Santo Domingo – The Águilas Cibaeñas have secured a spot in the semifinal of the Juan Marichal tournament, after defeating the Leones del Escogido with a score of 5-0 at the Cibao Stadium. The match was affected by interruptions due to electrical problems.
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Key Figures in the Victory
Ezequiel Durán and Corey Joyce led the Águilas’ offense, each driving in two runs. Starting pitcher Jorge Tavárez (3-1) delivered a solid performance over five innings, allowing only two hits, one walk, and one strikeout, earning him the win. Burch Smith took care of the save, achieving his fifth of the season in a critical situation with the bases loaded in the ninth inning. Samuel Reyes (0-1) took the loss for the Escogido, after allowing a run in one and a third innings.The Eagles Secure Their Spot in the Playoffs
With this victory, the Cibao team guarantees its participation in the postseason for the second consecutive year. Now, with a record of 28-11, the Eagles aim to win the regular season, something they haven’t achieved since the 2012-2013 season. On the other hand, the Leones del Escogido, the current champions, see their aspirations compromised as they fall to 16-24, with only 10 games remaining in the regular season.Game Development
The Eagles’ attack began early:- 3rd inning: Robert Moore hit a double and was driven in by a single from Ezequiel Durán, putting the score at 1-0. In this same inning, manager Luis Urueta and catcher Elih Marrero were ejected after arguing umpire decisions.
- 4th inning: An error allowed Jerar Encarnación to get on base, followed by a single from Juan Lagares and a double from Corey Joyce, extending the lead to 3-0.
- 5th inning: Moore received a walk, stole second base and scored thanks to another single from Durán, who added his second RBI (4-0).
- 7th inning: Encarnación hit a single, advanced on a “passed ball”, and Wilmer Difó, who replaced him as a runner, scored on a “balk” by pitcher Carlos Teller, establishing the final score of 5-0.
