An epic showdown last night culminated in a ninth inning rally falling 90 feet short, as the Magallanes Navigators fell to the La Guaira Sharks 9-8 in the Venezuelan Baseball League. The Navigators, favorite team of President Chávez and much of the nation, began the game in promising fashion when catcher Jesus Flores hit a solo home run in the top of the second inning. After the Sharks tied it thanks to another Alex “El Samurai” Cabrera home run in the bottom of the frame, Magallanes appeared to have broken the game open when they scored five runs in the top of the fourth. Three of the runs scored with two outs, and the Universitario Stadium was rocking thanks to a sell-out crowd that contained roughly 60% Navigators fans. The Sharks scratched out two runs in the bottom of the fifth to cut the lead to three, but it looked as though La Guaira would continue its fall down the standings and out of the championship race until a magical seventh inning.
After the non-existent seventh inning stretch (whose absence feels remarkably strange for me), each of the next eight Sharks batters to come to the plate reached base safely. Magallanes manager Carlos García changed pitchers twice during that span, but nothing could stop the onslaught. The noise of the crowd reached a crescendo when league MVP Gregor Blanco lined a double to center field, scoring two and giving the Sharks their first lead of the game. Fans everywhere began throwing their beers into the air, drenching everyone and making me glad I had worn a hat. The next batter, César Suárez, then stroked another single to left-center, driving in two more, giving La Guaira a cushion of three runs, and provoking more beer tossing. Never have I heard a baseball stadium so loud without Stephen Strasburg making his major league debut.
But the drama was not over. After a scoreless eighth inning, during which a number of dejected Navigators fans began to leave, Venezuelan legend Francisco Rodriguez came into the game to nail down the save. “El Kid,” as he is known here, strode to the mound with all of his usual swagger. He then walked leadoff hitter Andrés Blanco before getting Endy Chávez to fly out to center. Next Rodríguez gave up consecutive singles to Adonis García and Salomón Manriquez, cutting the lead to 9-7. Jesús Flores followed with a sharply hit fly ball that was tracked down by rightfielder José “Cafecito” Martínez, leaving Magallanes down to their final out. From there things just got wacky. K-Rod uncorked a wild pitch in the dirt, allowing the runners to advance to second and third. Two pitchers later a cross-up between pitcher and catcher allowed another pitch to escape to the backstop, scoring García and leaving the tying run at third base. Magallanes and La Guaira fans alike hooted with derision for the Brewers setup man. With both sets of fans in full voice (and horn), I thought for sure the game was headed to extra innings. Instead, Mario Lisson popped up to center field, and La Guaira escaped with the crucial victory.
Meanwhile, over in Maracaibo the Zulia Eagles surprised everyone by winning their second straight game, in the process handing the Anzoátegui Caribbeans their fifth consecutive setback. The Aragua Tigers now enjoy great position with a 9-4 record, a game and a half ahead of their nearest rivals with only three to play. La Guaira and Anzoátegui are tied for second at 8-6, while Magallanes’ 7-7 record leaves their chances of reaching the championship series hanging by a thread. Tonight they try to rebound against Aragua while the Caribbeans must win their rematch with the lowly Eagles.
I don’t want to jinx anything, but my dream matchup of a Tigers-Sharks finale is a real possibility at this point, as long as Francisco Rodríguez is not forced into any more critical situations. After yesterday's shopping debacle, that is just the sort pick-me-up I needed. Now if only UNC could get blown out by 33 against an unranked team...
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