JUEGO TRES 
vs 
FIGUEROA SHINES FOR MEXICO BUT LOSES 2-1 TO LICEY
FEBRUARY 3, 2008 - Mexico looking to rebound after last night’s loss to the Aguilas recieved a great performance from Puerto Rican pitcher Nelson Figueroa, but fell short to Licey Tigers, 2-1. Licey so far is undefeated (2-0) in the Caribbean Series. Licey killer Figueroa pitched 9 1/3 innings of 1 run ball for the Yaquis. He had beat Licey twice before.
Tigres got on the board first in the second inning. They took a 1-0 lead with a homerun off Jose Bautista’s bat. Mexico threatened in the bottom half of the inning with two quick hits. Oscar Robles advanced the runners on a groundout to first. With the tying run 90 feet away Mercedes got Iker Franco to pop out to first to end the inning. Mexico tied the game in the third inning. Alfredo Amezaga reached base on a fielder’s choice. Back to back hits by Carlos Rivera and Roberto Saucedo drove him in to tie the game at 1. Mexico was looking to break the tie in the fourth. With two men on, Reggie Taylor came up to bat looking to break out of his slump and he grounded out to first to kill the rally. Still tied in the ninth, Figueroa comes out to try and pitch a complete game. Nelson Cruz, the first batter for Licey hit a blooper between two defenders and was able to make it all the way to second base. With nobody out, Figueroa retired the next three batters maintaining the 1-1 tie.
Figueroa came out to pitch in the tenth inning looking to extend his scoreless innings streak against Licey to 18. Figueroa quickly retired the first batter Ronnie Belliard on grounder to second. Mathew Tupman singled to center forcing Homar Rojas to yank Figueroa in favor of lefty reliever Adrian Ramirez. Emilio Bonifacio hit a soft fly ball between two defenders and Tupman trying to advance was gunned out at third by Armando Rios. Ramirez got Anderson Hernandez to fly out to left to end the inning. In the bottom tenth, Mexico was looking to close out the game. With two outs, the Yaquis were able to reach base on back to back walks. Robert Saucedo came to the plate with a chance to drive in the winning run and was struck out by Jailen Peguero. Licey took advantage of the missed chance by Mexico. In the eleventh, pinch hitter D’Angelo Jimenez drew a walk from Ramirez. Nelson Cruz hit a hard grounder that ate up Amezaga and Jimenez advanced to third. Jose Bautista hit a fly ball to right; Jimenez tagged up and was able to score on a close play at the plate on Rios’ throw home.
Licey survives a close one, 2-1.
