Dominican Republic throttles CNMI, 16-1

It was not an auspicious debut at all for the CNMI Big League All-Stars after they were badly beaten by the Dominican Republic, 16-1, in the 2008 Big League World Series yesterday in Easley, South Carolina.

Manager Robert Magofna’s boys were out of synch early and probably were still feeling the effects of jetlag in their 10-run mercy run rule loss to the Latin America II champions.

It also didn’t help that Dominican Republic’s flame-throwing pitcher Odalis Jimenez had total control of both sides of the plate and shutout the CNMI in the first four innings before Jesus Iguel’s single in the fifth brought home Smith Regis.

While Jimenez was dealing and wheeling on the mound, the Dominican Republic hitters were doing their damage from the plate.

They first pelted CNMI ace Nicolas San Nicolas for five hits in the first inning that gave the Latin America II champions a 4-0 lead.

That was just the start though as the boys from Pontezuela racked up 10 monster runs in the second inning, highlighted by three homeruns—two from Jose Santiago and one from Ivan Ramos. The latter also hit a long ball in the first inning.

After another superb inning by Jimenez—he only gave up a single to Iguel in the third—the Dominican Republic tucked in two more runs in the bottom of third with Ramos hitting another homer to make it 16-0.

Jimenez again silenced the CNMI’s bats in the third, while San Nicolas’ replacement, Giovanni Ayuyu, finally got comfortable on the mound and finally kept the Dominican Republic scoreless.

With the CNMI needing at least seven runs to avert a shortened game defeat, Regis gave them a ray of hope when he singled off Jimenez.

The fiery pitcher, however, quickly made amends and struck out Mario Salas before Ryan Ada was called out on a 6-3-2 play, but not before Regis advanced to second. He would later make it to third on a single by Elton Santos before racing home when Iguel connected against Jimenez for the CNMI’s first and only run of the game.

The celebration, however, was short-lived for the CNMI as Lawrence Dikito reached first base but his line drive grounded out to shortstop Manuel Tejada who quickly tagged out Iguel for the last play of the game.

Santiago drove in seven runs and hit a pair of homers to lead Dominican Republic, who also got three homers from Ramos on top of his six RBIs. Edison Flete also homered for the Dominican Republic.

Iguel led the CNMI in the loss, going 1-for-2 with one RBI. Regis, meanwhile, scored the lone run for the Islanders.

Jimenez was superb at the plate for Dominican Republic, pitching in no relief while compiling three strikeouts and no walks, while giving up only four hits, one run, and an error.

San Nicolas and Ayuyu, meanwhile, combined for 14 hits that led to 16 runs, 11 errors, four walks, while striking out four batters.

The CNMI tries to rebound against their loss to the Dominican Republic when it takes on Puerto Rico today beginning at 12pm, East Coast time.

In other 2008 Big League World Series results: West beat East, 4-2; Puerto Rico hammered Germany, 6-3; Central defeated Southwest, 12-8; and S.C. District I edged South, 2-0.