The Leones del Escogido under manager Albert Pujols defeated their in-city rival Tigres del Licey 6-5 in Game Seven of the 2024-25 LIDOM Championship Series at Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, claiming their 17th title and securing a berth in the 2025 Caribbean Series.
The Leones del Escogido will face the 2024-25 Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional champion, Cardenales de Lara, in the opening game of the 2025 Caribbean Series on Friday, January 31, at El Nido de los Águilas in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico, at 4:30 p.m. EST.
Tigres del Licey starting pitcher Radhames Liz threw 3.1 innings, allowing three hits, two earned runs, and striking out three batters before being pulled in the top of the fourth inning. Manager Gilbert Gomez called upon relief pitcher Carlos Vargas during the scoreless game.
Before being pulled, Liz retired Leones del Escogido shortstop Wilfredo Tovar on a groundout to first baseman Victor Mendoza. However, he then allowed a single to left field by Socrates Brito and a line-drive single to center field by third baseman Junior Caminero, prompting his removal in the fourth inning.
Jean Segura helped Leones del Escogido get on the board first in the top of the fourth inning with an RBI ground ball single to center field, scoring Brito to give Escogido a 1-0 lead.
Moments later, Leones del Escogido first baseman lifted a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Caminero to extend the lead to 2-0.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Tigres del Licey tacked on four runs starting with Luis Barrera laying down a sacrifice bunt to starting pitcher Johnny Cueto. Cueto tried to get Cristian Adames at third base and airmailed his throw to Caminero into left field. Adames came in to score from Cueto’s miscue for the first run for the Tigres del Licey and make it 2-1.
Pujols immediately went to his bullpen and called upon relief pitcher Norwith Gudiño to replace Cueto.
Cueto threw four innings, allowing five hits, two earned runs and three walks, while chucking 53 pitches for 37 strikes.
The Tigres del Licey tied the game up at two apiece, when right fielder Emilio Bonifacio lifted a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Mendoza to even the board at 2-2.
The next batter, second baseman Gustavo Nunez smacked an RBI single to right field, scoring left fielder Luis Barrera to take the lead at 3-2.
Moments later, Tigres del Licey designated hitter Harold Ramirez ripped an RBI single, scoring Nunez to extend the lead to 4-2.
In the top of the sixth inning, the Leones del Escogido offense bulldozed three runs back at the Tigres del Licey pitching staff, starting with Segura rocking an RBI single to center field, scoring Caminero to cut the deficit to 4-3. Segura advanced to second base on a throwing error by Gustavo Nunez.
Gomez went to his bullpen once again and called upon relief pitcher Adonis Medina to replace Anthony Vizcaya.
Vizcaya threw ⅓ of an inning, allowing two hits, three earned runs, and one walk.
Still in the sixth, Leones del Escogido first baseman Yamaico Navarro drilled an RBI double to center. Tigres del Licey center fielder Johan Rojas misjudged his read, allowing Segura to score and tie the game at 4-4.
????¡ALLÁ VAAAAA! EL SENCILLO DE NAVARRO. ????
Seguimos… ????????#UnSoloObjetivo pic.twitter.com/WPBYVuXA97
— ???????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????? ???????????????? (@EscogidoBBClub) January 28, 2025
Leones del Escogido capped their third run of the top of the sixth inning when Franchy Cordero drew a bases-loaded walk, scoring Jose Marmolejos to take a 5-4 lead.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Tigres del Licey tied the game at 5-5 when Ramirez drilled an RBI ground ball single to center field, scoring Bonifacio.
Caminero came up to the plate in the top of the ninth inning with one out, hoping to send his team to the 2025 Caribbean Series. He crushed a 454-foot solo home run to dead center field, hitting the scoreboard and helping the Leones del Escogido take a 6-5 lead.
¡4️⃣5️⃣4️⃣ PIES! ????????
¡HOMERUN por los 411 de Junior Caminero que le dio la ventaja al @escogidobbclub! ????????#LIDOM #SerieFinalLIDOM #CopaBanreservas pic.twitter.com/SCg0GZqJGE
— LIDOM (@LIDOMRD) January 28, 2025
Leones del Escogido relief pitcher Rafael Montero entered the game in the bottom of the ninth inning with eyes on the 2024-25 LIDOM championship. He got catcher Francisco Mejia to fly out to Brito, making a game-saving diving catch with the winning run at second, sealing a 6-5 victory over the Tigres del Licey in Game Seven and earning a berth in the 2025 Caribbean Series.
What a game.
What a series.
What a finish.Leones del Escogido defeat Tigres del Licey in Game 7 of the LIDOM championship ???? pic.twitter.com/IegG1lmPS1
— MLB (@MLB) January 28, 2025
The Leones del Escogido pitching staff threw nine innings, allowing 11 hits, four earned runs, two walks, and striking out six batters.
The Tigres del Licey pitching staff threw nine innings, allowing 12 hits, six earned runs, five walks, and striking out four batters.
Tigres del Licey relief pitcher Jairo Asencio earned the loss after throwing 1.1 innings, allowing two hits, including the earned run from Caminero’s solo shot in the top of the ninth.
Bracho earned the win, improving his postseason record to 2-0, while striking out two batters.
Caminero was named the 2024-25 LIDOM Championship Series MVP after hitting .346/.471/.615 in 26 at-bats, scoring four runs, collecting nine hits, two doubles, one triple, one home run, six RBI, six walks, and five strikeouts.
Caminero was ranked in the Top 30 on MLBpipeline.com for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2022 at No. 30 and in 2023 at No. 5, prior to making his big league debut. That year, he also won the 2023 Southern League MVP Award and played in the 2023 All-Star Futures Game at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. He was selected as a Southern League Postseason All-Star, a Southern League Top MLB Prospect, and to the Baseball America Minor League All-Star list. Additionally, he was named to the MiLB Awards All-MiLB Prospect First Team, won the Southern League MiLB Awards Breakout Player of the Year, and earned a spot on the Baseball America Double-A All-Star list with Double-A Montgomery. Caminero was also selected as a MiLB.com Organization All-Star with the Rays in 2023.
Caminero was also selected in 2022 as a Florida Complex League Postseason All-Star.
Caminero has been with Tampa Bay since he was traded from the Cleveland Indians on November 19, 2021, in exchange for right-handed pitcher Tobias Myers.
Caminero made his MLB debut on September 23, 2023, with Tampa Bay at home against the Toronto Blue Jays. Prior to his debut, he played in 117 combined games with High-A Bowling Green and Double-A Montgomery, batting .324 with a .976 OPS in 510 plate appearances. He tallied 149 hits, 18 doubles, six triples, 31 home runs, 94 RBI, five stolen bases, 42 walks, and 100 strikeouts before arriving in St. Petersburg.