SAN FRANCISCO DE MACORÍS.- A three-score rally in the eighth episode turned the scoreboard and gave the Leones del Esído a 4-2 victory this Monday over the Gigantes del Cibao at the Julián Javier stadium in this city, to remain undefeated in the Round Robin.
The national and Caribbean champions, now 3-0 in first place in the All Against All, reached the eighth losing 2-1, but after two outs and with Raimel Tapia running at first, Jorge Mateo infield-hit Wandy Peralta at shortstop to move Tapia to second base. Both runners scored with a double by Elier Hernández to the center, and he in turn entered the race with an undisputed hit by Pedro Severino to the same area.
The other turn for the Reds came in the fifth with an unstoppable RBI by Sócrates Brito to right field against Antonio Santos.
For their part, the locals scored a goal in the first inning thanks to a solo home run by Luis García Jr. in the right field against the visitors’ debutant starter, Conner Greene, who completed five two-run acts, ending without a decision. In the fifth, the Cibaeños added one more with an RBI double by Hanser Alberto through the left field.
Reliever Aneurys Zabala had a great performance, pitching an inning without allowing freedoms and striking out two to maintain the long-haired lead in the eighth.
The winning pitcher was Carlos Teller (1-0) after performing in a blank third. The setback was for Peralta (0-1), for whom the capitalians made the three runs of the eighth. Patrick Weigel (1) earned the save by throwing the ninth scoreless.
With the defeat, the Giants remain in the basement of the Round Robin with a 0-3 record.
For the long-haired, Hernández went 1-for-3, with a double, two RBIs and one scored; Brito, 5-2, with a push; Mateo, 2-for-4, with one run scored, and Severino, 1-for-4, with one RBI. For the Franco-Macorisans, García Jr. went 1 for 3, with a home run, one RBI and one run scored, and Alberto, 1 for 3, with an RBI.
Leones and Gigantes will meet again this Tuesday, but at the Quisqueya Juan Marichal stadium at 7:15 p.m.
