The Leones del Escogido have officially secured their place in the Serie Final of the LIDOM for the second consecutive season, following a convincing 7–3 victory over the Gigantes del Cibao on Friday night at Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal.
With the win, Escogido improved to 12–5 in the Todos contra Todos round, a result that guarantees them first place in the standings and home-field advantage to open the championship series.
Escogido Secures First Place in Todos contra Todos
The triumph ensured that the Leones can no longer be overtaken at the top of the round-robin table. While their spot in the Serie Final is locked in, the final matchup will be determined on Saturday, as Águilas Cibaeñas and Toros del Este remain tied while battling for the second finals berth.
Strong Pitching and Timely Offense Lead the Way
Veteran right-hander Radhamés Liz set the tone early, tossing 4.1 scoreless innings with three strikeouts and just one walk, keeping the Gigantes off balance despite leaving the game without a decision.
Escogido opened the scoring in the second inning after loading the bases, capitalizing on a walk issued to Michael De la Cruz. The decisive rally came in the fifth, when Erik González delivered a two-run double to left field, followed by a run-scoring groundout from Junior Lake.
The Leones added crucial insurance in the later innings, highlighted by a solo home run from Yamaico Navarro, his blast traveled 393 feet to left field, and a two-run RBI single from Jorge Mateo to stretch the lead beyond reach.
Key Performances Seal the Final Ticket
Kenny Hernández earned the win in relief, while Stephen Nogosek closed the door with a four-out save. Offensively, Escogido received standout contributions from González, Navarro, Lake, and Mateo, combining power, speed, and clutch hitting to secure the victory.
Final Tune-Up Before the Championship Series
Escogido will conclude the Todos contra Todos schedule on Saturday afternoon against Águilas Cibaeñas at Quisqueya, with first pitch set for 4:00 p.m. While the Leones have already clinched, the game will determine who joins them in the LIDOM Serie Final.
With momentum, home-field advantage, and a balanced roster firing on all cylinders, Leones del Escogido now turn their full attention to capturing another Dominican championship title.