LA ROMANA.– Los Toros del Este pusieron punto final a la serie más polémica del torneo y sellaron su pase a la Serie Final al vencer 7-6 a las Águilas Cibaeñas en un dramático partido de diez entradas, celebrado la noche del lunes en el Estadio Francisco A. Micheli.
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The decisive run came in the most tense way possible: with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the tenth inning, Jeimer Candelario received a walk from reliever Andrew Pérez, allowing Bryan de la Cruz to score the forced run that unleashed the bull celebration and the definitive elimination of the Aguiluchos.
Even start from the mound
Jaime Barría opened for the Toros and faced a first inning without major damage, although a defensive error allowed early traffic. For the Águilas, Óscar De la Cruz responded with a perfect inning, including a strikeout of Sergio Alcántara.
The Eagles strike first
The Cibaeños opened the scoring in the third inning. Ezequiel Durán led off with a double and scored on a single by Jerar Encarnación. Then, consecutive singles by Leody Taveras and Geraldo Perdomo put runners on the corners, from where Cristhian Adames drove in one more with a sacrifice fly. Encarnación produced his second run of the game with another fly ball to right field, and Juan Carlos Gamboa drove in the fourth with a single.
Barría worked 2.1 innings, allowed four runs and four hits, with one strikeout.
Bullfighting response and draw
The Toros reacted in the bottom of the third with two extra-base hits, including a home run by Onix Vega, who drove in Candelario. Later, a fly ball by Sergio Alcántara ended in a defensive error, allowing the tie with runners on second and third.
New give and take
The Eagles regained the lead in the sixth inning with singles by Elih Marrero, Steward Berroa and Perdomo, who drove in the fifth run. Adames added another with a hit to right field.
But the Bulls were quick to respond. In the bottom of the sixth, Eloy Jiménez led off with a double, advanced on a groundout, and scored on a single by Yairo Muñoz. Then, Sergio Alcántara reappeared with a run-producing hit to tie the game 6-6, with Rudy Martin scoring.
The Eagles scored a run in the tenth after a double play in which Fernando Peguero managed to score before the out was completed. However, in the bottom of the inning, the Bulls tied the score again with a single by Sergio Alcántara.
With three consecutive unstoppable hits against Jean Carlos Henríquez, the bases were loaded and the stage was set for Candelario, who showed patience at the plate and received the walk that decided the game and the series.
Bulls to the Final
With this victory, the Toros del Este eliminate the Águilas Cibaeñas and earn the right to face the Leones del Escogido in the Final Series of the Dominican winter baseball tournament, closing one of the most intense and discussed stages of the season.
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