Venezuela Lyle Spencer - With some familiar late thunder from its heavy lumber, Venezuela used all the elements of its game -- power, pitching and defense -- on Monday night to subdue Puerto Rico, 5-1, at Estadio Jose Bernardo Perez and remain unbeaten in the Caribbean Series.
The accent this time was heavily on the mound artists. Caracas starter Albert Vargas and relievers Wilfredo Rodriguez, Yorman Bazardo and Juan Carlos Ovalles combined to hold Carolina to two hits, both by Ruben Gotay, and waited for the offense, in its custom, to come alive in the late innings.
Rafael Alvarez's two-run homer in the seventh inning was the big blow as the host country arranged a showdown with the Dominican Republic in Marcay on Tuesday night, and a win would clinch its first Caribbean Series title since 1989.
"It's like a snowball effect," Venezuela manager Carlos Subero said of his team's remarkable penchant for late-game offense. "We've been playing with the same goal: to get a starter of the game as fast as possible and get into the bullpen. Once we hit a bullpen, it's been a big key for us.
"When we scored 17 runs against Mexico in the opening game, 13 came in the last two innings. That set the tone."
If Venezuela is equal to the challenge Tuesday night, it claims its sixth championship in the history of the event.
Beaten 11-9 on Alex Gonzalez's three-run homer in the ninth on Saturday night, the Dominican Republic can force a one-game playoff on Wednesday by avenging that stunning loss.
A title would be a record 16th for the Dominican Republic, which has won nine times since Venezuela's last Series conquest.
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