Toros del Este Adjust Their Rotation After Changes Due to Storm
LA ROMANA – Los Toros del Este have made adjustments to their starting rotation for the weekend games, after several games were postponed due to the effects of storm Melissa in the country.
Aaron Sánchez will be the starting pitcher on Friday, when the Toros visit the Gigantes del Cibao in San Francisco de Macorís. Sánchez is coming off a stellar performance, where he pitched 5 scoreless innings, allowing only one hit, no walks, and striking out 7 batters, the most for a starter so far this season.
On Saturday, in the return match at the Corral, Carlos Rodriguez will take the mound. The Nicaraguan pitcher, with experience in the Major Leagues, comes from pitching 3.2 innings, allowing 2 hits and 2 runs in Santiago, with a walk and 4 strikeouts.
To close out the week, Matt Dermody will make his second start of the season on Sunday, when the Toros host the Escogido.Eloy Jiménez’s Debut, Celestin and Noel Returns
This Friday, the Toros are expecting the debut of Eloy Jiménez, who was originally scheduled to debut on Tuesday at the Quisqueya Stadium against the Licey. Jiménez was acquired last year in a trade along with Yeison Asencio, Luis Valdez and Wendell Rojo from the Escogido, in exchange for relievers Rafael Montero, Henry Sosa and catcher Randy Florentino.
The “Big Baby” will be in his fourth season in LIDOM, all with the Gigantes del Cibao, and in his LIDOM career he bats .346/.420/.571 with 6 home runs and 30 RBIs in 36 games.
The 28-year-old outfielder has hit 95 home runs and driven in 298 runs in six seasons in the Major Leagues with the White Sox and Orioles, with a .269 average in 534 games.
In addition, the team hopes to have shortstop Felnin Celesté and outfielder Jhonkensy Noel return to the lineup.
Celestén had to leave Saturday’s game in the first inning due to knee discomfort, and Noel was hit by a pitch in the elbow on Sunday, which forced him to leave the game.
