LA ROMANA.– In a dramatic encounter that extended to 11 innings at the Francisco A. Micheli stadium, the Leones del Escogido defeated the Toros del Este 4-3 to place themselves one victory away from the bicampeonato and their number 18 crown, taking a 3-1 lead in the Final Series of the LIDOM.
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The decisive play came in the eleventh inning, when the visitors put runners on first and second with one out. Erik González hit a ground ball to the shortstop that looked like it would end in a double play, but an error on the throw by second baseman Rafael Lantigua allowed Michael De la Cruz to score the go-ahead run. Previously, in the ninth inning and with the score tied, De la Cruz had hit a single to center field against Joe Corbett, driving in Raimel Tapia to give a momentary lead to the national and Caribbean champions. However, the Toros reacted in the bottom of the inning to tie the game and force extra innings. The home team opened the scoreboard in the first chapter against Travis Lakins, after a double by Sergio Alcántara, a sacrifice bunt by Rudy Martin and a run-scoring single by Eric Filia to right field. The Escogido responded quickly in the second inning with a home run by Alcides Escobar with a teammate on base against Aaron Leasher. Later, in the fifth episode, the sugar makers tied the actions against Conner Greene, when a hit by Eloy Jiménez to right field brought Martin to the plate. The victory went to Aneurys Zabala (2-0), who retired the three batters he faced in the tenth inning with just eight pitches, including a strikeout. Miguel Castro (0-1) took the loss after allowing the decisive run, although it was unearned. The save went to Alexander Colomé (1), who dominated the three men in the eleventh inning. On the offensive for the reds, Escobar hit 2-for-5 with a home run, two RBIs, and a run scored; Tapia went 2-for-4, with two runs scored, a walk, and two stolen bases; De la Cruz, 1-for-2, with an RBI, a run scored, three walks, and a stolen base, while Sócrates Brito finished 1-for-4 with two walks. For the Toros, Jiménez hit 2-for-5 with two RBIs, and Alcántara 1-for-4, with a double, a run scored, and a walk. The fifth game of the Final Series will be played this Tuesday, at 7:15 PM, at the Quisqueya Juan Marichal stadium.
