Leody Taveras opened the game with a solo homer and Yunesky Maya threw five innings and a third of two hits for the Eagles to shut out the Leones del Escogido six for zero at Cibao Stadium.
Taveras’ slam through right field off scarlet starter Yoen Socarras was the first of two touchdowns allowed by the Cuban pitcher in the first act.
In that same inning, Ramón Torres singled to the left field, ripped off the middle and entered the run on an unstoppable hit by Orlando Calixte to the right field. The locals scored again in the second, again against Socarrás, who they made three laps, but none clean, since after consecutive hits by Francisco Peña and Christopher Morel opening the inning, an error by outfielder Joey Rickard in a hit. de Taveras allowed the bases to be filled with no outs, runners who subsequently stepped on the register. The guinea pigs scored one more line in the eighth.
The victory went to Yunesky Maya (2-0), who threw 5.1 scoreless innings. Socarrás (0-2) took the loss by completing a five-touchdown chapter.
For the Cibaeños, Taveras went 4-2, with a home run, two runs scored and one RBI, and Torres, 3-1, with scored and one produced.
For the Reds, Albert Pujols, who had a good turnout in the game, singled on three touchdowns and was walked.
Cooperstown’s future immortal gave Maya a hit line in her first match appearance. Engel Beltré, 2-1.
With his triumph, the team led by Félix Fermín consolidated at the top of the championship with a record of five victories and a setback.
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