thirds of relief, Jhan Marinez one third and Juan Minaya (1) relieved the ninth to earn the save.
Eric Stout (0-1) started for Puerto Rico with five and a third of work, allowed four hits, two runs and struck out six. Carlos Francisco relieved one and a third of two hits and two runs. Nelvin Fuentes relieved a third. Aneuris Rosario retired two-thirds and Zack Muckenhim got one out.
