Escogido takes a 2-0 lead in the final after key offense from Navarro and Lake against the Toros

LA ROMANA.– With a decisive offensive production by Yamaico Navarro and Junior Lake, the Leones del Escogido extended their dominance in the Final Series by defeating the Toros del Este this Thursday 7-4 at the Francisco A. Micheli stadium, going up 2-0 in the contest for the championship.

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Navarro drove in three runs, while Lake drove in two, one of them the product of a home run in the ninth inning, in a game where the Lions took advantage of an early lack of control by starting pitcher Nabil Crismatt to make a difference from the first inning. The reds attacked strongly in the very first inning by loading the bases with one out. A sacrifice fly by José Marmolejos to right field allowed Erik González to score, and later Navarro hit a single to center field that brought Lake and Sócrates Brito to the plate, completing a three-run rally. In the third episode, Navarro responded again with the bat by hitting a double producer to center field that drove in Lake from first base. After Crismatt's exit, Anderson Bidó was greeted with an unstoppable run-scoring hit by Alcides Escobar to left field, extending the scarlet lead. The Toros reacted in the fifth inning with two runs against José Urquidy, thanks to a run-scoring double by Eric Filia to center field. In the sixth, the home team added another two runs with a double by Rudy Martin to right field, closing the gap in the score. However, the Escogido secured the victory in the ninth inning. After two outs, Socrates Brito hit a single to left field and Junior Lake hit the ball out of the park to the same side with a two-run home run, putting the score at 7-4. The hit was Lake's sixth home run in final series, a figure that ties him in fourth historical place of this stage along with Rico Carty, Edwin Encarnacion, Guillermo Garcia, Jose Guillen and Alonzo Perry. Urquidy left without a decision after pitching 4.1 innings, allowing two runs, one of which was unearned. The win went to Derek West (1-0), who pitched two-thirds scoreless innings, while Crismatt (0-1) took the loss after tolerating five runs in 2.2 innings. Stephen Nogosek (2) earned the save by retiring the ninth inning without runs. The game concluded with a spectacular defensive play by Erik González, who dove headfirst to catch a hit by Sergio Alcántara and complete the double play at first base against Rudy Martin.

Offensive Highlights

For the Escogido, Navarro hit 5-2, with a double, three RBIs and a run scored; Lake, 4-1, home run, two RBIs and three runs scored; Brito, 4-2, with an RBI, a walk and two steals, and Escobar, 4-3, with an RBI.
For the Toros, Rudy Martin finished 4-2, with a double, two RBIs and a run scored, while Eric Filia went 5-1, with a double and two RBIs. The third game of the Final Series will be played this Friday at the Quisqueya Juan Marichal stadium, starting at 7:15 PM.