Marcell Ozuna leads Gigantes del Cibao comeback against Leones del Escogido
In an electrifying day of the Dominican Professional Baseball League (LIDOM), Marcell Ozuna became the absolute protagonist by hitting a grand slam in the eighth inning. This hit was key for the Gigantes del Cibao to complete an impressive comeback and defeat the Leones del Escogido 14-9, in the tournament dedicated to Héctor José Rizek Llabaly.
The star designated hitter took advantage of a pitch from Iván Armstrong to deposit the ball out of the park, marking his first home run of the season and snapping a two-game losing streak for the team from San Francisco de Macorís. With this hit, Ozuna reached 18 career home runs in winter baseball, tying historical figures such as Fernando Tatis Sr., Mel Rojas Jr., and Jordany Valdespín, among others.
Ozuna finished the day with an outstanding 5-for-2 performance, scoring two runs and driving in six, demonstrating his ability to decide games in high-pressure moments.
Offensive and pitching details
The Giants’ offense was supported by Nomar Mazara, who went 4-for-2 with two runs scored and two RBIs. For the Leones del Escogido, José Marmolejos stood out by batting 3-for-4, while Michael De la Cruz and Vidal Bruján each contributed two RBIs to keep the game competitive until the final stretch.
- Win: Hansel Robles (1-0), after an effective performance from the mound.
- Loss: Iván Armstrong (0-1), who could not contain the attack in the eighth inning.
- History: The Gigantes won their first head-to-head matchup of the season, although the Leones dominate the historical series with 165 wins to 137.
Championship overview
Following this result, the standings show the Tigres del Licey leading the circuit with a solid 4-1 record. The Toros del Este are in second place with 3-2, while the Estrellas Orientales and the Gigantes del Cibao share third place with a 2-2 mark. At the bottom, the Águilas Cibaeñas and the Leones del Escogido are looking to improve their performance with a 1-3 record.
The Gigantes del Cibao are now preparing for their next commitment, where they will host the Toros del Este this Thursday at 7:00 p.m. at the Julián Javier Stadium, looking to extend the positive momentum following this victory.
