Around the Winter Leagues: Padres Tell Tatis Jr. To Shut It Down; Caguas Leads LPBRC Series

Fernando Tatis Jr. has been asked by the San Diego Padres to stop playing winter ball for the Estrellas Orientales in the Dominican Republic. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Staff Reports
World Baseball Network

The San Diego Padres have requested Fernando Tatis Jr. to stop playing winter ball with the Estrellas Orientales in his native Dominican Republic, Hector Gomez reported yesterday.

Both Tatis and his father, Fernando Tatis Sr., who manages the Estrellas, requested permission from the Padres to keep Tatis in the lineup.

In 13 games with the Estrellas this winter, Tatis Jr. is batting .222/.345/.378 with a .723 OPS and a homer.

SOURCE: Fernando Tatis Jr. and his father requested #Padres once again for an extension to continue playing in the Dominican Winter League's playoffs. https://t.co/0hXBhL09fh

— Héctor Gómez (@hgomez27) January 15, 2024

Caguas 4, Ponce 2 – Juan Centeno went 1-for-3 with an RBI single and was hit by a pitch as the Criollos de Caguas topped the Leones de Ponce 4-2 and took a two-games-to-one lead in the LBPRC championship series in Puerto Rico.

Five Criollos pitchers held the Leones to just three hits and two runs, walking eight and striking out 16 in the win.

The best-of-nine series continues Tuesday at 6:15 p.m. with game four at Caguas. All LBPRC games are streamed live via the league’s facebook page.

Cardenales de Lara Back Above .500 – The Cardenales de Lara improved to 6-5 with a 12-4 win over the Leones del Caracas Sunday.

Rangel Rivelo went 3-for-5 for the Cardenales, scoring two runs and driving in two more with a single in the bottom of the sixth.

The Cardenales, led by former Atlanta Braves catcher Henry Blanco, improved to 6-5 with the win, good for second place, 3.5 games back of the Tiburones de La Guaira.

The Cardenales host the Leones del Caracas tonight at 6 p.m. and the Tiburones de La Guaira face teh Bravos de Margarita at 6 p.m. EST. All LVBP games can be streamed via Beisbolplay.com with a paid subscription.

Bravos de Margarita 3, Tigres de Aragua 2 – The Tigres de Aragua are closer to being mathematically eliminated from the LVBP round robin with a 3-2 loss to the Bravos de Maragarita, dropping their record to 3-8.

The Bravos, who improved to 4-6, are tied with the Leones del Caracas for third place.

Breyvic Valera hit a two-run double in the bottom of the third, and Ramon Flores drove in Wilson ramos with an RBI single in the sixth.

Carlos Navas earned a nail-biting save for the Bravos, allowing single to Yermin Mercedes and Daniel Mayora and walking Manuel Melendez to load the bases with one out. Jesus Sucre hit a sac fly that sent Yermin Mercedes home, drawing Aragua within a run, but Carlos Tocci flew out to center to end the game.

Hermosillo, Mazatlan Rolling In LAMP Second Round – The Naranjeros de Hermosillo and the Venados de Mazatlan each won game three of their LAMP semifinal series, giving both teams a 3-0 series lead.

Irving Lopez went 2-for-2 for the Naranjeros with a walk, a run scored, and had an RBI double in the sixth.

Wilmer Rios allowed five runs on three hits, striking out three and walking two, earning the victory in the Hermosillo’s 5-3 win against the Aguilas de Mexicali.

The Venados got all of their offense in the top of the sixth inning, getting two-run singles from Niko Vasquez and Jose Gaitan as they defeated the Tomateros de Culiacan 4-3.

Game four between the Venados and the Tomateros is scheduled for Monday night at 9:05 p.m. EST, and game four between the Naranjeros and the Aguilas is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. EST.

Gigantes del Cibao 5, Estrellas Orientales 4 – Melvin Mercedes’ RBI single to left in the bottom of the ninth gave the Gigantes del Cibao a 5-4 win over the first-place Estrellas Orientales Sunday night.

The Estrellas, at 10-5, lead the LIDOM round robin, while the Gigantes are teetering on the brink of elimination at 5-10.

Kelvin Gutierrez hit a two-run homer in the second, and Henry Urrutia followed him with a solo shot. Later in the inning, Joe Hudson doubled to left field, sending Erick Mejia in to score.

Leones del Escogido 8, Tigres del Licey 5 – Elier Hernandez smacked a two-out, three-run homer, and the Leones del Escogido would tack on five more insurance runs and hold on to beat the Tigres del Licey and improve to 7-8, one game back of second-place Licey.

The LIDOM is off on Monday, and returns to action on Tuesday, when the Leones again face the Tigres at 6:15 p.m. EST and the Estrellas again face the Gigantes at 6:30 p.m. EST. All LIDOM games are streamed live on MLB.tv with a paid subscription.