Águilas Cibaeñas’ Ronnie Williams throws to a Los Tigres del Licey batter during the first inning of a Dominican League baseball game Friday, Nov. 10, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
NEW YORK – International baseball arrived in New York City on a cold fall Friday night with the first game of the Titanes del Caribe exhibition series at Citi Field as the Aguilas Cibaenas beat the defending 2023 Caribbean Series champions, the Tigres del Licey, 3-0.
The three games at Citi Field for Titanes del Caribe will not count towards the regular season record in the Liga de Béisbol Profesional de la República Dominicana.
Friday’s attendance was at 25,233 at Citi Field, which is a league record.
The Aguilas Cibaenas pitching staff combined to allow just two hits, three walks, and five strikeouts during Friday’s 3-0 shutout win. The Tigres’ pitching staff allowed 11 hits, two earned runs, four walks, and five strikeouts in the loss.
The only two hits of the game for the Tigres came from left fielder Danny Santana in the top of the third inning and the top of the sixth inning on Friday.
During the bottom of the second, Aguilas second baseman Cesar Prieto roped a RBI single to right field, scoring left fielder Christopher Morel for the first run of the game. A few moments later, Aguilas catcher Francisco Pena lifted a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring first baseman Elehuris Montero to extend the lead to 2-0.
Tigres del Licey starting pitcher Logan Allen threw two innings allowing four hits, one earned run, and one strikeout as manager Jose Offerman called upon relief pitcher Juan Then for the third.
Aguilas Cibaenas starting pitcher Ronnie Williams pitched lights out on Friday night throwing six innings allowing two hits, one walk, and three strikeouts. Aguilas manager Tony Pena called upon relief pitcher Felipe Tejada in the top of the seventh inning to replace Williams.
“Williams was great. I love a pitcher that throws strikes. I love the confidence that he has on the mound. He doesn’t care what the count is to throw that breaking ball. Also the changeup, and just locating the fastball real well,” Pena said during the postgame press conference.
The Aguilas added another run in the bottom of the eighth inning when right fielder Alexander Canario lofted a sacrifice fly to left field and first baseman Yefri Perez came in to score the third run of the game.
Aguilas relief pitcher Leuris Gomez earned a four-out save, getting pinch hitter Maxwell Romero Jr. to ground out to Prieto for the final out of the game.
Williams’ 2023-24 regular season stats prior to the first game of Titanes del Caribe were not pretty. In three starts, he is 0-1 with a 6.30 ERA over 10 innings in three games, allowing 13 hits, seven earned runs, seven walks, and three strikeouts along with a 2.000 WHIP.
Asked about the chemistry with his catcher Francisco Pena that played a big part in his bounce back performance on Friday night, Williams said, “Having him behind the plate is awesome. I talk to him after every outing. My last outing wasn’t too good. I asked him what I needed to improve on. He told me. We got on the same page and today we were together and it worked out.”