SANTO DOMINGO.- With an explosive night by Miguel Sanó, who hit two home runs and drove in three runs, the Estrellas Orientales defeated the Gigantes del Cibao 7-5 this Wednesday, in a game held at the Tetelo Vargas Stadium. With the victory, the greens remain firm in third place in the championship.
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Sanó, the tournament’s absolute home run leader, hit his first in the fourth inning against starting pitcher Daniel Mengden and punished again in the fifth against Aidan Anderson, reaching nine home runs on the season.
The green offense also received the contribution of Josh Lester, who hit a solo home run to tie the game 2-2 in the fourth inning.
The victory went to Oscar de la Cruz (3-2), who worked 5.1 innings of two hits and three runs allowed. The loss fell on Alberto Pacheco (0-1).
Oddy Núñez took care of the last outs of the ninth to secure the save.
The Giants took an early lead with runs in the first and second innings, including a ground-rule double by Luis García Jr. that drove in Johan Rojas. However, the Stars reacted from the fourth inning with an offensive burst that defined the game.
In the fifth, after a wild pitch that allowed José Tena to score, Sanó disappeared the ball again with a two-run hit that put the game 5-2.
In the sixth inning, a single by Carlos Martínez drove in two more, extending the lead to 7-2.
The Giants attempted a final push in the ninth inning with a two-run single by Samad Taylor, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Eastern victory.
