Gonzalez's Homer Gives Venezuela the Win

Published: 2/5/06, 4:25 AM EDT
VALENCIA, Venezuela (AP) - Alex Gonzalez hit a three-run homer off Jorge Sosa in the top of the ninth inning, lifting Venezuela to an 11-9 victory over the Dominican Republic on Saturday night.

Venezuela, which has won all three of its games so far, handed the Dominican Rebublic's Licey Tigers their first loss.

Ramon Hernandez, the Baltimore Orioles' new catcher, singled off reliever Roman Colon to start the rally. After Franklin Gutierrez singled to put runners at first and third, Licey manager Rafael Landestoy brought on the Atlanta Braves' Sosa.

Gonzalez, headed to the Boston Red Sox to be their new shortstop, hit a slider over the left-field fence to touch off a celebration for Venezuela's Caracas Lions.

"This homer is even more important than the one I hit for the Marlins in the World Series," said Gonzalez, referring to his 12th-inning blast in Game 4 against the New York Yankees in 2003. "This was for my country."

Los Angeles Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez pitched a scoreless ninth - the only inning the Dominican Republic didn't score - to complete Venezuela's win.

Licey hit five homers, including one by Baltimore's Miguel Tejada in the seventh inning and Jose Offerman, who played for the New York Mets last season, in the eighth.

Earlier, Victor Rodriguez drove in the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth inning and Puerto Rico beat Mexico 10-9 for its first victory.

Mexico's Mazatlan - last year's champions - are winless in three games.

Puerto Rico's Carolina Giants (1-2) capitalized on three Mazatlan errors, including one that led to Rodriguez's RBI single.

"I think that this win, our first in a long time, is going to lift our moral," Rodriguez said.

The Caribbean Series features the winners of the winter leagues in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and Mexico.
credit Bell South

No need covering The Superbowl lol.