Peter O’Brien dHe hit two home runs and drove in six laps to lead Toros del Este’s attack in the 9-1 win over Águilas Cibaeñas, in the first game of the semi-final Series B held at Cibao Stadium on Saturday, January 2 . corresponding to the playoffs of the 2020-2021 Dominican Fall-Winter Baseball Championship.
O’Brien started the new year with an explosive offense for the Bulls when he hit a two-run homer in the third inning, an RBI single in the fifth and his second four-corner hit of the game in the seventh, with two teammates on-board . The Cuban-born reinforcement went 3-3, with three runs scored, six RBI’s and one walk.
In this way, the Romans were the first to hit the Cibaeños, agreed in the series for the best of seven matches.
The winner plays with the winner of the Serie-A, between Gigantes del Cibao and Estrellas Orientales, the BHD-León Cup and the representation in the Caribbean Series, in the tournament in memory of José Manuel Fernández. The second match of this semi-final series will be held next Sunday, in La Romana, from 5:00 PM.
The reinforcement of Cuban descent went 3-3, with three runs scored, six RBI’s and one walk
The Bulls had a total of 11 hits together, while five of their pitchers together left the Eagles with only three hits in the game.
Jhan Maríñez won on the right (1-0) with a relief from two empty innings, a transfer and a strikeout.
While starter David Kubiak (0-1) lost by giving up five runs and five hits in two and a third innings, in which he also walked three and struckout only one.
Other Toros players who stood out with the wood were: native reinforcement Yermín Mercedes with a pair of doubles, a round scored and a four-team RBI; Jorge Mateo 4-1, double, one RBI and one run; Miguel Andújar 5-1, an RBI; Jeimer Candelario 4-2, singles and two scored.
For the Eagles, Melky Cabrera hit a solo homerun in three official at-bats, Ramón Torres hit 3-1 and Diego Goris 1-1 as a substitute.
Blackout of a tower
In the fifth inning, a power outage to a light pole that lit the rightfield stopped the action for about 33 minutes as Cuban outfielder Yasiel Puig prepared to hit.
The energy delay caused the Bulls to lose their starter Paolo Espino, who pitched with sheer dominance but was unable to continue due to the lengthy layoff. The Panamanian went without a decision with four innings of a career on homerun, the lone hit he gave up, with five strikeouts and a walk.
This is how they scored the races
The Eagles took the lead at the end of the first inning with a solo-homer by Melky Cabrera into the right field off bullfighting starter Paolo Espino. It was ultimately the only race of the match for the Cibaeños.
In the second inning, the Toros started their offensive attack and scored three rounds to take over the scoreboard from Eagles-starter David Kubiak. The rally started with a ticket for Peter O’Brien, who scored on a double by Yermín Mercedes.
Then, Cristhian Adames grounded to first and Mercedes moved to third base to score on Jorge Mate’s double that hit the top of the left field wall. The Bulls’ cave called for a home run, for which the hit was judged in the middle of reps and confirmed as unstoppable from two bases.
Hereafter, Mateo stole third base, Abraham Almonte made a passport and Miguel Andújar grounded to third base to drag Mateo with the third score from Toros. The inning ended with a strikeout by Yamaico Navarro.
In the third inning, the Bulls returned to line their horns against the Eagle and scored two more runs. After one out, Jeimer Candelario singled to center and then Peter O’Brien hit his first homerun of the game. Starter Kubiak was immediately replaced by José Cuas, who was in charge of completing the chapter.
In Act 5, as the Bulls went to hit, an electrical fault in the light tower illuminating the right field halted play for 33 minutes.
At the restart, Yasiel Puig traded a ticket to new pitcher Lisalverto Bonilla and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Jeimer Candelario grounded to short stop and Puig moved to third base. Next, Peter O’Brien singled to the left to drive into Puig with the sixth score for the Toros.
O’Brien moved to third base on a stolen base and a throwing error by catcher Deivy Grullón. He was then eliminated at the plate trying to score after Yermín Mercedes flew into midfield.
In the seventh inning, the Bulls sealed their victory with three more rounds to make it 9-1. After one out, Yamaico Navarro walked and moved to third base on a single by Jeimer Candelario, then ended the second homerun of the night for Peter O’Brien with six RBI’s in the game.