GAME ONE 
vs 
LICEY OPENS THE SERIES WITH A WIN OVER VENEZUELA
FEBRUARY 2 - In the opening game of the 50th edition of the Caribbean Series from Santiago, Dominican Republic, the Licey Tigers beat the Venezuelan league’s Aragua Tigers 6-4.
Although Puerto Rico did not participate this year in the Caribbean Series, their presence is still felt. Puerto Rican Jose Santiago was the starting pitcher for the Venezuelan Tigres de Aragua team in the first game. It was a matchup of Tigres and Joses with Jose Capellan pitching for the Tigres de Licey.
Venezuela threatened early in the first inning loading the bases on a shaky Jose Capellan who walked two while allowing just one hit. He struck out Lino Connell to end the inning and keep it a scoreless game.
Licey struck first breaking the scoreless tie in the third inning. Jose Offerman singled to center and Ronnie Belliard hit a shot to left field for the 2-run homerun. Venezuela did not stay quiet long scoring one in the bottom half of the inning when Luis Maza scored on a single by Alberto Callaspo making it a 2-1 game.
Licey added to their lead in the fourth inning. After a double steal by Jose Bautista and Offerman, Belliard singled to left scoring them both and giving him 4 RBI. In the fifth, they padded their lead when Emilio Bonifacio scored on a fielder's choice to make it 5-1.
In the sixth inning the Tigres de Aragua came roaring back taking advantage of Licey's relievers. Jose Martinez doubled to left field off of Carlos Perez scoring Robert Perez. Later in the inning, Yosnel Garcia hits a soft grounder from Eddie De La Cruz to Belliard who misplayed it allowing Alex Nuñez and Martinez to cross the plate and make it a 5-4 game.
Venezuela threatened in the eighth loading up the bases. Ugueto walked and Maza reached on a fielding error by Belliard and Callaspo walked. Carlos Marmol retired Robert Perez on a fly ball to deep center to end the threat.
In the ninth, Licey got an insurance run when Bonifacio scored on a grounder by Juan Francisco. Capellan settled down and pitched five innings allowing one run to earn the victory while Santiago took the loss.
