Licey Beats Escogido 5-4 to Forge Tie Atop LIDOM

Tigres del Licey rallied past Leones del Escogido 5-4 on Sunday night at Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal, pulling the Dominican capital rivals level at 12-6 atop the LIDOM standings. Licey erased an early two-run deficit with a four-run fourth inning, then protected a one-run lead through the final three frames.

Licey answers with a four-run fourth

Escogido struck first in the third inning, when Vidal Bruján doubled and the Leones turned the opportunity into a 2-0 lead. Licey answered immediately in the top of the fourth.

Jesús Madé walked and Ronny Mauricio singled before Cristhian Adames brought home Licey’s first run with a sacrifice fly. After Estevan Florial drew a two-out walk, Bryan Lavastida delivered the decisive swing: a two-run single that put the Tigres ahead 3-2.

Lavastida then stole second and scored on Ángel Ortiz’s single, completing the four-run inning and giving Licey a 4-2 advantage.

Ortiz adds the run Licey needs

Licey stretched the lead in the sixth. Sergio Alcántara doubled, stole third and scored on Ortiz’s second run-producing single of the game.

That insurance run proved essential. Escogido scored twice in the bottom half of the inning to cut the margin to 5-4, but the Licey bullpen held the Leones scoreless the rest of the way. Wander Suero worked the ninth for his first save of the season.

Ortiz finished with two hits and two RBIs, while Lavastida drove in two. Alcántara also collected two hits. Escogido center fielder Vidal Bruján reached base five times, going 3-for-3 with a double, a triple and two walks, but the Leones left nine runners on base.

Albert Abreu steadies Licey

Albert Abreu kept Licey within striking distance and earned his first win of the campaign. The right-hander allowed three hits and two earned runs over five innings, walking three and striking out five.

Abreu has now worked 10 innings across two starts, allowing six hits and three runs while recording 11 strikeouts. Kenny Hernández took the loss for Escogido after Licey’s fourth-inning rally.

The result changes the shape of the early LIDOM race: Licey and Escogido now share first place at 12-6. In one of Dominican baseball’s fiercest rivalries, the Tigres did more than claim a one-run win—they erased the Leones’ outright hold on the top spot.