Tigres del Licey (4–1) 8, Toros del Este (2–4) 2 – Licey broke open a close game with a four-run push through the middle innings to take down Toros del Este on Tuesday night.
Jhonkensy Noel jump-started the Tigres’ rally with a powerful home run to left-center in the fourth, and Bryan De La Cruz kept the momentum going with a sharp line-drive single to center in the fifth, a perfectly placed hit that landed just ahead of center fielder Jordan Lawlar.
Francisco Mejía later ripped a drive deep into center field for a triple in the top of the fourth and scored on Sergio Alcántara’s groundout later in the same frame.
In the top of the sixth, with the score tied 1-1, Mejía lined a sharp ball to first baseman Jhonkensy Noel, who made a stunning catch and stepped on first to double off Mel Rojas Jr., completing an impressive double play.
Tigres’ starter Aaron Sanchez gave up four runs before being replaced by Gerson Moreno in the seventh, and Licey’s bullpen held the lead to secure the 8–2 victory.
Águilas Cibaeñas (5–1) 15, Estrellas Orientales (4–3) 10 – The Aguilas and Estrellas returned to the field and provided the fans with fireworks, scoring 25 runs in a game with 30 total hits and seven lead changes.
In the top of the first, Leody Taveras singled on a ground ball to pitcher Enny Romero, bringing home Steward Berroa, and J.C. Escarra singled home Taveras for a 2-0 Aguilas’ lead.
In the fourth Rodolfo Castro hit a three-run home run to left-center field that drove in Miguel Sanó, giving the Estrellas a boost in the middle innings.
The Estrellas regained the lead in the top of the seventh, scoring six runs on RBI singles from Josh Lester and Ismael Munguia, an RBI double from Raimel tapia, and capitalized on a pair of errors by Aguilas third baseman Raynel Delgado
In the bottom of the eighth, the Aguilas retook the lead with a seven-run rally that started with an RBI double by Adael Amador. Juan Lagares, Webster Rivas, Angel Genao, and Steward Berroa all had RBI singles in the big inning, and the Águilas Cibaeñas held on to secure a 15–10 win over Estrellas Orientales, with four players recording multi-RBI games
Leones del Escogido (3-4) 7, Gigantes del Cibao (0-5) 5 – Leones’ outfielder Junior Lake launched a 365-foot fly ball to left field with an exit velocity of 92.6 mph that cleared the fence for his first home run of the season and driving in Franchy Cordero during the top of the second.
Martín Maldonado followed with a home run on a line drive to left field, coming off an 89.6 mph four-seam fastball. In the bottom of the fifth, Erik González singled on a ground ball to left fielder Leury García, driving in César Prieto to extend the Leones’ lead.
In the bottom of the eighth, Junior Lake lifted a sacrifice fly to right fielder Carlos Jorge, allowing Sócrates Brito to tag up and score.
Photo: Adael Amador had a key RBI double for the Aguilas Cibaenas in their 15-10 win against the Estrellas Orientales on Tuesday night. (Photo courtesy of LIDOM)
