LA ROMANA.– With a stellar performance by Yairo Muñoz, the Toros del Este staged a spectacular comeback to defeat the Leones del Escogido, 8-5, in a Round Robin game held on Thursday night at the Francisco A. Micheli Stadium.
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Muñoz was the key figure of the game by driving in
five runs, including a
two-run home run and a
bases-loaded triple in the seventh inning, a hit that cleared the bases and sealed a five-run rally that completely changed the course of the game.
In addition to the decisive triple, the bullfighting infielder hit his
first home run of the Round Robin, igniting an offense that keeps the Bulls firm in the fight for qualification to the final.
The opener
Enny Romero left without a decision after pitching
4.1 innings, allowing
five hits and three runs, with
two walks and one strikeout. The victory went to
Jimmy Yacabonis (2-0, 0.00), who pitched an impeccable inning in the seventh episode.
Closer
Joe Corbett pitched the ninth and earned his
sixth save of the Round Robin. The loss went to
Jeffry Yan (1-1, 1.42), who allowed four runs in just one-third of an inning.
With the victory, the Toros set their record at 10-6, firmly in
second place, with
a game lead over the Águilas Cibaeñas and only
one game behind the Leones, with two games remaining in the Todos Contra Todos.
The Romanense team will seek to secure their
pass to the final this
Friday, when they once again host the
Cibaeñas Eagles.
How the races were made
The Bulls took an early lead in the
second inning, when
Yairo Muñoz hit a solo home run to left field to make the score
2-0.
The Lions responded immediately and tied the score
2-2, thanks to a double by
Alcides Escobar and a run-scoring single by
Erik González.
In the
third episode, the Bulls regained the lead
3-2 with a sacrifice fly from
Eddie Rosario, which allowed
Sergio Alcántara to score.
El Escogido took control in the “fifth inning” with a three-run rally, highlighted by a double from “Socrates Brito” and a run-scoring single from “Junior Lake”, to put the score at “5-3”.
The bullfighting reaction came in the
seventh inning, when a five-run rally, started by a pinch hit from
Francisco Urbaez, tied the score. With the game tied and the bases loaded,
Yairo Muñoz hit a triple between left and center field that cleared the bases and sealed the
8-5 victory.
Offensive Highlights
For the Toros,
Yairo Muñoz hit
4-2, with a
home run, triple, five RBIs and one run;
Eddie Rosario contributed a double and an RBI;
Eric Filia added a double, two walks and two runs;
Sergio Alcántara connected two hits and scored twice.
For the Leones,
Erik González went
4-2, with two RBIs;
Sócrates Brito contributed a double and an RBI;
Junior Lake drove in a run, and
Alcides Escobar batted
5-2, with a double, two runs scored and an RBI.
The Toros will return to action this
Friday, January 16, when they receive the
Águilas Cibaeñas starting at
7:30 p.m., at the
Francisco A. Micheli Stadium, in a key game towards the final.
