Family ties power Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico defeats Ramstein Air Base 11-0 to open international play
Source: South Williamsport, Pa.
Date/Time: Friday, August 20, 2010, 6:00pm ET
Yomar Valentin drove a ball deep to center field in the third inning Friday
night. It was headed for almost the same spot as the home run he had hit just an
inning before.
Only this time, Valentin hit it even better. His second home run smashed high
off the batter’s eye more than 250 feet from the plate in Puerto Rico’s 11-0
four-inning victory against Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
Valentin said his second home run felt even better than the first.
“I was very emotional,” he said through interpreter Antonio Gonzalez. “I was
much happier.”
Yomar Valentin and his cousins, Victor Valentin and Javier Rodriguez, made their
manager and grandfather, Jose, very happy at the end of the game. Yomar and
Victor combined to go 4-for-5 with three home runs and six RBI. Rodriguez
started the game at first base, and was hit by a pitch in his only plate
appearance.
“I’ve managed those kids for five years,” Jose said. “I know what kind of
capabilities they have. I know everyone can hit a home run.”
Even with Victor’s solo homer in the second, Yomar was Puerto Rico’s star.
Leading off the game, he was hit by a pitch and eventually scored the game’s
first run on a two-out double from Bryan Figueroa. He finished the night 2-for-2
with two home runs and five RBI.
Given Yomar’s bloodlines, his prowess isn’t surprising. His father is former
major leaguer Jose Valentin and his grandfather played for the Puerto Rican
national team in 18 international tournaments.
“Yomar has the power of his father,” Jose said.
The Caribbean champions hit five home runs combined. Ramstein manager Gary
Harrington wasn’t surprised by the power surge.
“They had eight hits and five were home runs,” he said. “They can hit.”
Ramstein was unable to demonstrate its own power bats against Jonathan Martinez
(1-0) and Figueroa. The pair combined for a one-hitter, and Martinez struck out
seven of the 10 batters he faced.
Martinez said he used his fastball, changeup and curveball to keep the European
champions off balance.
“I had a lot of confidence,” he said.
By the time left fielder Kaleb Stokes collected Ramstein’s only hit to lead off
the third, Puerto Rico’s offense had already taken over the game. A pair of
two-out doubles in the first inning brought home two runs against left-hander
Mackenzie Mueller (0-1).
In the second inning, the Caribbean champions put their power on full display.
Yomar broke the game open with his first home run, a three-run blast. After a
strikeout, the two-out magic began again for Puerto Rico. Victor and Figueroa
launched back-to-back solo home runs, effectively ending Mueller’s night.
Mueller played on the Ramstein team that won the European championship last
year. His return to Williamsport didn’t have the kind of results he hoped for,
as he allowed seven runs on five hits in just 1 2/3 innings.
“He didn’t pitch a bad game,” Harrington said. “We’d rather they have home runs
with no one on base. They had a three-run home run and a two-run home run and it
adds up quick.”
Puerto Rico advances into the winners’ bracket, where it will face the winner of
Japan-Mexico on Sunday. Ramstein, however, finds itself one loss away from being
knocked out.
Harrington predicted his team will bounce back from Friday’s defeat and be ready
for its elimination game Sunday.
“They want to win a game while they’re here,” he said. “That’s their goal.”