For the Leones del Escogido to take care of business in Game 4 of the LIDOM championship series, they had to work overtime.
Erik Gonzalez hit into a fielder’s choice in the top of the 11th to drive in Michael De La Cruz with the winning run as the Leones took Game 4 by the score of 4-3 on Monday afternoon as Dominicans celebrated the birthday of Juan Pablo Duarte, one of the country’s founding fathers. With the win, the Leones took a 3-1 series lead and will have a chance to win their second consecutive LIDOM championship on Tuesday, which would be the first time Escogido had won back-to-back titles since the 1987-88 and 1988-89 seasons.
Eloy Jimenez got the Toros on the board with an RBI single to right field in the second, scoring Sergio Alcantara.
The Leones answered back in the second when Alcides Escobar hit a fly ball to left field that carried over the wall, hitting a Presidente beer sign and caroming back off the top of the outfield wall and onto the field, prompting a review that took several minutes. Ultimately, the call was upheld and the Leones took a 2-1 lead.
¡Alcides Escobar cambia el rumbo del partido con un cuadrangular! ??#SerieFinalLIDOM #CopaBanreservas pic.twitter.com/jezw7bcMnt
— LIDOM (@LIDOMRD) January 26, 2026
In the fifth, another RBI single to right by Jimenez tied the game, this time with the speedy Rudy Martin Jr. racing home to score from second, tying the game at two apiece.
¡SE EMPATÓ EL JUEGO!
Eloy Jiménez conecta sencillo productor para empatar el partido ?#SerieFinalLIDOM #CopaBanreservas pic.twitter.com/RcaUUq1t00
— LIDOM (@LIDOMRD) January 26, 2026
After Toros starter Aaron Leasher exited the game having allowed two runs on four hits in two innings, the bullpen stifled the Leones batters, with six relievers each throwing an inning while combining to allow just one hit and one walk over six innings. Joe Corbett, already with eight saves in eight opportunities this postseason, came on for the ninth, and allowed a leadoff single to Raimel Tapia.
After Corbett got Onix Vega to pop out, the lanky Oklahoman fanned Alcides Escobar. Michael De La Cruz followed Escobar and hit a flare to center that dropped in front of Toros center fielder Rudy Martin Jr., allowing Tapia to score to make it 3-2. Struggling to locate, Corbett walked pinch hitter Jose Marmolejos on four pitches and Hector Rodriguez on five pitches before getting Erik Gonzalez to ground into a fielder’s choice at third, escaping the jam having allowed a lone run but suffering his first blown save of the postseason.
Down to their last three outs, the Toros immediately struck back, getting a leadoff double from Eddie Rosario, who took the second pitch he saw from Escogido’s Matt Foster the other way. Yairo Munoz laid a bunt down, and when Yamaico Navarro tried to field it, he blew a tire and found himself on the infield grass near the mound while Munoz raced safely to first, giving the Toros runners at the corners with no outs.
A ground out to second by Manuel Pena got Ismael Alcantara, who was running for Rosario, home with the tying run, sending the game to extra innings.
Peña entrega el out con rodado a primera, pero Ismael Alcántara anota y el partido vuelve a empatarse ?#SerieFinalLIDOM #CopaBanreservas pic.twitter.com/cO3awFdulc
— LIDOM (@LIDOMRD) January 27, 2026
With runners on first and second and one out in the top of the 11th, Gonzalez grounded into a fielder’s choice at short, but the double play relay from Rafael Lantigua skipped off the dirt in front of Jimenez at first base, allowing Michael De La Cruz to score the go-ahead run.
Así fue como el @EscogidoBBClub anotó la carrera del desempate y se quedó con el partido de esta noche ?#SerieFinalLIDOM #CopaBanreservas pic.twitter.com/QA7yRl5KQp
— LIDOM (@LIDOMRD) January 27, 2026
Alex Colome came on for the Leones to pitch the bottom of the 11th and retired the side in order to earn the save, inducing a fly out to center from Lantigua for the final out, putting them one win away from another championship and a trip to the 2026 Caribbean Series.
LIDOM Championship Series Schedule
All times Eastern Standard Time
Games streamed on MLB.tv with a subscription
* – If necessary
Jan. 21
Leones del Escogido 7, Toros del Este 6
Jan. 22
Leones del Escogido 7, Toros del Este 4
Jan. 25
Toros del Este 3, Leones del Escogido 2
Jan. 26
Leones del Escogido 4, Toros del Este 3 – 11 Innings
Jan. 27
6:15 p.m. – Toros del Este at Leones del Escogido – Game 5
Jan. 28
6:30 p.m. – Leones del Escogido at Toros del Este – Game 6*
Jan. 29
6:15 p.m. – Toros del Este at Leones del Escogido – Game 7*
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WBN DR: https://worldbaseball.com/league/dominican-republic/
Photo: Michael De La Cruz went 1-for-2 with three walks, drove in a run and scored the game-winner for the Leones del Escogido in Game 4 of the LIDOM championship series. (Photo via @LIDOMRD on Twitter)
