Victor Mendoza hit a three-run homer and drove in four runs as Mexico earned a key 9-4 victory over Venezuela on Friday night to remain in contention in the Caribbean Series.
The Charros de Jalisco won their second straight game and finished the first round with a 2-2 record.
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Victor Mendoza hit a three-run homer and drove in four runs as Mexico earned a key 9-4 victory over Venezuela on Friday night to remain in contention in the Caribbean Series.
Mexico needs a Cuban victory to force a tiebreak by run average.
In another game, the Dominican Republic defeated Panama 5-3 to take first place in Group B.
The Toros de Herrera from Panama, playing in the tournament for the first time since 1960, needs a win by a large margin to qualify with the tiebreak.
Dariel Alvarez of Mexico's Los Charros de Jaliscos, left center, is congratulated by Manny Rodriguez after scoring a run against Venezuela's Cardenales de Lara in the fifth inning of a Caribbean Series baseball tournament game at the Rod Carew stadium in Panama City, Friday, Feb. 8, 2019. (AP PhotoArnulfo Franco)
Starting pitcher Marco Tovar of Mexico's Los Charros de Jaliscos, winds up for a pitch in the first inning of a Caribbean Series baseball tournament game against Venezuela's Cardenales de Lara, at the Rod Carew stadium in Panama City, Friday, Feb. 8, 2019. (AP PhotoArnulfo Franco)
Dominican Republic's Estrellas Orientales' teammates celebrate Emilio Gustave and Moises Sierra score runs against Panama's Los Toros de Herrera, in their sixth inning during the Caribbean Series baseball tournament the at Rod Carew stadium in Panama City, Friday, Feb. 8, 2019. (AP PhotoArnulfo Franco)
Second baseman Gustavo Nunez, of Dominican Republic's Estrellas Orientales, forces out Rodrigo Orozco Jr., of Panama's Los Toros de Herrera, in the third inning of the Caribbean Series baseball tournament at the Rod Carew stadium, in Panama City, Friday, Feb. 8, 2019. (AP PhotoArnulfo Franco)
Starting pitcher Carlos Teller of Panama's Los Toros de Herrera, throws the ball during the second inning against Dominican Republic's Estrellas Orientales during the Caribbean Series baseball tournament, at Rod Carew stadium in Panama City, Friday, Feb. 8, 2019. (AP PhotoArnulfo Franco)
Keury De La Cruz, right, of Panama's Los Toros de Herrera, is tagged out in second base by Alfredo Reyes, of Dominican Republic's Estrellas Orientales, during the second inning on the Caribbean Series baseball tournament at Rod Carew stadium in Panama City, Friday, Feb. 8, 2019. (AP PhotoArnulfo Franco)
Dominican Republic's Estrellas Orientales' teammates celebrate Emilio Gustave and Moises Sierra score runs against Panama's Los Toros de Herrera, in their sixth inning during the Caribbean Series baseball tournament the at Rod Carew stadium in Panama City, Friday, Feb. 8, 2019. (AP PhotoArnulfo Franco)
With the loss, Venezuela has a 2-1 record and can qualify for the final with a victory over Cuba (1-2) on Saturday.
Victor Mendoza of Mexico's Los Charros de Jaliscos celebrates after scoring against Venezuela's Cardenales de Lara in the sixth inning of a Caribbean Series baseball tournament game at the Rod Carew stadium in Panama City, Friday, Feb. 8, 2019. (AP PhotoArnulfo Franco)
Mexico needs a Cuban victory to force a tiebreak by run average.
The Cardenales de Lara scored twice in the sixth and trailed 5-4. In the bottom of the inning, Mendoza hit a three-run shot to all but secure a win for the Mexicans.
It was Mexico*s first home run of the series.
Juniel Querecuto of Venezuela's Cardenales de Lara, celebrates with teammates after scoring a run against Mexico's Los Charros de Jaliscos, in the sixth inning of a Caribbean Series baseball tournament game at the Rod Carew stadium in Panama City, Friday, Feb. 8, 2019. (AP PhotoArnulfo Franco)
In another game, the Dominican Republic defeated Panama 5-3 to take first place in Group B.
The Estrellas Orientales finished the first round with a 3-1 record. Panama is second at 2-1, and Puerto Rico is out of contention at 0-3.
To qualify for the final, the Dominicans need Puerto Rico to beat Panama on Saturday in the last game of the group.
Agustin Murillo of Mexico's Los Charros de Jaliscos is safe on second ahead of a tag by Alexi Amarista of Venezuela's Cardenales de Lara, in the second inning of a Caribbean Series baseball tournament game at the Rod Carew stadium in Panama City, Friday, Feb. 8, 2019. (AP PhotoArnulfo Franco)
The Toros de Herrera from Panama, playing in the tournament for the first time since 1960, needs a win by a large margin to qualify with the tiebreak.
Wilkin Castillo knocked in three runs with a double in the sixth inning and finished with three hits and four RBIs for the Dominicans.
Dariel Alvarez of Mexico's Los Charros de Jaliscos is congratulated by Manny Rodriguez, right, after scoring a run against Venezuela's Cardenales de Lara in the fifth inning of a Caribbean Series baseball tournament game at the Rod Carew stadium in Panama City, Friday, Feb. 8, 2019. (AP PhotoArnulfo Franco)
Dariel Alvarez of Mexico's Los Charros de Jaliscos, left center, is congratulated by Manny Rodriguez after scoring a run against Venezuela's Cardenales de Lara in the fifth inning of a Caribbean Series baseball tournament game at the Rod Carew stadium in Panama City, Friday, Feb. 8, 2019. (AP PhotoArnulfo Franco)
Starting pitcher Marco Tovar of Mexico's Los Charros de Jaliscos, winds up for a pitch in the first inning of a Caribbean Series baseball tournament game against Venezuela's Cardenales de Lara, at the Rod Carew stadium in Panama City, Friday, Feb. 8, 2019. (AP PhotoArnulfo Franco)
Dominican Republic's Estrellas Orientales' teammates celebrate Emilio Gustave and Moises Sierra score runs against Panama's Los Toros de Herrera, in their sixth inning during the Caribbean Series baseball tournament the at Rod Carew stadium in Panama City, Friday, Feb. 8, 2019. (AP PhotoArnulfo Franco)
Second baseman Gustavo Nunez, of Dominican Republic's Estrellas Orientales, forces out Rodrigo Orozco Jr., of Panama's Los Toros de Herrera, in the third inning of the Caribbean Series baseball tournament at the Rod Carew stadium, in Panama City, Friday, Feb. 8, 2019. (AP PhotoArnulfo Franco)
Starting pitcher Carlos Teller of Panama's Los Toros de Herrera, throws the ball during the second inning against Dominican Republic's Estrellas Orientales during the Caribbean Series baseball tournament, at Rod Carew stadium in Panama City, Friday, Feb. 8, 2019. (AP PhotoArnulfo Franco)
Keury De La Cruz, right, of Panama's Los Toros de Herrera, is tagged out in second base by Alfredo Reyes, of Dominican Republic's Estrellas Orientales, during the second inning on the Caribbean Series baseball tournament at Rod Carew stadium in Panama City, Friday, Feb. 8, 2019. (AP PhotoArnulfo Franco)
Dominican Republic's Estrellas Orientales' teammates celebrate Emilio Gustave and Moises Sierra score runs against Panama's Los Toros de Herrera, in their sixth inning during the Caribbean Series baseball tournament the at Rod Carew stadium in Panama City, Friday, Feb. 8, 2019. (AP PhotoArnulfo Franco)