'There is no tomorrow'… That should be the motto that the Tiburones de La Guaira players carry, starting tonight, at 7:00 when they go to the Universitario stadium for the third match of this grand final against Leones del Caracas.
Two different realities will be experienced in the Chagüaramos park. On the one hand, Leones will seek to place themselves within a shot of their 21st crown in history; while on the other side, those led by Henry Blanco hope to become a retaining wall and thus get their first laurel in this decisive instance.
The two previous days were clearly for José Sheriff and his boys and, although the outlook looks uphill for the La Guaira team, nothing is yet written and that is why they will ride on the hill, to the right Erick Leal, reinforcement from the coast.
“I am focused on my first start with Tiburones. That's why they brought me and I hope to do my bit for the cause of the franchise," added Leal prior to game 2 of this final.
"I would have liked to pitch with my team, Magallanes, but we are going above and beyond to help this team and its fans achieve that dream," he said.
For Leal it will be the fourth time that he faces Leones del Caracas in this year 2022-2023; Well, during the regular round, they faced the long-haired, that December 2 and then, in the Round Robin, they faced each other on a couple of occasions.
Against the capital, Leal has been really complicated, because in 11.1 innings pitched against them, he has allowed up to nine earned runs with a trio of walks and five strikeouts, leaving an ERA of 7.29.
Read also: Bullpen de Leones shone in the second game
Both Leal and Tiburones know that they have no margin for error. One more defeat would leave them against the wall and the Lions would be at the mercy of a single victory to end the title drought for the capital franchise.
In that sense, manager José Alguacil will give the Nicaraguan, JC Ramírez, the opportunity to start, despite the fact that in the last 5.2 of work against La Guaira, the right-hander has really been cracked with 10 runs allowed and 12 hits.
Will La Samba be able to give it that push that La Guaira needs in this instance?…
