With one swing and a 56-second trot around the bases, Junior Caminero, the Tampa Bay Rays prospect who’d starred for the Leones del Escogido for 10 games this winter, gave his club a 6-5 lead in the top of the ninth that held up as they defeated their archrival, the Tigres del Licey, to win the LIDOM title for the 17th time and earn a berth in the Caribbean Series.
According to StatCast, Caminero’s blast left his bat at 114.2 mph and went 454 feet, and bounced off the video board above the batter’s eye in center field, landing on the field before Caminero, who performed a home run trot that will live on for years in LIDOM lore, had even gotten out of the batter’s box.
"I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!"
Junior Caminero sends this baseball into orbit to give Leones del Escogido the lead in the 9th! pic.twitter.com/4WXMy0PH1L
— MLB (@MLB) January 28, 2025
It capped a 4-for-5 night for Caminero, who also had two doubles and three runs scored for the Leones. Teammate Jean Segura, who had gotten protection in the lineup from Caminero all winter, went 4-for-4 with two RBIs, a run scored and a walk.
The Leones got out to a 2-0 lead in the fourth when Segura singled home Caminero, and Yamaico Navarro got Caminero home with a sacrifice fly.
Licey answered in the fifth, chasing Leones starter Johnny Cueto from the game after Cristhian Adames scored when Johnny Cueto fielded Luis Barrera’s bunt back to the mound and tossed the ball into foul territory. After Norwith Gudino replace Cueto, Emilio Bonifacio got Victor Mendoza home with a sac fly. Gustavo Nunez and Harold Ramirez each had RBI singles, and the Tigres had a 4-2 lead.
In the sixth, Caminero hit his second double of the game and Segura singled him home. Then Jose Marmolejos walked, and a double from Navarro scored Segura and tied the game at four apiece. Escogido took a 5-4 lead later in the inning when Franchy Cordero drew a bases-loaded walk to force Marmolejos in.
Licey tied the game in the seventh when Harold Ramirez singled home Bonifacio.
An inning and a half later, Caminero came to bat with one out to face Licey’s Jairo Ascencio and sent his club to the Caribbean Series.
Emilio Bonifacio singled and stole second in the bottom of the inning and pinch hitter Domingo Leyba walked to give the Tigres runners at first and second with no outs, but Sergio Alcantara grounded out to first, and then Francisco Mejia lined out to left to end the game.
For the Leones, it’s on to Mexicali, where they look to win the fifth Caribbean Series title in team history and the first since 2012.
Tonight in the Winter Ball Playoffs
All times Eastern Daylight Time
Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacifico
8:30 p.m. – Jalisco at Culiacan (Jalisco leads series 3-2)
