The Leones del Escogido dropped Game 1 of the LIDOM final series 4-3 to the Tigres del Licey in a thrilling 14 inning game last night at the Estadio Quisqueya. Cuban left-hander Darién Núñez was charged with the defeat after giving up a sacrifice fly to Sergio Alcántara to end the game.
During the postgame press conference I asked Escogido skipper about bringing in Núñez with the bases loaded and if it was out of necessity or a strategy. Pujols had this to say, “Well, regarding the strategy, if you look at the matchup that was what you were looking for there. Alcántara is a tremendous hitter from the left side, the bases were loaded and you are trying to find a grounder for a double play. If you look at the numbers, on the right side it’s not that it’s bad, but you have a better chance of getting an out or striking him out. “
“He just threw that breaking ball and it stayed in the middle of the plate. If a grounder had come out of the play, we would get a double play and get out ofthe inning. That strategy didn’t work for us today against one of the hottest bats in the league, especially since December, is Alcántara along with Junior Caminero. It was also the third time that he was going to face Gabriel Ynoa, and we wanted to change his approach a little, but it didn’t work today.”
The two teams face off tonight at Quisqueya in an intense Game 2 between eternal rivals that share the same home. César Valdéz will take the mound for the Tigres, while Emilio Vargas toes the rubber for the Leones. If Licey wins the contest the take a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. The Tigres are looking to win their third straight league title and their 25 overall