Mel Rojas Jr. Three-Run Homer Lifts Licey Past Estrellas in LIDOM Shutout

Mel Rojas Jr. supplied all three runs with a first-inning homer as Tigres del Licey shut out Estrellas Orientales 3-0 on Wednesday, October 28, at Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal in Santo Domingo. The win moved Licey to 6-3 and into first place in the Dominican winter league, half a game ahead of Estrellas (5-3).

It was a direct meeting between the two leading teams in LIDOM, and one swing settled it. With two outs in the bottom of the first, Rojas drove an Esmil Rogers four-seam fastball over the right-field fence after Kevin Alcántara and Estevan Florial reached base.

Rojas delivers early, Licey pitchers finish the job

Rojas finished 1-for-4, but his first home run of the 2026-27 season accounted for every run of the game. It was his 19th career homer in Dominican winter-league play, drawing him level with several former Licey players on the club’s historical home-run list.

Rogers lasted just 1 1/3 innings for Estrellas, allowing three earned runs on three hits and two walks. The visitors had chances to respond but could not turn their baserunners into a run.

Licey starter Luis Gil covered 2 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and three walks while striking out four. Alexander Cornielle followed with 2 1/3 scoreless frames and earned the victory, his first of the season. Jean Carlos Mejía worked the ninth to secure his second save of 2026-27 and the 23rd of his LIDOM career.

That career total moved Mejía past José Veras on the league’s all-time saves list, giving the night a second individual milestone beyond Rojas’s decisive swing.

A narrow lead in the early LIDOM standings

The result reversed the order at the top of the six-team league after Estrellas had entered the matchup with a slight advantage. Licey’s 6-3 record now leads Estrellas at 5-3, with Leones del Escogido next at 5-4 after extending their winning streak to four games.

For Licey, the encouraging sign was not only Rojas’s power but the way its pitchers protected an early lead against a club that had recently scored 24 runs in two games. The Tigers return to action Thursday against Toros del Este in one of three games rescheduled after Tuesday’s rainouts.