Estrellas Orientales (5-8) 11, Tigres del Licey (4-6) 6 – Tuesday night’s matchup was a high-scoring game, highlighted by standout performances from Ismael Munguía, who scored twice and drove in three runs, and Armando Álvarez, who launched a tremendous home run.
Rodolfo Castro crushed his fifth homer of the season, a 103 mph fly ball to left field that brought in Magneuris Sierra during the top of the second inning to give the Estrellas a 2-0 lead. Ismael Munguía doubled on a line drive to center fielder Emilio Bonifácio, driving in Carlos Martínez, and then Miguel Sano’s seventh homer of the year, a two-run shot, made it 5-0.
In the bottom of the fifth, Gustavo Núñez came through with a clutch single on a soft grounder to first baseman Rainer Núñez, bringing home Emilio Bonifácio and moving Mel Rojas Jr. to second, and later, Rojas Jr. drilled a sharp line drive to center field for an RBI single that scored Domingo Leyba.
With the intensity building in the bottom of the fifth, Griffin Conine grounded into a force out at second, but Mel Rojas Jr. crossed the plate on the play, tying the game at five.
In the top of the seventh, Josh Lester delivered in dramatic fashion with a clutch line-drive single to center that brought home Ismael Munguía.
The Estrellas Orientales picked up a big win with an 11-6 victory, improving to 5-8.
Gigantes del Cibao (4-5) 7, Toros del Este (5-6) 4 (15 Innings) – Tuesday night’s game saw the Gigantes del Cibao defeat the Toros del Este 7-4, improving their record to 4-5 in a game highlighted by key hits and pivotal plays.
Key performers of the night included Carlos Rodriguez, who had four hits and one earned run, and Daniel Mengden, who recorded six hits and one earned run.
Frank Rodriguez doubled on a line drive to right fielder Bryan De La Cruz in the top of the fifth, driving in Nomar Mazara, and in the sixth inning, De La Cruz tripled on a line drive to left fielder Leury García, reaching third base with a key hit.
With the top of the twelfth underway, Melvin Mercedes lined a sharp single to left field, driving in Jorge Bonifacio and keeping the inning alive, while in the bottom of the twelfth, Bryan De La Cruz grounded into a double play, shortstop Julio Carreras to second baseman Melvin Mercedes to first baseman Jake Holton, retiring Gilberto Celestino at second and De La Cruz at first.
In the top of the 15th, Jorge Bonifacio singled home Cristopher Molina and Leury Garcia for a 6-4 Gigantes lead, and a bases-loaded walk to Melvin Mercedes pushed Johan Rojas across the plate to make it 7-4.
Wednesday’s LIDOM Schedule
All times Eastern Standard Time
6 p.m. – Aguilas Cibaenas at Gigantes del Cibao
6:15 p.m. – Tigres del Licey at Leones del Escogido
6:30 p.m. – Toros del Este at Estrellas Orientales
