Caribbean Series 2024: Dominican Republic shuts down Curacao en route to third win

MIAMI, F.L. - A game that was crucial for both teams who look to advance to the semi-finals saw Curacao starter Cody Mincey and Dominican Republic starter Raul Valdes keep their teams in it, but at the end of the day, one team had to strike and it was the Dominican Republic who won to a final score of 2-0.

Cody Mincey, a former Marlins prospect took the ball in what was one of the most important games of the Caribbean Series for Curacao and went  innings and didn't give up his first run of the game up until the bottom of the fourth inning where Gustavo Nuñez began the inning with a base hit and after a Robinson Cano fly out, Ramon Hernandez and Dawel Lugo had base hits, but it was Lugo's base hit which turned into an RBI single to drive in Nuñez and give the Dominican Republic a 1-0 lead.  Despite the one run, Mincey ended the afternoon going 6.1 innings, striking out three, walking zero and giving up one run off of five hits.

Following Mincey's exit, Curacao went with reliever Kevin Kelly who got the Suns out of the bottom of the seventh, but Franklin Van Gurp got into some trouble, allowing hits to both Emilio Bonifacio and Gustavo Nuñez putting runners on the corners with one out in the bottom of the eighth. Van Gurp was taken out and in his place, Shea Spitzbarth entered the game and thankfully, the most he gave up was a sac fly to Robinson Cano which scored a run, but Van Gurp is given that run scored.

For the Dominican Republic, Cuban starter Raul Valdes was on the verge of history before being taken out after the top of the fifth inning. For Valdes, this is his ninth Caribbean Series and before he came out, he was one strikeout away from tying the top pitcher for most strikeouts in Caribbean Series history at 62, but Valdes was taken out with 61 strikeouts.

Valdes shut down the Curacao offense through his five innings of work, only allowing two hits, striking out seven and not walking anyone. Valdes was also one strikeout away from tying Venezuela's starter Ricardo Pinto for the most strikeouts in a single game in the 2024 Caribbean Series which is eight.

Following Valdes start, the Dominican Republic bullpen gave up one hit J.C. Mejia struck out the side in the top of the eighth and closer Jairo Asencio entered the game to finish the job and give the Dominican Republic their third win of the Caribbean Series and keep them alive.

For Curacao, they have a make-or-break game with Puerto Rico in the morning, which would possibly send them to the semi-finals or eliminate them from the 2024 Caribbean Series. Currently, Curacao has a 3-3 record with the loss. For the Dominican Republic, they have one last game against Panama who are 4-0, so a lot will be indicated in the night game following this game which is Venezuela vs. Panama.