Puerto Rico tips second shutout and advances to second round – Metro Puerto Rico

The Arms of the National Team blanked for the second time in less than 24 hours with a 6-0 victory over the US Virgin Islands on Wednesday in the follow-up to baseball’s Caribbean Cup at André Rodgers Stadium in the Bahamas.

There are 21 innings in a row that Puerto Rico has allowed a scoreless run, including a 6-0 win over Cuba on Tuesday.

The Puerto Ricans placed their mark at 2-1 and advanced to the second stage of the tournament, which will have the participation of four teams. Meanwhile, the United States Virgin Islands is about to be out of contention at 1-3.

Right-hander Héctor Quiñones threw five innings with four strikeouts and just two hits allowed to win the game. The route was completed by relievers Luis Cintrón, Jimmy González, Christian Rivera and Josué Montañez.

“We came attacking the guys, we threw a lot of strikes, which is what we always do every day, we try not to put pressure on ourselves and do what we know how to do,” Quiñones said.

Quiñones’ victory marked his debut with the national team. The pitcher with professional experience belongs to the Industriales de Barceloneta team of the Superior Double A Baseball tournament of the Puerto Rico Baseball Federation. “I was given the opportunity, we are here thanks to God, we have worked for that and I hope to continue doing these tasks,” said the pitcher.

The first run of the game came in the first inning, when Ricardo de la Torre drew a bases-loaded walk. Hitters César Rivera, Rey Navarro and Rubén Castro led Puerto Rico’s production with two hits each.

”Excellent pitching work and the boys working efficiently, the hitting has been opportune, the defense was impeccable. When the pitchers, the hitters and the defense do the job, everything is collective and the result is victory”, reacted the national leader Juan ‘Igor’ González.

Roberto Soto, who was born in Puerto Rico and pitches with the Cariduros de Fajardo in Double A, took the loss for the US Virgin Islands. In two innings he allowed three runs, one unearned.

The Puerto Ricans will have their next match tomorrow Thursday at 8:00 pm (Puerto Rico time) against the host, Bahamas, to close the first round of the competition.

The Caribbean Cup will define two places for the Central American and Caribbean Games in San Salvador 2023.