Aguilas Cibaeñas prevail over Gigantes in an electrifying game
SANTIAGO – In an encounter full of emotions, the Águilas Cibaeñas achieved a dramatic 4-3 victory over the Gigantes del Cibao, thanks to a hit by Ezequiel Durán in the eleventh inning. This triumph maintains the intense competition for second place in the final of the Round Robin of the LIDOM 2025-26.
Durán connected a solid hit between first and second base, driving in the winning run scored by Leody Taveras, who had advanced to third base after a ground ball by Geraldo Perdomo.
With this victory, the Eagles tie with the Toros del Este in second place, both with a record of 8-6. The next match between these teams, scheduled for Wednesday at 7:30 pm at the Cibao Stadium, will define who will occupy second place alone.
Lupe Chávez was the winning pitcher (1-0), while Blake Weiman took the loss (1-1).The Eagles’ opener, Jorge Tavárez, worked for four innings, allowing two runs from home runs, four hits, one walk and striking out three batters. The Eagles’ relief was handled by Roddery Muñoz, Andrew Pérez, Jonathan Hernández, Jean Carlos Henríquez, Junior Fernández, Junior Marte and Lupe Chávez, who managed to keep the score at zero in the 11th inning.
For the Giants, Emilio Vargas started the game, pitching three innings with one run, no hits, three walks, and one strikeout. The Giants’ bullpen included Antonio Santos, Freidy Gómez, Tayron Guerrero, Emmanuel Mejía, Aidan Anderson, Jimmy Cordero, Blake Weiman, and Hansel Robles.Offensive Highlights
Ezequiel Durán led the Eagles’ offense, batting 5-2, including the decisive hit. Jerar Encarnación, Rodolfo Amador, and Cristhian Adames each hit a double.
Kelvin Gutiérrez stood out for the Giants, with a home run, a double and a single. José Sirí also had an outstanding performance, with a home run and two hits. Eddinson Paulino connected two hits and Deyvinson De los Santos, one.The game development
The Eagles took the lead in the first inning thanks to walks to Steward Berroa and Leody Taveras, two stolen bases by Berroa, and a catcher’s error that allowed the first run.
The Giants tied the game in the third inning with a home run by José Sirí and took the lead in the fourth with another home run by Kelvin Gutiérrez. In the fifth, they added another run thanks to consecutive singles by Sirí, Paulino, and De los Santos.
In the seventh, the Eagles scored with a double by Jerar Encarnación, a sacrifice fly by Durán and a sacrifice fly by Aderlin Rodríguez.
The tie came in the eighth, when Rodolfo Amador hit a single, Fernando Peguero ran for it, advanced on a bunt by Berroa, Perdomo received a walk and Cristhian Adames hit the hit that drove in the run.
