After nine years of absence, the XIII edition of the Caribbean Series (Serie del Caribe) was revived in 1970 without Panama or Cuba. It was held in Caracas, Venezuela from February 5 to February 10 at Estadio Universitario and featured three teams from Dominican Republic (Licey), Puerto Rico (Ponce), and Venezuela (Magallanes). The format consisted of 12 games, with each team facing the other teams three times. Because the series was so small, each team had to face each other in one night.
For the first time, Venezuela captured the competition with a record of 7-1 behind strong pitching performances by Orlando Peña (2-0, 2.00 ERA in 18.0 innings pitched), Aurelio Monteagudo (2-0, one shutout, 16 SO, 0.00 in 12 2⁄3 IP), Jay Ritchie (one-hit, nine-SO shutout), and Larry Jaster (1-0, 3.30 ERA in 16 1⁄3 IP). With Carlos Pascual as manager, 1B Gonzalo Márquez was voted Most Valuable Player after led series hitters with a .478 batting average (11-for-25). Other contributions came from 2B Gustavo Gil (.387, four runs, seven RBI), CF César Tovar (.349, five runs, three stolen bases), C Ray Fosse (.391, four runs), and 3B Dámaso Blanco (five runs, five RBI).
The team of Puerto Rico, with Jim Fregosi at the helm, finished second with 4-4 mark. The pitching staff was led by Wayne Simpson, who went 2-0 with a 1.12 ERA and two complete games , including a four-hit shutout. Also in the roster were pitchers Mike Cuellar and Clyde Wright; catcher Pat Corrales; infielders José Cruz (1B), Sandy Alomar (2B), Tony Pérez (3B) and Jackie Hernández (SS), and outfielders Julio Roque (LF), Luis Meléndez (CF) and Bernie Carbo (RF). Meléndez led the offensive with one home run, six runs and six RBI.
Dominican Republic, led by outfielder/manager Manny Mota, ended in last place with a 1-7 record. The team's only victory came behind a strong pitching effort from Reggie Cleveland, who threw nine innings of one-hit, one run ball against Puerto Rico. The team featured players as Matty Alou, Rico Carty and César Cedeño.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||