Another Chipper Jones GW Homer Beats Cuba 4-2; Clinches Final Title Spot With Texas and Puerto Rico

For the second game in a row, Chipper Jones delivered a game-winning home run. this time off Cuba's Raisel Iglesias. Cuba's Yordan Alvarez singled in Bert Campaneris in the top of the 8th inning to tie the score at 2-2. However, Florida's Trea Turner singled and stole second in the bottom of the eighth before Jones home run made it 4-2. You can click here for all 12 World teams.

Cristóbal Torriente - the Negro League star from the 1920s for Chicago's championship team, started the game for Cuba with a homer off Zack Greinke, but Greinke allowed only one other baserunner in his six innings pitched.

Cuba had one last shot in the 9th against closer Tom Gordon. Tony Oliva singled and Tony Perez walked, and Cuba pinch hit slugger Jose Conseco - who drove the ball to centerfield for a potential game-winning, but it was caught by Tim Raines to improve Florida to 4-1. Jones and Raines were the only two players in the game with two hits, and Jones other hit was a double while Raines stole three bases. 

The win makes Florida 4-1 in the South Division and clinches first place without them playing their last game. The Dominican Republic is 4-2 but was swept by Florida so will finish second place in the South.

Here is what is left:

For 2nd Place in North - Pennsylvania vs. New York in final regular season series that matters - Pennsylvania advances if they win at least one game, and New York if they sweep. 

One Game Playoff of 3rd place teams for Final Playoff Spot:

Central America (3rd in Pacific) at Venezuela (3rd in South)

Round Robin of Preliminary Playoff Pool (each team plays six games)

1. California (2nd in Pacific)
2. Dominican Republic (2nd in South)
3. Pennsylvania or New York (2nd in North)
4. Central America or Venezuela (3rd place play-in game)

Championship Pool (also six games each team)

1. Texas (Pacific Champion)
2. Puerto Rico (North Champion)
3. Florida (South Champion)
4. Winner of Preliminary Playoff Above

Clinching Game	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Cuba	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0		2	3	1
Florida	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	2	x		4	8	0

  

Cuba	Pos	AB	R	H	RBI	Notes		Florida	Pos	AB	R	H	RBI	Notes
Cristóbal Torriente	8-CF	4	1	1	1	HR		Tim Raines	8-CF	4	2	2	0	3 sb
Minnie Minoso	7-LF	3	0	1	0			Trea Turner	6-SS	4	1	1	0	1 sb
Sandy Consuegra	1-P	0	0	0	0			Chipper Jones	5-3B	3	1	2	3	2B, HR
Raisel Iglesias	1-P	0	0	0	0			Anthony Rizzo	3-1B	3	0	1	1
Tony Gonzalez	ph	1	0	0	0			Robby Thompson	4-2B	4	0	0	0
Tony Oliva	9-RF	4	0	1	0			Andre Dawson	7-LF	3	0	1	0
Martín Dihigo	2-C	4	0	0	0			Gary Sheffield	9-RF	3	0	1	0
Tony Perez	3-1B	3	0	0	0			Mickey Rivers	9-RF	0	0	0	0	sb
Yoan Moncada	5-3B	3	0	0	0			Al Lopez	2-C	3	0	0	0
Jose Canseco	PH	1	0	0	0			Zack Greinke	1-P	2	0	0	0
Tony Taylor	4-2B	3	0	0	0			John Henry Lloyd	PH	1	0	0	0
Bert Campaneris	6-SS	3	0	1	0	sb		Mike Clevinger	1-P	0	0	0	0
José Méndez	1-P	1	0	0	0			Jay Howell	1-P	0	0	0	0
Yordan Alvarez	7-LF	2	0	1	1			Tom Gordon	1-P	0	0	0	0
Totals - .156 BA		32	1	5	2	1 sb		Total - .267 BA		30	4	8	4	5 sb

Cuba Pitching	PB	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	Dec
José Méndez	2-7'	5	3	1	1	1	2
Sandy Consuegra	2-7'	2	3	1	1	1	0
Raisel Iglesias	2-8'	0.1	2	2	2	0	0	L
Aroldis Chapman	2-9'	0.2	0	0	0	0	2
Florida Pitching	PB	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	Dec
Zack Greinke	2-8'	6	2	1	1	0	7
Mike Clevinger	2-7'	1	0	0	0	0	1
Jay Howell	2-7'	1	2	1	1	0	1	W
Tom Gordon	2-8'	1	1	0	0	1	0	S