Nothing is worse than a crucial error coming back to cost a team in an elimination game.
And so it was for the Águilas Cibaeñas in their fatal 8-7 loss in 10 innings to the Toros del Este on Jan. 19 in LIDOM.
The Águilas were up 4-2 in the fifth when their left fielder, Jerar Encarnacion, dropped a fly ball off the bat of Toros del Este shortstop Sergio Alcántara that would have ended the inning, allowing two runs to score and tying the game at four apiece.
Oscar De La Cruz was pitching a solid game before the error, with 4 2/3 innings and two runs allowed, but he wasn’t able to finish the inning. De La Cruz was pulled at 60 pitches, and the momentum of the game had completely flipped.
To their credit, the Águilas Cibaeñas fought back right away with two runs in the sixth, provided by their best hitters, shortstop Geraldo Perdomo and third baseman Cristhian Adames, who each had RBI singles. This would be far from the last lead change of the night as these teams would exchange several more blows.
The Toros del Este chipped away in the sixth with a run on an RBI ground out from second baseman Yairo Munoz to cut the deficit to 6-5. In the seventh, the Toros del Este tied it again with an RBI single from Sergio Alcantara. The bullpens held it together for the final two innings, and the game went to extras tied 6-6.
In the top of the 10th with one out and a runner on third, Toros del Este closer Joe Corbett struck out Águilas Cibaeñas outfielder Steward Berroa. Catcher Onix Vega threw down to second to catch pinch runner Angel Genao, but the runner on third base, Fernando Peguero, was able to score.
The Águilas Cibaeñas just needed three outs to secure a win and final due-or-die game against the Toros del Este on Jan. 20. Reliever Jean Henriquez was not up to the task and gave up an RBI single to Serigo Alcantara, who tied the game for the third time. Henriquez gave up two more singles, and the Águilas Cibaeñas were suddenly on the ropes. They went to the bullpen and brought in Andrew Perez. Perez got a strikeout and a groundout.
It was 7-7, two outs, with the bases, and everything was on the line. All of that suspense was for a four-pitch walk to Toros del Este third baseman Jeimer Candelario. The Toros del Este battled until the end and knocked out the LIDOM regular season champions.
Wild Walk-off win for @TorosdelEste in #LIDOM tonight in 10 innings to eliminate the regular season champions @aguilascibaenas ??
pic.twitter.com/EZXASSpwuT— World Baseball Network (@WorldBaseball_) January 20, 2026
Corbett was masterful with three strikeouts, no earned runs, and threw two innings to earn the win.
The Toros del Este will play the Leones del Escogido in a best-of-seven series for the right to represent the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean Series. Both teams finished 12-6 and went 3-3 against each other in the round robin. First place was decided by the best overall run average, and that favored The Leones del Escogido.
There are several players on the Águilas Cibaeñas and the Gigantes del Cibao who are eligible to be drafted as reinforcements in the LIDOM championship series.
Estos son los jugadores disponibles de las @aguilascibaenas y los @Gigantes_Cibao para el draft de importados de la #SerieFinalLIDOM ⭐️⚾️#LIDOM #CopaBanreservas pic.twitter.com/hBiFHzYDMN
— LIDOM (@LIDOMRD) January 20, 2026
LIDOM Championship Series Schedule
All times Eastern Standard Time
Games streamed on MLB.tv with a subscription
* – If necessary
Jan. 21
6:15 p.m. – Toros del Este at Leones del Escogido – Game 1
Jan. 22
6:30 p.m. – Leones del Escogido at Toros del Este – Game 2
Jan. 23
6:15 p.m. – Toros del Este at Leones del Escogido – Game 3
Jan. 25
4 p.m. – Leones del Escogido at Toros del Este – Game 4
Jan. 26
6:15 p.m. – Toros del Este at Leones del Escogido – Game 5*
Jan. 27
6:30 p.m. – Leones del Escogido at Toros del Este – Game 6
Jan. 28
6:15 p.m. – Toros del Este at Leones del Escogido – Game 7
