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“Las Estrellas Orientales” defeated “Los Toros” 3-2 last night at the Tetelo Vargas Stadium, in San Pedro de Macoris, at the start of the Dominican Professional Baseball Tournament.
Both teams matched up in a pitching duel through nine innings, until Leandro Castro hit a RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning, which brought Eliezer Mesa to the plate for Las Estrellas Orientales, ending the first game in a defeat for Los Toros.
The winning entry began with a negotiating walk by Alex Valdez. Eliezer Mesa came in as a pinch runner for Valdez and scored on a single connected by Castro in the middle of the diamond.
Claudio Vargas started for “Los Toros”, and pitched three innings allowing three hits, two runs and and struck out three, while for “Las Estrellas”, Greg Smith, worked four innings allowing four hits, two runs (one earned) and struck out a batter .
The reliever Marcos Mateo (1-0) pitched one inning to get the win, while the losing pitcher was Castillo (0-1).
For “Las Estrellas”, Alfredo Marte got a two RBI homer in four ABs , Leandro Castro, 1-for-4 with one RBI, and Jonathan Galvez, 1-for-4.
For “Los Toros”, who got five hits, Matt Hague homered, singled and negotiated a ticket in three ABs. Eugenio Velez, 1-for-2, with two walks, Jose Ramirez, 1-for-3, and Gary Sanchez,1-for-3.
The opening event of the season was attended by the Dominican Minister of Sport, Jaime David Fernandez Mirabal, who opened the game with an honorary pitch of the first ball.
Today, “Los Toros” travel to Santiago to face “Las Aguilas Cibaeñas ”, and tomorrow Sunday they will play their first matchup as home field advantage (at the Francisco Micheli stadium) against “Las Estrellas”.
Photo by Raul Calvo.
Please click here for the Los Toros game schedule and season overview.