Shanghai Orcas crowned CPB champs as Infante Hernandez settles the score

After 26 runs were spread over the opening two games of this Chinese Professional Baseball play-off it all came down to just the one.

Diego Andres Infante Hernandez was driven in by a Perez Ramirez Wilmer Manuel single up the middle at the top of the sixth and that was all that was needed for the Shanghai Orcas to clinch their first CPB title with a 1-0 win over the Beijing CP Loongs.

Pyrotechnics had greeted fans at the Xuhui West Bund Baseball Field over Games One and Two, and they were left with some degree of pity for the pitches, as first the Orcas prevailed 11-1 and then Beijing opened up their shoulders for a 14-0 slug-fest.

The Game Three decider turned instead into a battle of attrition, given the title was on the line, and while the Orcas found hits early, Beijing just couldn’t get their much-vaunted attack firing. When Infante Hernandez crossed, it seemed to settle Shanghai’s nerves – which were frayed also by the site of Braulio Vasquez Morel falling to a nasty looking leg injury while trying to make it to second in the first innings.

The MVP went to the Orcas’ Henry Alexander Urrutia Rodríguez, and he sent a heart-warming shoutout to his teammate, who was apparently watched a live stream of the game while under-treatment in his hospital room.

“We heard that he is okay and he was watching so this championship was for him,” he said. “Because of what happened to our brother we were worried … but now we are happy.”

Urrutia Rodríguez had been a beast at the plate and covering first base for the Orcas, and he finished batting .400 for the final series with two runs and four hits – and with a decent dosing of champagne.

“I told my guys, I came here to help the team to win, and now we did it,” he said. “I’m very proud of my kids.”

Rafae Emerson took the save for a nerveless ninth when Beijing looked to rally. Irving René Ortega Taveras struck out but there were hits for Yoel Yanqui and Ronaiker Ricardo Palma Rodriguez and there was the imposing Alfredo Despaigne coming up to the plate. But quick work in the field – and an intentional walk of the Cuban – saw Yanqui picked off and then Raico Santos ground out, and it was all over.

As if on cue, the rain tumbled down only after all the action was over and so CPB can happily toast a second season that saw a boost in international quality joined the fledgling league, one that the reigning MVP claimed was “going to big things in quick time.”