In yesterday evening’s action, Wednesday 16 December 2015, the Aguilas Cibaenas maintained their very slim hopes for classification into the Round Robin section of this year’s Dominican Winter League Baseball Championship by defeating the Estrellas Orientales in San Pedro de Macoris by a score of 4 to 3. For the Aguilas to qualify, they would have to win all their next scheduled games this month, but their rivals would have to lose their games, too.
In San Francisco de Macoris the Gigantes del Cibao defeated the Leones del Escogido by a score of 523, while in Santo Domingo the Toros del Este defeated the league-leading Tigres del Licey by a score of 6 to 1.
With only five games remaining in the regular series, the Aguilas trail the fourth-place team (Toros) by four games. Last year’s champions the Gigantes trail the Toros by two games.
According to Bienvenido Rojas of Diario Libre, the Aguilas might have a 1% chance of classifying for the Round Robin tournament.
Wednesday’s game in Santo Domingo’s Estadio Cibao against the Estrellas Orientales was the next to last home game for the Aguilas this season. The Aguilas play the Toros del Este on Saturday, 19 December 2015 for their last home game.
It is somewhat ironic that the traditional powerhouse team of the Aguilas is now a cellar-dwelling shadow of its former self. The decline of the Aguilas is combined with the failure of last year’s champions, the Gigantes Del Cibao to even classify for the semi-final round of games.
However, the schedule still provides the Gigantes with the mathematical opportunity to gain the coveted fourth position in the standings. Yesterday evening they played the Leones del Escogido and after this evening’s rest they will also be hosting the Tigres del Licey on their home turf followed by another game with the Tigres in Santo Domingo before they go back to San Francisco de Macoris to host the Aguilas Cibaenas and finish their season at home playing the Toros del Este. This schedule gives them the opportunity to classify. This weekend, 19-20 December is sure to be the focus of attention for baseball fans.
So far, as a result of yesterday evening’s action, the Aguilas Cibaenas have been practically eliminated and the Gigantes also took a step backward.
In Santiago, at the Estadio Cibao, the Estrellas Orientales defeated the Aguilas by a score of 11-3 in this last home game for the Aguilas. Major leaguer Junior Lake, a candidate for this year’s Rookie of the Year, joined Jordany Valdespin with each producing four hits in the 18-hit attack by the Estrellas. Valdespin drove in four runs against the hapless local team.
In La Romana, the Tigres del Licey defeated the Toros del Este 6-5, halting their four-game skid that took them out of first place. They also halted a three-game winning streak for the Toros who are fairly safe in fourth place in the standings.
In Santo Domingo, The Leones del Escogido defeated the Gigantes del Cibao as Joey Rickard was once again the hero, hitting a run-producing triple and leading the Leones to a close 4-3 victory over the Gigantes.
As a result of yesterday evening’s action the standings are as follows:
Team
W-L
Avg.
GAMES BEHIND
Estrellas Orientales
27 – 19
.587
—
Tigres del Licey
27 – 19
.587
—
Leones del Escogido
24 – 22
.522
3.0
Toros Del Este
22 – 24
.478
5.0
Gigantes Del Cibao
20 – 26
.435
7.0
Aguilas Cibaenas
18 – 28
.391
9.0
No games scheduled for this evening.
Tomorrow evening, Friday 18 December 2015:
* Estadio Quisqueya, Santo Domingo: Leones del Escogido vs. Estrellas Orientales.
* Estadio Julian Javier, San Francisco de Macoris: Gigantes del Cibao vs. Tigres del Licey.
* Estadio Francisco Micheli, La Romana: Toros del Este vs. Aguilas Cibaenas.
See the league schedule at http://www.lidom.com