The Tenerife Marlins Puerto Cruz was defeated yesterday, on the Néstor Pérez Suárez baseball field, against the Astros de Valencia by 3-13 in the second game of the final play-off of the Spanish Baseball League. With this result, the tie is even (1-1) so the island team must win, within two weeks, two games – of the three scheduled – on Valencian soil to be able to take the title. Richard Montiel’s team had it in their hands to take an almost definitive advantage in the playoffs, but at specific moments, small errors made them condemned.
The Marlins started scoring with Luis Rodríguez’s career driven by Lesther Galván. But in the second inning the Astros turned the score around. Michel Rodríguez’s home run would be the first of the three he would score in the game. The game was very even, but in the fifth inning a visiting home run broke the game again, overtook the Valencians and touched the morale of the Portuenses. (3-4). In the next inning, two new Astros races allowed them to land in between (3-6). The new situation forced Montiel to make changes from the mound. Ernesto Pino was replaced by Julio Torrealba and in this same entry the change was made by Eduardo Miliani.
Tenerife Marlins Puerto Cruz had the opportunity to turn the score around in the seventh inning. With three men on base and two outs, designated hitter Richard Montiel couldn’t hit a run-scoring ball and was eliminated. Despite subtracting two tickets for the conclusion of the match, the Porto team did not know how to react. The Astros, for their part, saved from that difficult play, came out in the eighth inning to leave the game sentenced. He scored three more runs (3-9) and in the ninth inning another four leaving the final score at 3-13.
To Europe, 11 years later
With no time for regrets, the Marlins return to a European competition on Wednesday. After eleven years away from official international tournaments, the Porto team will seek their first title this season in Pool 3. Federations Cup Qualifier, which will be held from Thursday in Bogulav, Ukraine. Teams ATMA of Ukraine, Utenos Titanai of Lithuania and London Capitals of England will be the rivals of the islanders. An expedition of fifteen players will travel, while the rest of the squad stays on the island to properly prepare for the league play-off. The Tenerife’s first match will be on Wednesday against Utenos Titanai. The final is scheduled for Saturday at 2:00 p.m.
.
