A dramatic 13th inning favored the Tigres del Licey that edged out the Leones del Escogido 7-4 on Sunday, 26 January 2025 to a full house at the Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal. The walk-off victory forces a decisive game seven in the 71st Dominican Winter Professional Baseball League (Lidom) final to be played at 7:30pm at the capital city ballpark.
Harold Ramírez delivered the game-winning two-run single with the bases loaded and two outs in the 13th. This marks the tenth time in Lidom history that a series has extended to a final game.
Earlier in the Sunday game, Gustavo Núñez had tied the score at 4-4 with a two-run home run in the ninth, keeping the Tigres’ hopes of a championship alive.
With the win, the Tigres improved their all-time record against the Leones to 34-31. The blue team boasts a 146-118 record in the Dominican League finals since September 1951.
Licey pitcher César Valdez started strong versus the first 16 batters and striking out 40. Panama’s Andy Otero earned the win (1-0) with three scoreless innings in relief. Emilio Vargas started for the Leones, allowing six hits and one earned run over four innings. Darien Núñez took the loss (0-1).
For the Tigres, Johan Rojas went 3-for-6, Gustavo Núñez was 2-for-6 with a home run and two RBIs, Harold Ramírez went 2-for-6, and Sergio Alcántara was 2-for-6.
Francisco Mejía led the Leones with a home run and two RBIs, while Christian Adames, Michael de León, and Emilio Bonifacio added hits.
Escogido manager Albert Pujols (the Cooperstown Hall of Famer) called for a check into the bat of Gustavo Núñez. Núñez’s play changed the results of the game when the Escogido needed just one out to win. If the bat is cleared, he will have to pay a RD$50,000 fine. The Lidom said the bat will be checked on Monday, 27 January at 10am in the presence of the president of the league, Vitelio Mejia and a representative of the Licey and the Escogido. If the bat is found to have been rigged, the player will be fined RD$50,000 and suspended for three games and the results of the play annulled, giving the game and the championship to the Escogido.
Otherwise, the playoff will conclude on Monday, 27 January 2025 starting at 7:30 pm. The game will be broadcast on Digital 15 television and Radio Independencia FM.
The games have been played to mostly full house crowds, despite some rain scares. The last time the two city teams competed in the finals was in the 2015-16 championship, then won by the Escogido.
The games have ended:
Game 1: Licey, 4-3
Game 2: Escogido, 3-2
Game 3:Escogido 6-0
Game 4: Licey 9-3
Game 5: Escogido 4-1
Game 6: Licey 7-4
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Lidom
Listin Diario
27 January 2025