Ronny Mauricio hit a two-run homer and César Valdez pitched five scoreless innings to lead the Tigres del Licey to a 4-1 win over the Leones del Escogido in the opening game of the 2021-2022 fall winter baseball tournament .
Mauricio, in his second career inning in the league, set up a pitch from Lions starter Yoen Socarras and dumped the ball over the right-field fence at the close of the second inning to give Leones a 2-0 lead. the blue ones, which they never lost.
Valdez, on his side, handcuffed the red offense by giving up just three hits with a walk and two strikeouts. José Marte, Antonio Santos and Aaron Barrett each pitched one inning, before Jairo Asencio scored the save by closing the ninth inning with a strikeout.
In addition to Mauricio, they stood out on the offense for the winners, Hanley Ramírez, 4-2 with a run scored, Nick Heath, 3-1 with a double and a run scored, Emilio Bonifacio, Vinnie Pasquantino and Dawel Lugo (pushed) with a simple each.
Francisco Urbáez and Luis Liberato were the best for the Lions with a pair of hits each.
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