Magallanes reacted in the Caribbean Series after whitewashing Charros

||Agence AFP / AP Photo

Left-handed Yohander Méndez pitched five scoreless innings this Saturday, Pablo Sandoval homered and the Navegantes del Magallanes whitewashed the Charros de Jalisco, from Mexico, 5-0 to recover from the defeat on the opening day of the 2022 Caribbean Series.

Méndez allowed just one hit in 5 1/3 innings. The pitcher with experience in the Major Leagues, who claimed the victory (1-0) at the Quisqueya stadium in Santo Domingo, struck out five and gave away a couple of tickets.

Taking off the blow of having stumbled 6-1 against the Colombian Caimanes de Barranquilla in his debut on Friday, Magallanes woke up with three touchdowns in the third chapter, igniting a 13-hit offense.

American Cade Gotta and Niuman Romero walked back-to-back to open the inning and both scored on Danry Vásquez’s double. Vasquez himself was powered by Balbino Fuenmayor’s uncatchable to complete the rally.

The Venezuelan champions added one more run in the fifth. Sandoval hit to center, advanced to second base on a sacrifice by Anderson De La Rosa and to third on a wild pitch.

Gabriel Noriega chartered Sandoval with a single.

“El Panda” Sandoval hit his homer an inning later, alone. The ball bounced off a fence and returned to the field and the shot was revalidated with the VAR, a video arbitration system that debuts in the Caribbean Series.

Wilking Rodríguez hesitated to relieve Méndez, as two of the three batters he faced reached base, but Silvino Bracho struck out his first two opponents to get out the inning without damage. Bracho, Anthony Vizcaya and Bruce Rondón completed the shutout.

In the first hour, the Caymans beat the Panamanian Astronauts of Los Santos 6-5.