MIAMI - Following a defeat against the Dominican Republic, the Curaçao Suns will battle for their last chance to reach the semi-finals of the Serie del Caribe 2024. Despite an inconsistent performance in this tournament from Tigres de Licey, they demonstrated their strength by defeating Curaçao 2-0.
Codey Mincey, Curaçao's starting pitcher and minor leaguer with the Miami Marlins, delivered a solid performance. He managed to largely contain Tigres de Licey's powerful batting lineup, except for a moment in the fourth inning when three consecutive hits led to the Dominican team's first run. After 6 1/3 innings, Mincey was replaced by Kevin Kelly, who struggled to settle into the game, resulting in another run for Tigres de Licey in the eighth inning.
On the other hand, Curaçao's batting lineup failed to impress, producing only three hits throughout the game, two by Roger Bernadina and one by Jonathan Schoop. Their performance fell short of expectations, diminishing the chances of a victory.
For the Curaçao Suns, a lot is at stake tonight in the showdown with Puerto Rico. With Mexico and Nicaragua already eliminated and Panama and Venezuela securing qualification, tonight's matches will determine the remaining semi-final spots.
A victory against Puerto Rico, considering the current standings with both the Suns and the Puerto Rican champion at three wins and three losses, would qualify Curaçao for the semi-finals based on the head-to-head result. Tigres de Licey also has a chance to reach the semi-finals, depending on the outcome of their match against Panama.
The crucial match for the Curaçao Suns begins tonight at 11:30 PM, Curaçao time, with the team hoping for a positive result to advance to the semi-finals of this prestigious tournament.