LIDOM SEMIFINALS
Los Gigantes del Cibao take game six over Los Estrellas Orientales and win the semifinal series four games to two. After winning the first three games of the series, Cibao looked to be heading towards a sweep. But Orientale said not so fast, winning games four and five.
GAME SIX: Gigantes 5; Estrellas 3
SERIES: Gigantes del Cibao defeat Estrellas Orientales; 4-2
* Estadio Tetelo Vargas; San Pedro de Macoris.
BOXSCORE 1/8/2021 - On Friday, Los Gigantes promptly jumped out to a 2-0 lead on a Kelvin Gutierrez home run. Los Estrellas got one back in the bottom half of the frame on an RBI double by Fernando Tatis Jr. Cibao would pull away with a run in the second and two more runs in the fifth. Fernando Tatis Jr drives in two runs in the seventh with his second double of the game, but Los Estrellas would draw no closer. Los Gigantes' relievers Ryan Kussmaul and Jumbo Diaz join to keep Los Estrellas scoreless over the final two innings. Cibao starter Chris Ellis yields one earned run on four hits and two walks with seven strikeouts through six innings for the victory. Gigantes' third baseman Kelvin Gutierrez finished 2 for 4 with four runs batted in. Center fielder Jose Siri drove in his seventh run of the series. For Los Estrellas del Orientales, Fernando Tatis Jr. finishes the series 7/22 (.318) with a home run, five other extra-base hits, and six runs batted in. Designated hitter Robinson Cano finishes 8/26 (.308) with a double, home run, and three runs batted in.
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With Friday's victory, the defending LIDOM champion, Los Toros del Este, forged a series tie with Los Aguilas Cibaeñas. On Saturday, the teams clashed in a decisive game seven at Estadio Cibao, Santiago. The league this winter season will be crowning a new champion.
GAME SEVEN: Aguilas 5; Toros 1
SERIES: Aguilas Cibaeñas defeat Los Toros del Este; 4-3
BOXSCORE 1/9/2021 - Former New York Met and Aguilas center fielder Juan Lagares in the third inning connected on a three-run home run against Toros reliever Joel Peguero. Cibañas starter Marcos Diplan yielded just two hits and no walks with six strikeouts while facing seventeen batters through five innings pitched. Los Aguilas added two insurance runs in the seventh on another Juan Lagares hit and run batted in, and a wild pitch unleased by reliever Anthony Gose allowing catcher Francisco Peña to score from third. Aguilas right-hander Luis Castillo allows just one hit and no walks with four strikeouts through two innings in relief of Marcos Dalpin. Reliever Michael Tonkin contributed a scoreless effort in the eighth. Cibaeñas then handed off to Gregory Soto to close out the ninth. After yielding a two-out single, Soto walked the next two batters. With the bases now jammed, he again issues a base on balls to Jordany Valdespin to spoil the shutout, but not the game. Los Aguilas Cibaeñas defeat Los Toros, 5-1, and advance into the LIDOM championship series against Cibao.
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LIDOM CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Aguilas Cibaeñas
vs.
Gigantes del Cibao
With Los Toros having been eliminated, this winter will see the crowning of a new LIDOM champion. This is a great regional match-up as the two last remaining clubs are intense neighboring rivals. Both finished the regular season in a three-way tie for first place along with Los Toros del Este.
The championship series begins Monday.
⚾ Aguilas Cibaeñas were founded in 1937 and in 1951 became a founding member of La Liga del Beisbol Profesional de la República Dominicana. The Eagles are among the winningest teams in LIDOM history with 21 league championships. They last captured the title during the 2017-2018 season. Cibaeñas eliminated last year's champion, Los Toros del Este, who featured in their lineup Yasiel Puig, Miguel Andujar, and Jordany Valdespin.⚾ Los Gigantes del Cibao were founded in 1996, and play their home games at Estadio Julian Javier (constructed 1975), in San Francisco de Macorís. They captured their lone league championship during the 2014-2015 season. They made three other champiosnship series appearances, first during the 2003-2004 season, then back-to-back from 2008 through 2010. Similar to Cibaeñas, Los Gigantes knocked out the likes of Fernando Tatis Jr. and Robinson Cano from winter ball competition. That is, until the various league champions hold their respective pre-tournament reinforcment drafts inwhich league champions may supplement rosters entering the annual Serie del Caribe.
PLAYOFF RECAP
- PLAY-IN SERIES: Estrellas Orientales defeat Leones de Escogido; 2-0
SEMIFINAL SERIES:
- Gigantes del Cibao defeat Estrellas Orientales; 4-2
- Aguilas Cibaeñas defeat Toros del Este; 4-3
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