Once again, Navegantes del Magallanes (Venezuela) needed extra innings to defeat their rival. On this occasion, the Turks beat Criollos de Caguas (Puerto Rico) in 10 innings and in a dramatic way 4-3 at the loanDepot Park in Miami, to be proclaimed monarch of the Clash of the Giants series, an international baseball event, reported Juan Pablo Carmona, member of the buccaneers’ press department.
Those led by Eduardo Pérez starred in a pitching duel with the Puerto Ricans, since until the seventh inning the score remained 2×0 in favor of the islanders. However, the Turkish offense turned on and hit the right shots to turn the score around.
As had been customary in the tournament, the Naviero bullpen was tight, allowing only one streak, since the first two were scored by starter David Martínez, one of them dirty. For the rest, Luis Martínez, Brayan Palencia, Bryan Mata, Daniel Palencia, Bubby Rossman, Wilking Rodríguez and Ángel Hernández were in charge of handcuffing the Puerto Rican offense by only allowing three hits.
Criollos struck first, when in the bottom of the second inning Miguel Pabón hit a hit that drove in Oscar Mercado and Emmanuel García, who had reached base due to a fielding error by the third baseman, scored due to another error by the third baseman on a ground ball by Onix Vega.
Key moment
The balance remained tilted towards the Puerto Rican side, until in the seventh inning Carlos Rodríguez balanced it with a double to left field, which drove Tito Polo and Luis Suisbel to make the score 2×2.
Already in the tenth inning, the North American Jacob Rhinesmith dressed as a hero by hitting a dantesque two-run home run through right field that gave the advantage to the Turks and, therefore, the championship of the first edition of the “Clash of the Giants.” .
“I am very happy, I just want to thank my Lord Jesus Christ and the coaches who gave me the opportunity to come here and play. “I can say that I love this team and its fans,” were Rhinesmith’s words for the ByM Sport broadcast.
Puerto Rican attempt
Although the Puerto Rican ninth tried until the end and put the game by the minimum with a single by Ismael Salgado that drove in Jonathan Morales, the left-handed Ángel Hernández finished putting the lock by dominating Miguel Pabón with a ground ball down the middle, to Onix Vega with a strikeout and finally Brett Rodríguez with a fly ball to right field.
In this way, the Navegantes del Magallanes stamped their name on the trophy of the Caribbean tournament and will return to the country with their heads held high, to continue the search for title number 14 of the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League (LVBP).
Miami / Web Editorial
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**Interview with Juan Pablo Carmona, Member of the Navegantes del Magallanes Press Department**
**Editor:** Welcome, Juan Pablo! It’s great to have you with us today. Congratulations on the recent victory over Criollos de Caguas in the Clash of the Giants series. Can you share your thoughts on how the team performed in that dramatic 10-inning game?
**Juan Pablo Carmona:** Thank you! It was a thrilling match, for sure. Our team showed incredible resilience. After being down 2-0, we didn’t give up. The offense stepped up when it mattered the most, and it was fantastic to see them turn the game around.
**Editor:** The game showcased a strong pitching performance from both teams. How crucial was the role of your bullpen in securing this victory?
**Juan Pablo Carmona:** The bullpen was phenomenal! After David Martínez’s solid start, our relievers like Luis Martínez and Brayan Palencia kept the pressure on the Puerto Rican hitters, only allowing three hits throughout the game. Their ability to control the game in those tense moments was key to our success.
**Editor:** The game must have been intense, especially going into extra innings. Can you describe the atmosphere in the stadium during those final moments?
**Juan Pablo Carmona:** It was electric! The crowd was on the edge of their seats. With every pitch and every hit, you could feel the excitement build. When we finally scored the winning run, the energy was absolutely infectious—it was a moment of pure joy for everyone involved.
**Editor:** Looking ahead, what does this victory mean for Navegantes del Magallanes in terms of their season and future competitions?
**Juan Pablo Carmona:** Winning the Clash of the Giants series is a significant accomplishment for us. It boosts team morale and confidence as we move forward in our season. It shows that we can compete with international teams, and we’re excited to build on this momentum. We aim to continue this success as we head into the upcoming challenges.
**Editor:** Thank you for sharing your insights, Juan Pablo! We look forward to following Navegantes del Magallanes on their journey this season.
**Juan Pablo Carmona:** Thank you for having me! We appreciate the support.
