The Leones del Escogido forced a second Play In game to define the fourth-ranked team for the playoffs, having beaten the Águilas Cibaeñas 12-9 on Sunday at 15 hits at Cibao Stadium.
Although they didn’t have the best performance from starter Iván Nova, the Scarlets took an early 4-0 lead when they loaded the goals in the third inning against Carlos Martínez, who transferred Engel Beltré to score the first of the visitors, followed by strikes to right field from Iván Castillo, tug-two, and Aderlin Rodríguez to left field, pusher from one, the latter against Darío Álvarez, who came in to relieve.
Late in the quarter, the Cibaeños capitalized on three mistakes in the Hairy Men’s defense to score two against Nova, who allowed one more in the quarter before coming down from the mound.
With the game 4-3 in the sixth, the Reds filled the sacks against Yohan Ramírez, who was replaced by Wandy Peralta, whom Luis Liberato knocked down for the second to force the runner into the second half, but drove into the fifth over the legs of Rodríguez and moved Estevan Florial into the anteroom from where he reached the plate on a Francisco Urbáez free kick at shortstop.
Both teams scored one more row in the seventh, but a solo homerun in right field by Eric Filia as a Pat Ruotolo pinch hitter made it 7-6. However, the chosen one filled the cushions in the ninth and scored five more.
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The locals filled the pads in the ninth with three consecutive goals from Dusten Knight, and made two thanks to Zoilo Almonte’s brace at center wall against Gerson Bautista. Another touchdown came from Orlando Calixte’s legs with Danny Santana’s sacrificial volley in the middle.
Nova’s performance was limited to 3.1 innings of three laps, including a clear round, to start again without a decision, while Martínez (0-1), who started for Santiago, only acted in two four-point innings to take charge of the loss. The victory went to Víctor Santos (1-0), who in 1.2 episodes did not tolerate freedoms, hitting a man.
For the Capitaleños, Castillo hit 5-3, with a brace, two RBIs and two goals; Rodriguez, 4-2, with two RBIs and one goal; Liberato, 4-2, one run scored and one push and transfer, and Florial, 3-1, with one run batted in, two runs scored and two walks. For the guinea pigs, Juan Lagares went 4-2, with two RBIs; Luis Valenzuela, 4-2, with one RBI and one goal, and Filia, 1-1, with one homer, one goal and two RBIs.
Monday’s match will take place at 7.15 p.m. at the Quisqueya Juan Maricha stadium
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