The Dominican Winter Baseball League (LIDOM) regular-season is winding down and the teams at the bottom of the standings are desperately trying for a playoff spot. With only seven games remaining in the regular season, last year’s champions the Gigantes del Cibao are facing elimination as they sit in fifth place, one game out of a playoff berth. For a huge number of fans the perennial favorites the Aguilas Cibaenas are in even more dire circumstances as they sit in the cellar, nine games behind the Tigres Del Licey and three games behind the Toros del Este in the coveted fourth position.
In Thursday evening’s action, the Aguilas were able to defeat the Tigres del Licey in the last game of their regular-season series by score of 4-2, behind great pitching of Sean Bierman. In a game at the Tigres’ home field in Santo Domingo n the Estadio Quisqueya n Bierman pitched 5.1 innings, giving up only four hits, one run and one walk as he racked up his second victory. Licey, which missed of the playoffs last year for the first time in living memory, finishes this regular series with the Aguilas at 6-4, and remains in first place by one game over the Estrellas Orientales.
Yesterday evening the Estrellas Orientales were playing in the Julian Javier Stadium in San Francisco de Macoris, against last year’s champions, the Gigantes Del Cibao. The Gigantes won the game, behind an excellent six innings thrown by Sam Gaviglio who gave up just one hit and the powerful bat of Hanser Alberto who went 3-3. Gaviglio was pitching a no-hitter, no run game into the sixth inning when Jordany Valdispin took the ball out of the park. The victory gives the Gigantes a 19 wins and 24 losses record just one game behind the Toros.
In the Francisco Micheli Stadium in La Romana, there was a slugfest as the Toros del Este defeated the Leones del Escogido by score of 12-10, in a come-from-behind victory. The Toros scored eight runs in the eighth inning to overcome a 10-4 deficit and steal the game from the Leones. Angelys Nina, Cesar Puello, Stephen Moya, Hector Gomez, Juan Ciriaco and Teoscar Hernandez all drove in runs and were capped by a triple by Beibinson Romero who sealed the victory for the Toros.
As things stand now, the Aguilas have games remaining with the Leones (this evening, Friday 11 December 2015 in Santiago) and then in San Pedro against the Estrellas in a two-game series. Next Friday, 18 December they play in La Romana and then they welcome the Toros in Santiago next Saturday, 19 December for what will most likely be their last home game. They also have games with the Gigantes and the Leones before the Christmas break and the start of the Round Robin portion of the tournament.
The Gigantes will play the Toros in La Romana in a game with playoff importance. If the Gigantes win they will tie the Toros in first place, and then the Gigantes will go home to receive the Leones in the first game of a home and away series next weekend. The Gigantes will face the Tigres in another home and away series. Their last two games will be played at home in the Leon Javier Stadium against the Aguilas on Sunday, 20 December and against the Toros on Monday 21 December.
Standings
Team
W-L
Avg.
GAMES BEHIND
Tigres del Licey
26 – 17
.605
—
Estrellas Orientales
25 – 18
.581
1.0
Leones del Escogido
22 – 21
.512
4.0
Toros Del Este
20 – 23
.465
6.0
Gigantes Del Cibao
19 – 24
.442
7.0
Aguilas Cibaenas
17 – 26
.395
9.0
Friday evening’s games:
* Estrellas vs. Licey at the Estadio Quisqueya in Santo Domingo
* Escogido vs. Aguilas at the Estadio Cibao in Santiago
* Gigantes vs. Toros at the Francisco Micheli Stadium in La Romana
All games start at 7:30 pm
The All-Star game will be played on Sunday, 13 December 2015 at the Estadio Quisqueya at 4 pm.
See the schedule for the Dominican Winter Baseball League at http://www.lidom.com/home/index.php/calendario