Mexico, Venezuela win on 2nd day of Caribbean Series

C.J. Retherford homered and drove in three runs, Chris Roberson had four hits and Mexico defeated the Dominican Republic 7-2 on Thursday night for its second victory in two Caribbean Series games.

Jason Bourgeois tripled twice and had two RBIs for the Aguilas de Mexicali, trying to give Mexico back-to-back Caribbean titles. Héctor Velazquez struck out seven in five innings for the win. He allowed four hits and two runs, one earned.

Losing pitcher César Valdez gave up three runs and six hits over 4 1/3 innings for the Dominican Republic's Tigres de Licey, who fell to 0-2 in the tournament.

In the earlier game Thursday, Jesús Flores homered and drove in two runs for Venezuela in its 4-3 victory over Puerto Rico. Omar Bencomo permitted one run over five innings for Venezuela's Aguilas de Zulia, who scored three times in the second against the Criollos de Caguas.

The 27-year-old Bencomo, a member of the Minnesota Twins organization who spent part of last season with Triple-A Rochester, gave up four hits and struck out six in earning the win for Venezuela, which was off during the first day of competition.

Adalberto Flores took the loss after yielding five hits and four runs, two earned, in four innings.

Puerto Rico has dropped both its tournament games and will play Cuba and the Dominican Republic in the upcoming days.

In the Caribbean Series, five teams play against each other in the first round and the top four advance to the semifinals.