Three runs by the Mexican team in the upper part of the eighth episode marked the definition of the match, which until then went 4-2 in favor of the Dominicans, the top all-time winners of the contest, with 10 crowns.

The incombustible Raúl Valdés, a 45-year-old Cuban left-hander, made an excellent start for Licey, with two allowed touchdowns in seven complete ones, one of them a home run by first baseman and fourth hitter Reynaldo Rodríguez opening the lucky inning.

His replacement, Fernando Abad, accepted the three decisive hits, by doubles from Rodríguez himself and the emerging Irving López with outstanding teammates.

Instead, five fire-extinguishers from the Mochis launched effectively from the very first inning, when the opener Braulio Torres-Pérez was changed.

First baseman Yamaico Navarro (2-out of-3, scored and walked) and designated Ramón Hernández (2-out of-4, scored) were the best on offense for the cats at the Simón Bolívar Monumental Stadium, with a capacity for 40,000 people.

It was a battle of power against power, and although the cats were defeated, they will continue to hold the favorite sign if they reach the final phase.

ef/ro/lp