The Estrellas Orientales have won the first two games of the series of nine against the Gigantes del Cibao in the Dominican Winter Baseball League playoffs. The winner of the first five games wins the right to represent the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean Series that starts in February in Puerto Rico.
On Saturday, 17 January 2015, the Estrellas defeated the Gigantes 11-2 in a game won by opening pitcher Eric Berger who pitched the first five innings. Relief pitchers Wander Perez, Omar Javier, Pat Urckfitz and Jailen Peguero limited the Gigantes to eight hits to the delight of fans in Estrellas hometown San Pedro de Macoris.
In the second game on Sunday, 18 January 2015, the Estrellas cleared the game 7-3 ahead of the Gigantes in San Francisco de Macoris. Batters Jordany Valdespin, Gustavo Nunez, Audy Ciriaco, Fernando Martinez and Mike Bianucci were too much for the Gigantes pitching staff, which had to lose several pitchers.
The next game is being played this evening, Monday 19 January 2015 at 7:30pm in San Pedro de Macoris to what is sure to be a full house of cheering fans. This is the last opportunity fans will have to see Seattle Mariner player Robinson Cano at bat. The Seattle Mariners authorized him to play three games in the round robin and two in the playoffs. In the first four games he batted for.533 (8-15), including two doubles, one triple, five runs batted in and three runs.
The Estrellas Orientales played in the finals in 1974-75, 1987-88 and 1999-2000, but the team has yet to win a championship, and hopes are high that this will be their year. The Gigantes del Cibao made the finals in 2003-2004, 2008-2009 and 2009-2010, but also have yet to win a championship.
The Estrellas are counting on Robinson Cano of the Seattle Mariners, who has already won the privilege of having won a World Series and the World Baseball Classic. He now wants to hold up the trophy for his long-time team, the Estrellas, as Nathanael Perez Nero of Diario Libre writes.
The up to nine-game playoffs are taking place at the San Francisco de Macoris Julian Javier Stadium and at the San Pedro de Macoris stadium.
http://www.diariolibre.com/deportes/2015/01/17/i971791_dos-candidatos-apurados-por-ttulo.html
http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2015/01/19/cano-tendra-hoy-ultimo-juego-con
http://www.lidom.com/home/index.php/lidom-informa/noticias/item/2438-estrellas-brillan-con-paliza-11-2-ante-los-gigantes
Baseball Standings as of Sunday 18 January 2015
Team
W-L
Avg.
GAMES BEHIND
ESTRELLAS
2 – 0
1.000
—
GIGANTES
0 – 2
.000
2
The next playoff games scheduled between the Gigantes and the Estrellas are:
Monday, 19 January, San Pedro de Macoris at 7:30pm
Tuesday, 20 January, San Francisco de Macoris at 7:30pm
Wednesday, 21 January (a holiday), San Pedro de Macoris at 5pm
Friday, 23 January, San Francisco de Macoris at 7:30pm
Saturday, 24 January, San Pedro de Macoris at 7:30pm
Sunday, 25 January, San Francisco de Macoris at 5pm
Monday, 26 January (a holiday), San Pedro de Macoris at 5pm
http://www.lidom.com/
For more on upcoming events, see http://dr1.com/calendar