Mexicali.– Venezuela's Aragua Tigers won their first Caribbean Series after beating Mexico's Mazatlan Venados 5-3 on Friday. It was Venezuela's seventh crown but Aragua's first.

Mazatlan slipped to 3-2, followed by Puerto Rico's Ponce Lions and the Dominican Republic's Licey Tigers, both on 1-4. Licey was the defending champion.

Raul Chavez went 3-for-5 with two RBI's for Aragua, including one in the decisive 3-run rally in the seventh inning that broke a 2-2 tie. Venezuela relied again on its excellent relief pitching, after starter Erick Arteaga allowed three hits.

Earlier, Josue Matos pitched five scoreless innings as Ponce beat Licey for its first win of the tournament. In doing so, the Lions ended an 11 game losing streak in the series dating back to 1982 and avoided matching the record 12-game skid held by Mexico's Hermosillo Naranjeros.

The Dominican Republic had its worst tournament since the Cibao Eagles finished 2-4 in 1996. Licey, the defending champion and all-time leader with 10 titles, dropped out of contention Thursday after losing 3-2 to Aragua.