The Gigantes del Cibao got important hits from Brayan Pena and Ramon Santiago that drove in two runs each in the third and sixth innings and the Gigantes scored a six-run rally in the seventh to defeat the Toros del Este in the lay off game held in the Julian Javier Stadium in San Francisco de Macoris. The final score was 12-7.
With the victory, the Gigantes earned the right to face the Tigres del Licey in the final round of the Dominican Winter League tournament. The final series starts tonight, according to Diario Libre and it is a best of nine series.
The 55th Final series will get under way at 7:30 tonight. The 54 previous versions of the championship have been fought between the Aguilas Cibaenas (20 victories), the Tigres del Licey (19 victories), the Leones del Escogido (12 victories), the Estrellas Orientales (2 wins) and the Toros del Este (1 win).
Licey is in its sixth consecutive final series and number 32 all-time, dating from 1951. Licey now joins the Aguilas and Escogido. The former were in the finals every year from 1956 to 1961 and the latter were in the finals every year from 1993 to 1998.
Licey, the team with the most Caribbean Championships in history, will be looking to repeat last year’s victory in Santiago.
Diario Libre Sports Editor Bienvenido Rojas has compiled this list of the last 14 finalists and the winners.