Winter Leagues Playoffs 2020-2021: Aguilas Cibaeñas Win LIDOM Championship Series in Seven

From the desk: FANÁTICO DEL BÉISBOL DE INVIERNO

2020-2021

 

Liga del Beisbol Profesional de la Republica Dominicana

LIDOM CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

GAME SEVEN

(4-3) Aguilas Cibaeñas        7

(3-4) Gigantes del Cibao     4

FINAL

Chalk one up for old school béisbol.  Los Aguilas Cibaeñas, founded in 1933, come back, all the way back, from a 3-1 series deficit, winning three in a row against Los Gigantes del Cibao to capture their league record 22nd LIDOM championship.

BOXSCORE 1/18/2021 - Game Seven of the Lidom Championship Series begins quietly, with only a base hit from Cibao's Kelvin Gutierrez to speak of.  In the second, Cibañas starter Andy Otero strikes out the side.  Aguilas' third baseman Johan Camargo breaks the silence in the third inning with a home run to right off Gigantes' starter Chris Ellis.  Cibao strikes back in the fifth with three straight hits, an RBI from first baseman Ronald Guzman, and a Kelvin Gutierrez sac-fly for a 2-1 lead.  However, their lead is short-lived.  A sixth-inning home run by red hot Juan Lagares ties the game at two.  With one out in the seventh, designated hitter Luis Juarez homers off Gigantes' reliever Wily Peralta.  After which, Cibaeñas erupts for another four runs.  With the bases loaded, second baseman  Jonathan Villa doubles home two runs, and shortstop Ramon Torres singles home another en route to a 7-2 lead.  Cibao's Kelvin Gutierrez again involves himself with a home run in the eighth.  Los Gigantes go down punching and kicking in the ninth with a one-out triple from shortstop Abiatal Avelino and a follow up double from Jose Siri, but nothing more.

• Juan Lagares bats .379 with three home runs for the series.

Aguilas' starter Andy Otero exits after four innings to a no-decision, having allowed two runs on six hits and two walks with four strikeouts.  Four relievers join together over the final five frames, yielding two runs on three hits and two walks with six strikeouts.  Right-hander Luis Castillo, with four strikeouts in two scoreless innings pitched, earns the victory.  Southpaw Dario Alvarez earns the save.  Gigantes' reliever Wily Peralta, who faced just three batters, takes the loss.

1. Game One
2. Game Two
3. Game Three
4. Game Four
5. Game Five
   
6. Game Six
   

HIGHLIGHTS: DRSports/YouTube

• Los Tigres de Licey are credited with 22 championships, but two were won prior to 1951 and the establishment of Liga del Béisbol Profesional de la Dominicana República.
• Los Aguilas Cibaeñas will represent the Dominican Republic in the upcoming Caribbean Series.