2006 Caribbean Series

The forty-eighth edition of the Caribbean Series (Serie del Caribe) baseball tournament was played in 2006 in the neighboring cities of Maracay and Valencia in Venezuela, making it the first one to be played in two cities. It was held from February 2 through February 7 featuring the champion teams from The Dominican Republic (Licey), Mexico (Mazatlán), Puerto Rico (Carolina) and Venezuela (Caracas). The format consisted of 12 games, each team facing the other teams twice. The games were played at Estadio José Pérez Colmenares (Maracay) and Estadio José Bernardo Pérez (Valencia).

Summary

The Venezuela home team, represented by the Leones del Caracas, won its first Caribbean Series title since 1989 after a dramatic rally with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning led them to a perfect 6-0 finish, the 9th time this had happened in the Series.

Managed by Carlos Subero, Venezuela outscored their opponents 45–15 while the defense committed only three errors. Triple Crown winner Ramón Hernández was named the Series Most Valuable Player after leading all players with a .542 batting average (13-for-24) and eight RBIs, while tying with Edgar González with three home runs. Hernández also hit for the cycle in Game Two, to become the first player to do it in the Series history.

Other notable contributions came from Alex Cabrera (.360, 2 HR, 7 RBIs), Álex González (.409, 1 HR, 7 RBIs), Marco Scutaro (.304, 7 runs, 5 RBIs, 2 HR, including a grand slam), Luis Rodríguez (.310, 3 doubles, 5 runs, 8 RBIs) and Franklin Gutiérrez (.364, 4 runs, 4 RBIs). Overall, the Venezuelan club hit .327 with nine home runs. The pitching staff posted a collective 2.62 earned run average and was led by Geremi González, who went 1-0 and topped all pitchers in ERA (1.20) and innings pitched (15), striking out 12 batters while walking just three.

In addition, Subero, at 33, became the youngest manager to win a Caribbean Series championship. Manny Acta was 34 when he guided the Dominicans to the title in 2004.

The Dominican Republic finished the series in second place with a 4-2 record. Both losses were to Venezuela. The team was managed by Rafael Landestoy and included players as Alexis Gómez, who led his teammates with a .500 BA (10-for-20), and Miguel Tejada (.273, 1 HR, 8 RBIs), Sandy Martínez (.300, 1 HR, 5 RBIs), Napoleón Calzado (.321) and Rafael Belliard (.304, 1 HR).

Puerto Rico was guided by Lino Rivera and finished third at 2-4, both its wins coming against Mexico. Other than starter Willie Collazo (0-1) and relievers Iván Maldonado and Orlando Román, the pitching staff was ineffective. The offense was led by Luis Figueroa (.364, 1 HR, 5 RBIs), Rubén Gotay (.368, 1 HR), Alex Cintrón (.308, 1 HR) and José Valentín (.269, 1 HR).

The defending champion Mexico did not win a game in the series. Managed by Juan José Pacho, it was the fifth time a Mexican team had been held winless in Caribbean Series history. Edgar González led the attack with a .524 BA (11-for-21) and three solo home runs. The team also included veterans players such as Trenidad Hubbard, Oscar Robles and Francisco Campos.

Final standings


Country	Club	W	L	W/L %	GB	Managers
Venezuela	Leones del Caracas	6	0	1.000	–	Carlos Subero
Dominican Republic	Tigres del Licey	4	2	.667	2.0	Rafael Landestoy
Puerto Rico	Gigantes de Carolina	2	4	.333	4.0	Lino Rivera
Mexico	Venados de Mazatlán	0	6	.000	6.0	Juan José Pacho

Individual leaders
Player/Club	Statistic
Ramón Hernández/VEN	Batting average	.542
Edgar González/MEX Ramón Hernández/VEN	Home runs	3
Ramón Hernández/VEN	Runs batted in	9
Marco Scutaro/VEN	Runs	7
Ramón Hernández/VEN	Hits	13
Ramón Hernández/VEN Luis Rodríguez/VEN	Doubles	3
Five tied	Triples	1
Manny Aybar/DOM	Stolen bases	2
Twelve tied	Wins	1
Geremi González/VEN	Strikeouts	12
Geremi González/VEN	Earned run average	1.20
Geremi González/VEN	Innings pitched	15
Jorge Sosa/DOM	Saves	2
Awards
Ramón Hernández/VEN	Most Valuable Player
Carlos Subero/VEN	Manager

All-Star Team
Name/Club	Position
Sandy Martínez/DOM	catcher
Ramón Hernández/VEN	first baseman
Edgar González/MEX	second baseman
Luis Rodríguez/VEN	third baseman
Álex González/VEN	shortstop
Napoleón Calzado/DOM	left fielder
Alexis Gómez/DOM	center fielder
Timo Pérez/DOM	right fielder
Alex Cabrera/VEN	designated hitter
Geremi González/VEN	right-handed pitcher
Willie Collazo/PUR	left-handed pitcher
Carlos Subero/VEN	manager

Game 1, February 2 at Maracay


Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	R	H	E
Dominican Republic	0	0	2	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	1	5	11	1
Puerto Rico	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	4	12	1
WP: Eddie Ramos (1-0) LP: Federico Báez (0-1) Sv: Román Colón (1) Home runs: DOM: Pedro Valdez (1) PUR: None

Game 2, February 2 at Valencia


Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Venezuela	0	0	0	3	1	0	4	2	7	17	21	2
Mexico	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	4	1
WP: Geremi González (1-0) LP: Pablo Ortega (0-1) Home runs: VEN: Ramón Hernández (1), Alex Cabrera (1) MEX: None Notes: Venezuela's Hernández became the first player to hit for the cycle in Series history.

Game 3, February 3 at Valencia


Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Dominican Republic	0	0	0	6	0	0	2	0	2	10	11	2
Mexico	0	0	4	0	0	0	0	2	0	6	11	1
WP: Wilton Chávez (1-0) LP: Francisco Campos (0-1) Sv: Jorge Sosa (1) Home runs: DOM: Miguel Tejada (1) MEX: Edgar González (2)

Game 4, February 3 at Maracay


Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Venezuela	0	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	11	0
Puerto Rico	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	10	1
WP: Orlando Trías (1-0) LP: Jim Magrane (0-1) Home runs: VEN: Marco Scutaro (1) PUR: None

Game 5, February 4 at Valencia


Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Puerto Rico	0	4	1	1	1	0	2	0	1	10	14	2
Mexico	1	0	5	0	1	0	2	0	0	9	18	3
WP: Iván Maldonado (1-0) LP: José Luis García (0-1) Home runs: PUR: Luis Figueroa (1), Edwards Guzmán (1), Víctor Rodríguez (1) MEX: None

Game 6, February 4 at Valencia


Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Venezuela	0	0	0	0	1	1	5	4	0	11	15	0
Dominican Republic	2	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	0	9	15	0
WP: Juan Ovalles (1-0) LP: Román Colón (0-1) Sv: Francisco Rodríguez (1) Home runs: VEN: Henry Blanco (1), Alex Cabrera (2), Álex González (1) DOM: None

Game 7, February 5 at Maracay


Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Puerto Rico	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	2	6	2
Dominican Republic	0	2	0	1	0	0	6	0	x	9	9	1
WP: Danny Tamayo (1-0) LP: Josué Matos (0-1)

Game 8, February 5 at Maracay


Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	R	H	E
Mexico	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	3	6	0
Venezuela	0	0	0	1	1	1	0	0	0	1	4	9	0
WP: Mauro Zárate (1-0) LP: Ignacio Flores (0-1) Home runs: MEX: None VEN: Ramón Hernández (2)

Game 9, February 6 at Maracay


Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Dominican Republic	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	1	0	3	11	1
Mexico	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	3	1
WP: Daniel Cabrera (1-0) LP: Walter Silva (0-1) Sv: Jorge Sosa (2)

Game 10, February 6 at Valencia


Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Puerto Rico	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	4
Venezuela	0	0	1	0	0	1	2	1	x	5	9	0
WP: Albert Vargas (1-0) LP: Willie Collazo (0-1) Home runs: PUR: Rubén Gotay (1) VEN: Rafael Álvarez (1)

Game 11, February 7 at Valencia


Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	R	H	E
Mexico	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	3	0
Puerto Rico	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	3	12	1
WP: Orlando Román (1-0) LP: José Luis García (0-2) Home runs: MEX: Trenidad Hubbard (1) PUR: José Valentín (1)

Game 12, February 7 at Maracay


Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Dominican Republic	2	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	4	7	1
Venezuela	0	0	0	1	0	2	0	0	2	5	8	1
WP: Víctor Moreno (1-0) LP: Jorge Sosa (0-1) Home runs: DOM: Sandy Martínez (1) VEN: Ramón Hernández (3)

Quotes

"Up to the bag, hits a very high fly, comfortable, to short left field. Back in is the short (stop) Erick Aybar. Bonds, comes down, comes forward. THE BALL DROPS! THE BALL DROPS! VENEZUELA IS GOING TO WIN! VENEZUELA IS GOING TO WIN! VENEZUELA IS GOING TO WIN!...AND VENEZUELA HAS WON THE CARIBBEAN SERIES, 2006! (Translation of Fox Sports en Español narrator Beto Villa on the final play)

Sources

Antero Núñez, José. Series del Caribe. Jefferson, Caracas, Venezuela: Impresos Urbina, C.A., 1987.
Gutiérrez, Daniel. Enciclopedia del Béisbol en Venezuela – 1895-2006 . Caracas, Venezuela: Impresión Arte, C.A., 2007.

External links

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Caribbean Series
Years	1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Circuits	Colombian Professional Baseball League Cuban National Series Dominican Professional Baseball League Mexican Pacific League Panamanian Professional Baseball League Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League Venezuelan Professional Baseball League
Related articles	Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame Caribbean Series Most Valuable Player Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame List of players who have played in the Series Mexican Baseball Hall of Fame Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame
1961 to 1969 - The Series was not held during these years following the dissolution of Cuba's professional league. 1981 - The Series was not held due to a Venezuelan player's strike.