Guzman’s steal of home gives Dominican Republic 3-2 win over Venezuela in Caribbean Series

Dominican Republic beats Venezuela 3-2

MARGARITA ISLAND, Venezuela — Freddy Guzman stole home to break a tie in the seventh inning and Dominican Republic team Leones del Escogido won 3-2 over Venezuela’s Leones de Caracas in the Caribbean Series.

The victory was the Dominican team’s third straight in the series, leaving Leones in excellent shape to win. The three other clubs are 1-2.

The Venezuelans took a 2-0 lead in the third. The Dominicans chipped away with one run in the sixth. In the seventh, the Dominicans tied the game on Ramon Santiago’s hit that drove in Pablo Ozuna. Guzman reached third and then stole home off pitcher Edgar Alfonzo.

Alfonzo threw to third trying to keep Guzman close. Instead, he broke for home and scored, sliding out of the reach of catcher Carlos Maldonado.

In the earlier game, Puerto Rican club Indios de Mayaguez beat Mexico’s Naranjeros de Hermosillo 5-3.

Indios jumped on top with three runs in the bottom of the first off Mexico starter Travis Blackley, who picked up the loss. The Puerto Ricans scored on two doubles by Jesus Feliciano and Miguel Abreu and singles by Luis Figueroa and Randy Ruiz.

Naranjeros got two runs back in the fourth, but Indios put the game away in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run homer by Michael Hernandez. Bill Pulshipher pitched five innings and got the victory.