Escogido Beats Licey 5-3, Opens Two-Game Lead Atop LIDOM

Leones del Escogido beat Tigres del Licey 5-3 on Friday night at Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal, winning the latest meeting between LIDOM’s top two teams and opening a two-game lead in the standings.

Escogido improved to 15-7, while Licey fell to 13-9. The result reversed Licey’s 5-4 victory in the same rivalry matchup on November 8, when the clubs finished the night tied for first place.

Three straight hits flip the game

Licey struck first when Mel Rojas Jr. singled home Ronny Mauricio in the bottom of the first inning. That 1-0 lead held until Escogido’s lineup broke through in the fifth.

Junior Lake opened the rally by scoring on Sócrates Brito’s double. Jonathan Guzmán followed with a run-scoring triple, and Marco Hernández drove him home with a single to right, giving the Leones a 3-1 advantage.

The Tigres answered immediately. Mauricio’s two-run single in the bottom half brought home Braiden Ward and Gustavo Núñez, pulling Licey level at 3-3 and turning the final four innings into a bullpen contest.

Escogido finds the decisive run

The tie broke in the seventh after Brito reached base and Escogido loaded the bases. José Marmolejos worked a walk against Javy Guerra, forcing in Brito with the go-ahead run.

Escogido added insurance in the ninth. Michael De La Cruz doubled and scored when Hernández hit a ground-rule double to left-center. Hernández finished 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs, while Brito went 2-for-4 with a double, one RBI and two runs. Guzmán added two hits, including his run-scoring triple.

Licey collected 10 hits to Escogido’s eight but left nine runners on base. Mauricio drove in two runs, and Rojas finished 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.

Leones bullpen closes the door

Kelly Austin earned the win after recording four outs without allowing a run and striking out two. Héctor Neris protected the lead with a scoreless eighth, and Robinson Martínez worked around one hit in the ninth for his seventh save.

Escogido’s relief staff allowed only two runs across 8 1/3 innings after starter Lael Lockhart departed in the first inning. That depth proved decisive on a night when the leaders needed eight pitchers to navigate the lineup of their closest challenger.

The Leones now carry a 15-7 record and a two-game cushion into Saturday’s home game against Estrellas Orientales. Licey visits Gigantes del Cibao looking to keep the gap from widening.