The Gigantes del Cibao (10-6) defeated the Tigres del Licey (7-9) 4-3 to certify their passage to the final for the second consecutive year, in their own home, before their beloved audience at the Julián Javier stadium.
The Tigres were emboldened by eliminating their staunchest rivals, the Águilas Cibaeñas, but they found a man from Las Tunas named Henry Urrutia inspired and motivated to place his team once and for all in the final of LIDOM.
Three home runs, two doubles and nine RBIs was his record until today he batted 2-4, both doubles, scoring one run and driving in three of the four that his team produced in the long-awaited victory. Urrutia thus dressed as a hero and was awarded the MVP of the match.
In the last two games Henry compiled 8-1, his batting average had fallen below .400, something he had had in his possession throughout the Round Robin, it is true that the performance he had was above many , but the quality of the Cuban is more than enough, since in the last decade he has been one of the most consistent hitters in all of winter baseball.
The Tigers started the second inning with a home run by Normar Mazara, then added another by a single by Sergio Alcántara in the third frame.
In that same third inning, Henry hit his first double to drive in speedy José Siri, then scored when Marcell Ozuna he followed suit with a double to left field.
The scene was set for a close game but in his next time at bat the Cuban Urrutia found two runners on base and hit another long double to break the hug and push Siri and Hanser Alberto.
With the match 4-2, the Tigres made another in the sixth, to close the score, which would no longer move, and would assure the Gigantes del Cibao, for the second consecutive year in the final of professional baseball in the Dominican Republic. It was won by Jim Fuller (1-0, 4.76), lost by Brandon Lawson (0-3, 12.46), saved by Juan Minaya (5).
In the meeting the Cuban Yasmany Thomas for the Tigres del Licey he went 0-4 with a strikeout and left his batting average at .231.
In the other game of the night, the Estrellas Orientales (10-6) defeated the Águilas Cibaeñas (5-11) 11-4, to also certify their way to the final at their own home in the Tetelo Vargas Stadium.
Yamaico Navarro with a home run and two RBIs, in addition to Abraham Almonte 5-3, two doubles, one run scored and two RBIs and Jeremy Peña 3-2 with a run scored and two RBIs, the offensive overflow of 13 hits and 11 touchdowns.
Sixth victory in a row for the Estrellas Orientales that return to the LIDOM final. The game was won by Samuel Zazueta (2-0), and Cristopher Molina lost it (0-1, 8.10).
In this way the final is defined, tomorrow the Stars and Giants will define in a face-to-face clash who stays with the top and the advantage of locality for the final.
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SECOND CONSECUTIVE FINAL: Cuban bat shouldered Giants, LIDOM Summary