HECTOR J. CRUZ
Águilas Cibaeñas hosts Toros del Este today at the Cibao Stadium in Santiago and Gigantes del Cibao at the Estrellas Orientales in San Francisco de Macorís, in the opening of two 7-4 series that will define the two final teams in the Winter Baseball Tournament in the Dominican Republic 2020-21.
In the so-called “Covid-19 Season”, the four teams are measured almost in a row, with a single day of rest between them, which will be next Tuesday 5. Then they would have played on four consecutive dates, if necessary.
The game in San Francisco de Macorís will be at 5 pm (channel 4CERTV), and the one in Santiago at 6 (CDNDeportes and Teleuniverso).
Águilas, Gigantes and Toros ended the regular season with the same score 16-14. The giants ranked first, winning the private series to the other two.
The stars come from winning a wildcard mini-game at Escogido (3-2) by sweeping the first two games.
For today, the Eagles will have David Kubiak on the right, taken as a reinforcement of the Lions of the Chosen One. Panamanian Paolo Espino will launch for the Bulls.
For the Giants will be their main pitcher Richelson Peña, while Stars will go with another Panamanian, left Andy Otero.
Both the Stars and the Giants have their arsenal completely offensive. For the Stars, led by Robinson Canó and Fernando Tatis Jr., their last two additions. For the Giants, Ronald Guzmán, Carlos Peguero, Moisés Sierra and Juan Francisco, as well as the super-fast José Sirí.
Eagles are experiencing weaknesses in their mountaineering corps after several of their top squires withdrew from the competition a few days ago, including closer to Neftali Feliz and Juan Nicasio.
Bulls offers a wide pitching rotation and the presence of major leagues Yasiel Puig, Gary Sánchez, Miguel Andújar, Jorge Mateo, Pete OBrien, among others.