On Tuesday night, as the calendar turned to December, LIDOM action stayed hot with all six teams in action.
AGUILAS CIBAEÑAS (1) VS TOROS DEL ESTE (2)
The Toros continued their torrid pace on Tuesday night as they charged past the Aguilas Cibaenas in a one run affair.
AGUILAS CIBAENAS
One of the better offensive performances of the night came from John Nogowski (STL) who went 2-4 on the night, bringing his average up to a measly .244. Surprisingly, still one of the better marks for light hitting Cibaenas hitters.
Rangel Ravelo (STL) continued to set the pace for the Cibaenas offensively as he also contributed two hits and scored the Cibaenas only run in the 4th inning on a Robel Garcia RBI single in the 4th inning.
Former Major League standout Melky Cabrera also added a hit in the 4th inning, but was left stranded by a Wilmer Difo inning ending doubleplay ball.
Yunesky Maya took the loss despite only allowing two runs (one earned) through four innings of work. Unfortunately for Maya, that was all the Toros needed to continue their stampede of the LIDOM.
The final frames were locked down by Joe Van Meter (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K), Yohan Ramirez (SEA) (1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K), and Juan Nicaso (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB) before Junior Fernandez (STL) and Dario Alvarez pieced together a scoreless 9th inning.
TOROS DEL ESTE
Yamaico Navarro led the way for the Toros bringing his average up to .281 with a 1-3 performance. Navarro also added one of the Toros’s two runs on a Peter O’Brien double in the 3rd inning.
Vidal Brujan (TB), #60 on our Top 500 Dynasty Prospects List, was blanked on Tuesday night despite starting the season as one of the Toros most consistent hitters. Tampa is poised to have one of the most exciting infields in baseball with Brujan and Wander Franco up the middle
Peter O’Brien provided the power blasting two doubles in his four trips to the dish adding ultimately the deciding run driving in Yamaico Navarro in the 3rd inning.
While there were some notable offensive performances, it was the pitching that stole the spotlight in this one. For the Toros,
Jorge Martinez shoved for six innings, holding the light hitting Cibaenas to only six hits and one run.
Martinez then handed the ball off to the bullpen who slammed the door, holding the Cibaenas hitless for the final three frames.
Fernando Abad recorded the save for the Toros after a perfect 9th inning. .
ESTRELLAS ORIENTALES (2) vs. LEONES DEL ESCOGIDO (3) - 10 innings
LEONES DEL ESCOGIDO
In a game packed with notable prospects, the standout was Gregory Polanco (PIT) who blasted a walk off home run in the 10th inning.
The most notable of these prospects, Wander Franco (TB), was not in the lineup Tuesday night as the Leones squared off against the Estrellas.
Yankees outfield prospect, Estevan Florial, (#206 on our Dynasty Top 500 Prospects List) had another rough night at the dish taking an 0-2 with a K.
Coming into 2020, I was high on Franchy Cordero (KC), expecting a significant breakout. It did not work out for Cordero in San Diego and his playing time was sure to increase in Kansas City. Unfortunately, Cordero only made 42 plate appearances, partly due to injury, in 2020. Last night in LIDOM action, the 26 year old went 1-4 and scored a run in the Leones’s win.
Although Julio Rodriguez (SEA, #3 on our Dynasty Top 500 Prospects List)has started off slowly after coming back from a wrist injury that ended his season early last year, Rodriguez put together a 2-4 night on Tuesday night in the Leones 3-2 victory.
Jumbo Diaz recorded the win after coming in and hurling a scoreless 10th inning prior to the Leones extra inning rally that ended on a Gregory Polanco walk off home run.
ESTRELLAS ORIENTALES
Some performances of notable prospects on this ball club:
Cristian Pache (ATL, #62 on our Dynasty Top 500 Prospects List): Pache took an 0-2 last night, but did pick up an RBI on an infield single that ultimately plated two after pitcher, Casey Harmon, committed a throwing error.
Francisco Mejia’s (SD) struggles continued as the young catcher took another 0-3 with a strikeout to drop his average to .143 on the season. It is increasingly likely that Luis Campusano will be the backstop of the future in San Diego as Mejia has failed to impress thus far.
Some other notable performances from Estrellas players:
Jeremy Peña (HOU, #219 on our Dynasty Top 500 Prospects List)) recorded a two-hit game in the leadoff spot with an extra base hit and a base on balls.
Nester Cortes chucked four innings allowing four hits, one earned run and fanned 6 in the loss.
TIGRES DEL LICEY (4) vs. GIGANTES DEL CIBAO (3) - 10 innings
This game had more fewer notable names than the previous matchup involving the Leones, but it did not disappoint. The Tigres held on for a 4-3 victory making this the third one-run ball game of the night.
TIGRES DEL LICEY
A few standout performances are noted below.
Erick Mejia (KC) was on base three times last night pairing base on balls with a 2-4 performance at the dish. Mejia also came across to score a run for the Tigres.
Jorge Bonifacio added a two-hit performance of his own that included blasting a triple to left field.
Last night’s hero, Yermin Mercedes (CHW), provided some power, contributing two more hits for the Tigres and launching a two-run home run in the top of the 10th inning to put the Tigres on top for good.
A notable starter for the Tigres in Deivi Garcia (#80 on our Dynasty Top 500 Prospects List)).
Deivi Garcia (NYY) had a short leash last night. He was yanked after only 1.2 IP after surrendering two base on balls.
Mauricio Cabrera picked up the win for the Tigres after blowing the save in the 9th inning on an unearned run caused by a throwing error on shortstop, Sergio Alcantara. Cabrera had decent stuff last night and was able to wiggle his way out of the jam in the 9th inning, striking out Ronald Guzman for one of his three strikeouts to retire the side.
Jairo Asencio closed out the game, picking up his third save of the year despite allowing a 9th inning home run to Carlos Peguero.
GIGANTES DEL CIBAO
As mentioned, Carlos Peguero provided some pop for the Gigantes in the bottom of the 10th inning when he blasted a home run to cut the deficit to one. Unfortunately, the Gigantes were unable to put much together after the long ball and ultimately fell short by the score of 4-3.
Ronald Guzman (TEX) added some offense for the Gigantes as well with a single and a base on balls that ultimately led to him scoring a run..
Reymin Guduan was the highlight of the Gigantes pitching staff on Tuesday night striking out the side in the 7th inning. The Gigantes are hoping this will get him on track after a shaky start to his season.