Guadalajara, Mexico.– With a dominant performance by Enny Romero during five innings, the Leones del Escogido, representatives of the Dominican Republic, defeated 5-3 the Cangrejeros de Santurce, from Puerto Rico, to maintain their undefeated status in the Caribbean Series Jalisco 2026.
Lefty Romero (1-0) allowed only three hits in his performance, guiding the Dominican squad to their second victory without defeats (2-0), a result that keeps them alone at the top of the standings. Puerto Rico, on the other hand, placed their record at 1-1.
The Scarlet team set the pace of the game from the start by scoring three runs in the first inning against starting pitcher Daryl Thompson. Gustavo Núñez started the attack with a single to center field and a stolen base, followed by a walk to Sócrates Brito. A hit by Junior Lake to left field drove in the first run of the game.
Following that, Cristian Adames doubled to right field to drive in Brito and move Lake to second base, from where he scored thanks to a sacrifice fly by Aderlin Rodríguez to center field.
The Dominican offense added another run in the second inning against David Lebrón, the result of a double by Erik González, which allowed Marco Hernández to score. Later, in the fifth chapter, Adames produced again with a double to left field against Andrew Baker, driving in Lake for the Lions’ fifth run.
Puerto Rico reacted with three annotations in the sixth inning against reliever Luis Frías, although it was not enough to change the course of the match. Thompson (0-1) took the loss, while Jimmy Cordero sealed the victory by pitching the ninth inning, striking out a batter to record his second save of the tournament.
In the Dominican offensive, Cristian Adames stood out, batting 2-3, with two doubles, two RBIs, one walk and one stolen base. Junior Lake contributed one RBI, two runs scored and one walk, while Sócrates Brito hit a triple, scored a run and received two walks. Erik González added a run-producing double.
For the Puerto Ricans, Yohandí Morales went 5-3, with a run scored, and Nelson Velázquez also stepped on the plate.
The Leones del Escogido will return to action on Wednesday, after this Tuesday’s day off, when they face the Federales de Chiriquí, from Panama, at 4:00 PM (Dominican time).
