The DSL Pirates1 beat the DSL Mariners today, sweeping the Mariners in two games in the best of three semi-finals series, and advancing to the Dominican Summer League championship. The Pirates will take on the winner of the other semi-finals matchup between the DSL Angels and the DSL Yankees 1.
Left-handed starter Christian Henriquez took the mound for the Pirates, giving up three runs on five hits in six innings, with no walks and six strikeouts. During the regular season, the 20-year-old left-hander had a 3.03 ERA in 59.1 innings in the DSL, with a 37:14 K/BB ratio. He left the game down 3-1, but the Pirates didn’t wait long to tie it up.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Pablo Reyes hit a two run homer, tying the game at 3-3. Reyes, an 18-year-old shortstop who turns 19 next week, went 4-for-5 with the homer. During the regular season he hit for a .284/.368/.399 line with one homer in 183 at-bats. This was his first year in the DSL, after signing on May 31st, right before the season started.
The Mariners scored in the top of the ninth, but the Pirates came back to tie the game and send it to extras. With two outs, and a runner at second, Reyes came through again. This time he hit an RBI single to center field, scoring Maximo Rivera from second.
In the 12th inning the Mariners scored two runs to take a 6-4 lead. But for a third time the Pirates came back, and this time won the game. With a runner at first, Reyes hit an infield single to third. A throwing error allowed the run to score, and put Reyes at third with the tying run. A walk and a hit batter loaded the bases with one out. The Mariners brought on a reliever, who hit the first batter, Carlos Esqueda, to bring in the tying run. Ulises Montilla ended the game with a walk off single to left-field. Montilla went 2-for-5 on the day, and is a guy you want in that situation, after hitting for a .320/.407/.457 line in 197 at-bats during the regular season.
The Pirates will advance to the DSL Championship round, which will take place next week. They will play either the Angels or Yankees in a best of five series. The Yankees took the first game of that series today, and the remaining games of the series will take place over the next two days.
