The Estrellas Orientales defeated the Aguilas Cibaeñas (11-4) in an exciting game for Estrellas fans on Saturday, 15 January 2022 in the Tetelo Vargas Ball Park in San Pedro de Macorís. The Aguilas had gotten a head start in the game, with four runs lead early on. In the fifth inning, the Estrellas tied the game, and then the green squad hit another four runs in the 7th inning to take the lead.
The Estrellas will compete against the Gigantes del Cibao in the finals of the Dominican Professional Winter Baseball Championship playoffs. The Gigantes del Cibao earlier had defeated the Licey Tigers (4-3) to ensure their playoff slot.
The playoffs start on Monday, 17 January and will be played at the Tetelo Vargas in San Pedro de Macorís and the Julián Javier ball park in San Francisco de Macorís. It is a short playoff, with the winner being the first to win four games in the seven-game finals.
This is the second time, the Estrellas and Gigantes battle for the pennant. The first time was in 2014-2015 when the Gigantes won the trophy.
Hugo Lopez Morrobel, sports editor for El Dia, wrote about the high quality of the players of the Gigantes and Estrellas teams in the 2022 playoffs. He said that even when the two teams represent only about 10% of the Dominican fans, Dominicans will be able to enjoy qualify plays because of the high level of the players employed by both teams.
The winner of the playoffs will then represent the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean Series, scheduled to be played in Santo Domingo from 28 January to 3 February 2022. The winning teams from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Colombia and Panama will be coming for the event.
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Listin Diario
Listin Diario
17 January 2022