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El Nuevo Herald
(Caracas, January 18th, 2010)--The Leones del Caracas secured their place in the Venezuelan baseball final on Sunday by defeating the Navegantes del Magallanes 6-3, who will be their rival in the last game of the season.
An effective performance by the Leones’ starting pitcher, Gustavo Chacin (2-1), and timely hits by Josh Kroeger and Wilson Ramos led the team to victory.
Chacín pitched six innings in which he allowed six hits and three runs, of which only one was earned. He also struck out three men and gave up a base on balls in an effort that earned him the win.
For their part, Kroeger and Ramos stood out in the Leones’ offense with home runs that broke the game open in favor of the team, which will go to the final [game] for the 26th time in history. Kroeger got his hit in the fifth inning with two men on base, while Ramos got his [hit] in the sixth with no one on base.
The save was credited to Leones’ closer, Juan Carlos Gutierrez (5), who played one inning, during which he allowed one hit and struck out a man. The loss was suffered by Navegantes’ starter, Jason Simontacchi (1-1), allowing five runs in four and two thirds innings worked.
The final between these two teams is on Thursday, January 20th, in the same place this game took place, the José Bernardo Pérez Stadium in Valencia.
In Margarita, the Aguilas del Zulia defeated the Bravos de Margarita 7-0 in a formality game.
The Aguilas’ starter, Ricardo Palma (1-1), worked five and two thirds innings, in which he allowed four hits, struck out six men and gave up a base on balls.
Palma was helped offensively by Guillermo Quiroz and Henry Rodríguez, who drove in four of the team’s seven runs. Quiroz hit one for four, with one homerun, three RBIs and two runs scored, while Rodriguez went two for four, with two RBIs and one run scored.
Palma was credited with the win, and the Bravos’ starter, Seth Etherton, suffered the loss.