SANTIAGO – Los Toros del Este unleashed an implacable offensive with 15 hits and a solid pitching performance by Justin Courtney, to defeat the Águilas Cibaeñas with a score of 17-1 this Wednesday at the Cibao Stadium, achieving their fourth consecutive victory in the Round Robin.
The Toros, who connected five extra-base hits, including home runs by Juan Brito and Ismael Alcántara, improved their record to 7-2, tying for first place in the standings with the Leones del Escogido. In addition, they have accumulated six wins in their last seven games.
Justin Courtney (1-1) earned the victory after pitching five innings, allowing one run, four hits, one walk, and one strikeout. The loss went to Jorge Tavárez (0-2), who allowed five runs and four hits in three innings.
The Toros’ offense made itself felt from the first inning with a three-run rally, driven by a single from Eloy Jiménez and a hit by Yairo Muñoz that, added to a defensive error, allowed two additional runs to score. The Águilas scored a run in the bottom half, scored by Leody Taveras after a ground ball by Ezequiel Durán.
In the third episode, Juan Brito hit a two-run home run to right field, extending the lead to 5-1. In the fifth inning, the taurine offense continued its attack with a five-run rally, with a two-run double by Rafael Lantigua and a two-run single by Rudy Martin Jr. standing out, establishing the score at 10-1.
Ismael Alcántara, who entered as a substitute after Gilberto Celestino’s injury, hit his first home run in the LIDOM in the seventh inning, making the score 12-1. In the eighth, the Toros added five more runs thanks to productive doubles by Tres Barrera and again Rafael Lantigua, while in the ninth they added two additional runs to seal the victory.
On the offensive for the Toros, Juan Brito went 2-for-5, with a home run, two RBIs, and three runs scored; Rafael Lantigua went 3-for-4, with three doubles, three RBIs, and two runs scored; Rudy Martin Jr., 2-for-3, with a triple, two RBIs, and two walks; Ismael Alcántara, 1-for-3, with a home run and two RBIs; and Eloy Jiménez, 2-for-4, with one RBI and three runs scored.
For the Águilas, Geraldo Perdomo connected two hits in three at-bats and Aderlín Rodríguez went 2-for-4, with a double.
The Toros del Este return home this Thursday, when they will receive the Gigantes del Cibao starting at 7:30 p.m. at the Francisco A. Micheli Stadium, in La Romana.
