Vaqueros de Monteria win Colombian Professional Baseball League
Vaqueros de Monteria defeated Tigres de Aragua four games to one in the final series and claimed the 2022-2023 pennant of the Professional Baseball League of Colombia (LPB). It's their second league title.
The Vaqueros beat Caimanes de Barranquilla after finishing second in the 2021-2022 season.
All the results
Vaqueros-Tigres 6-1
Tigres-Vaqueros 8-7
Vaqueros-Tigres 5-4
Vaqueros-Tigres 6-4
Vaqueros-Tigres 7-5
Tigres could overcome Vaqueros pitching only in Game Two when they got to them with three home runs.
Dominican starter Porfirio Lopez earned the win in Games One and Five. Julio Vivas won Game Four. Relievers Francisco Carrillo and Luis Pacheco were instrumental in Game Three, earning the win and save, which gave their team a lead they wouldn't give up.
Vaqueros offense hit 10 home runs, including five in the title-clinching Game Five.
Vaqueros proved unbeatable on home soil. In the final part of the season, they won 13 consecutive games at the 18 de Junio stadium in Monteria.
WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup star Bryan Buelvas started in center field for Vaqueros.
Reinaldo Rodriguez earned MVP honours through four home runs and eight RBIs (runs batted in).
"My hitting was timely," commented Rodriguez through the LPB website. "We had solid pitching and consistent defence. We are all MVPs. We are all champions, including our fans."