By Matthew Tallarini
World Baseball Network
Jan. 10, 2023
On a night Aguilas Cibaenas needed a win to keep their hopes at a berth in the LIDOM championship series from fading, they were mauled by Tigres de Licey, falling 12-5 to Tigres’ red-hot offense and fell to 6-9 in the LIDOM round robin, with three games remaining.
Tigres capitalized in the bottom of the first inning, with Mets top prospect Ronny Mauricio singling on a fly ball to right field with Emilio Bonifacio scoring to take a 1-0 lead.
The next batter, Jorge Alfaro, who is projected to be Colombia’s starting catcher at the World Baseball Classic, singled on a line drive to center field, scoring Ronny Mauricio for a 1-0 Tigres lead. Alfaro was Sunday night’s hero, hitting a walk-off single in front of the home crowd against Gigantes del Cibao off former Major League star Fernando Rodney.
In the top of the second inning, Johan Camargo, projected to start for Panama at third base in the WBC, doubled to right field, scoring Yairo Munoz to cut the lead to 2-1. A few batters later, J.C. Perez tied the score at 2 a piece with a single to left field, scoring Camargo.
During the bottom of the third inning, Tigres took the lead once again, as the red-hot Alfaro doubled to left, scoring Emilio Bonifacio to take a 3-2 lead.
And then tThe floodgates eventually opened up for Tigres, as the next batter, Ramon Hernandez, singled on a ground ball to right field scoring Mauricio and Alfaro to extend the lead to 5-2.
A few moments later, Mel Rojas Jr. cracked a home run over the left field wall scoring Hernandez to extend the lead to 7-2. All told, Licey scored eight in the third.
Aguilas starter Yuneski Maya was taken out of the game without recording an out in the third inning. He went two innings pitched with seven hits allowed, five earned runs, striking out one batter and no walks.
Tigers’ Steven Moyers went five innings, allowing six hits, four earned runs, walking one batter and striking out two.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Alfaro drove a home run over the left-field wall to give Aguilas a seven-run lead 11-4.
Tigres did not look back the rest of the way, holding on to win 12-5 over Aguilas. Aguilas to 6-9 in the round robin and will travel back home to Santiago to take on Estrellas on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. ET. Tigres will play at home against Gigantes del Cibao at 6:10 p.m. ET on Wednesday.