By the Associated Press From CNN

Jesus Esteban Quiroz of Mexico’s Venados de Mazatlan, celebrates with his teammates during a Caribbean Series baseball final against Venezuela’s Tigres de Aragua, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016. (AP Photo/Roberto Guzman)

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — Jorge Vazquez hit a home run to lead off the bottom of the ninth inning Sunday, lifting Mexico’s Mazatlan Venados to a 5-4 comeback victory over Venezuela’s Aragua Tigres for the Caribbean Series championship.

It was Mexico’s third title in four years.

“We never gave up. We always battled to the fullest and kept our heads up, so today we celebrate this crown,” said Mexico coach Juan Jose Pacho, whose team won all six games it played in the tournament.

Mexico took an early 2-0 lead, but Venezuela came back with two runs in the fifth inning and two more in the seventh to grab the lead. In the bottom of the seventh, Venados’ Sebastien Valle drove in two runs to tie it.

Mexico held Venezuela scoreless the next two innings, giving Vazquez the chance to win the game.

Venezuela’s only two losses in the series were to Mexico.

“That’s baseball,” Venezuela coach Eduardo Perez said. “We played hard and gave everything on the field. Congratulations to Mexico because they did a great job and are worthy champions.”

Mexico reliever Steven Hensley was credited with the win after coming in to retire Venezuela’s final batter in the top of the ninth. Starter Eddy Gamboa pitched six innings, giving up nine hits and four runs — two earned.

Renee Cortez took the loss for Venezuela, pitching two-thirds of an inning. Starter Freddy Garcia gave up four hits and two earned runs over 5 1/3 innings.

For Venezuela, Hernan Perez went 3-for-4 with a homerun and two RBIs, and Sandy Leon was 3-for-3 and scored a run.

For more on this story go to: http://cnsnews.com/news/article/mexico-wins-caribbean-series-hr-9th-inning

Cuban baseball stars the Gurriel brothers defect during Caribbean tournament

Reuters in Havana From The Guardian UK

Yulieski Gurriel and brother Lourdes flee team camp, probably to seek US careers, indicating Major League treaty with Cuba on transfers is no closer to fruition

Two brothers from Cuba’s pre-eminent baseball family have abandoned a Cuban team travelling in the Dominican Republic, presumably to defect and later seek professional careers in the United States, official Cuban media has reported.

Yulieski Gurriel, 31, and Lourdes Gurriel Jr, 22, left the hotel where a Cuban team had been staying “in full attitude of surrender to the merchants of for-profit professional baseball”, the report said.

There were a record 150 baseball defections in Cuba in 2015, according to Cuban journalist Francys Romero, but the Gurriel brothers would be an exceptional loss because of their fame and because Yulieski had always been seen as a loyal player who had shunned potential riches in the United States.

The Gurriels had just concluded playing in the Caribbean Series featuring championship teams from Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Venezuela. Those clubs are reinforced with other players from their respective leagues.

The Gurriels normally play for the Havana Industriales along with a third brother, Yunieski, but represented Ciego de Avila as reinforcements in the Caribbean Series.

They are among the best-known players in Cuba and their father, Lourdes Gurriel Sr, was also a star player.

Yulieski Gurriel, a third baseman, was dominating the Cuban league this season with a .500 batting average, .599 on-base percentage and .874 slugging percentage. But his relatively advanced age as he nears 32 could limit his value to a Major League franchise.

Outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr, at 22, could be a coveted prospect. He was hitting .344/.407/.560 for the Industriales.

Major League Baseball and the Cuban Baseball Federation lack an agreement on player transfers because of the US trade embargo of Cuba. This leads Cubans with big-league dreams to defect.

MLB has applied for special permission from the US government to allow teams to sign players in Cuba and is awaiting a response. Approval would permit MLB to negotiate a player transfer agreement with the Cuban Baseball Federation.

Peter Bjarkman, an expert on Cuban baseball and author of the upcoming book Cuba’s Baseball Defectors, said the Gurriel defections indicated Cuba was unprepared to reach a deal with MLB.

“If there were any hopes of one, the Gurriel family would have been the first to know and the brothers would have waited. This would indicate to me that the Cubans are not yet ready to work any accord with MLB and the defections will continue,” Bjarkman said.

IMAGES:
Yulieski Gurriel, shown receiving a baseball bat from Fidel Castro in March 2006 file, has defected with his brother Lourdes while on tour. Photograph: Claudia Daut/Reuters
Lourdes Gourriel playing in the Caribbean Series in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on 7 February 2015. Photograph: Paul J Richards/AFP/Getty Images

For more on this story go to: http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/feb/09/cuban-baseballs-gurriel-brothers-defect-during-caribbean-tournament