Mexico Caribbean Series
Mexico hopes to continue their hot play in the 2014 Caribbean Series Championship. Getty Images

With one final game remaining in what has been an exciting Caribbean Series, Mexico and Puerto Rico are preparing for their shot at a winter league championship. Advancing to the semifinals along with the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, Mexico and Puerto Rico were two teams followers of the league were intrigued by because of the overall skill each team possessed. While Mexico certainly holds the ability to score runs, the pitching department has been the true key in the clubs recent success in the Caribbean Series. Claiming the 2009 title and another last season, starting centerfielder Chris Roberson says Mexico goes as its pitching goes.

“The pitching in Mexico has really improved with guys throwing harder, including the imported players, but you also have Mexican pitchers throwing 91-92 mph with a cutter and a sinker," said Roberson, who spent parts of the 2006-2007 Major League Baseball season with the Philadelphia Phillies. "You still see guys throwing the mess out of a changeup, but there's the split, too. It's a solid Double-A and Triple-A level. You can definitely see how baseball has improved there.” Getting past an extremely talented Dominican Republic squad in the semi's, Mexico will now face a Puerto Rico team that is also capable of winning with its staff.

Thanks to six innings of two-hit ball from Giancarlo Alvarado, Puerto Rico was able to slip past Venezuela in the second Caribbean Series semifinal. Alvarado never let a run cross the plate in six strong frames, going toe-to-toe with Venezuela starter Daryl Thompson, who threw five scoreless innings while allowing just one hit. The big moment in the game came in the top of the eighth when Puerto Rico's Eddie Rosario knocked in two runs with a one-out single to break the scoreless tie. Rosario and company would never relinquish the lead thanks to strong back-end pitching, advancing to the 2014 Caribbean Series final against Mexico.

2014 Caribbean Series Final – Mexico vs. Puerto Rico: DATE, TIME & VIEWING INFO

DATE: Saturday, February 8

TIME: 7:00pm, ET

TV COVERAGE: ESPN Deportes

LIVE STREAM: CLICK HERE

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