Leones del Escogido close to the final after defeating Gigantes del Cibao
SAN FRANCISCO DE MACORÍS – The Leones del Escogido are approaching the Final Series of the 2025-26 LIDOM tournament, after obtaining a resounding 5-1 victory against the Gigantes del Cibao this Wednesday.
With this triumph, the scarlet team consolidates its position with an 11-4 record in the Round Robin. Qualification to the final could materialize with one more victory on Thursday against the Toros del Este in La Romana, or if the losing team of the match between Águilas and Toros in Santiago falls again.
The Lions’ dominance was evident from the first episode, where they scored four crucial runs against starting pitcher Daniel Mengden. Alcides Escobar opened the scoring with a solo home run to left field. Subsequently, with two outs and the bases loaded, José Marmolejos hit a single to left field that, added to an error in the throw by outfielder Leury García, allowed the three runners to score.
The capitalinos’ fifth run came in the fifth inning. Erik González started with a double to left field, advanced thanks to a ground ball by Sócrates Brito and scored after a hit by Troy Lake through the infield that resulted in an error by third baseman Marco Hernández.
The Giants’ only score came in the sixth inning, thanks to a solo home run by José Sirí against reliever Héctor Neris, between left and center field.
José Urquidy, the starting pitcher for the Leones, was key by pitching five scoreless innings, allowing only two hits, no walks, and with four strikeouts, earning the victory (1-2). The red bullpen maintained control of the game with effective relief from Jefry Yan, Hansel Marcelino —who struck out two— and Stephen Nogosek. Daniel Mengden (0-2) took the loss, after being punished with four runs in the first inning.
In the Lions’ offense, Marmolejos stood out with a 4-1 and two RBIs; Escobar, with a 5-1 that included a home run, an RBI and a run scored; Erik González, with a 3-1, a double, a run scored and a walk; and Lake, with a 4-1 and a run scored.
For the Giants, José Sirí finished with a 3-1, including a home run, an RBI, and a run scored, while Marco Hernández batted 1-3.
