Winter Ball Roundup: Tatis Jr. Has Big Night For Estrellas; All Caribbean League Playoffs Underway

Fernando Tatis Jr. of the San Diego Padres is playing winter ball for the Estrellas Orientales in LIDOM, where his father, former MLB player Fernando Tatis, is the manager. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Staff Reports
World Baseball Network

Playoffs are underway around the Caribbean after a two-day break for the New Year.

Over the next three-and-a-half weeks, champions will be decided in the LIDOM, Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacifico, Liga Venezolana Beisbol Profesional, and LBPRC, with the champions all earning berths in the 2024 Caribbean Series at loanDepot Park in Miami.

In the LIDOM, the round robin stage of the playoffs began on Dec. 27, and the Estrellas Orientales are out to an early lead with a 4-1 record after Tuesday’s 8-5 win over the Gigantes del Cibao in 11 innings.

San Diego Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. went 3-for-4 with a homer, two doubles, two walks, two RBI, and two runs scored for the Estrellas in the win. Roel Santos’ sac bunt in the 11th sent Raimel Tapia home with the winning run. Andy Otero allowed just three hits and one run over 5.1 innings, striking out two and walking one.

Leones del Escogido 3, Tigres del Licey 2 – The Leones del Escogido improved to 2-3 in the round robin with a 6-2 win against the Tigres del Licey Tuesday night.

Former Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Red Sox prospect Victor Santos threw 5.1 scoreless innings, allowing three hits and striking out three for the Leones. Elier Hernandez went 1-for-5 with a three-run homer in the first inning, giving the Leones a lead they would never relinquish.

The Leones del Escogido face the Tigres del Licey at 6:15 p.m. EST on Wednesday, and the Estrellas Orientales face the Gigantes del Cibao at 6:30 p.m. EST. All LIDOM games are streamed on MLB.tv with a paid subscription.

Tomateros, Algodoneros Out to 2-0 Leads in LAMP Playoffs – A three-run seventh inning allowed the Tomateros de Culiacan to pluck another playoff win off the vine on Tuesday night, defeating the Caneros de Los Mochis 4-0 for a two-games-to-none lead in their first round series.

Peter O’Brien, Romer Cuadrado, and Alexis Wilson all had RBI singles for Culiacan in the seventh inning. The Tomateros added another insurance run in the eighth when Herlis Rodriguez stole third and then scored when the throw from Los Mochis catcher Juan Uriarte was off the mark.

The Algodoneros de Guasave topped the Aguilas de Mexicali 6-3 in game two of their first round series Tuesday.

Yadir Drake went 2-for-3 with a single, a stolen base, and two-run double in the eighth inning for Guasave, and Jorge Perez scattered six hits over six innings, allowing two runs and striking out three to earn the win.

Charros de Jalisco 4, Venados de Mazatlan 2 – The Charros de Jalisco manufactured four runs in the sixth inning and held on to beat the Venados de Mazatlan 4-2 to even their first-round series at one-game apiece.

Fernando Flores and Jack Mayfield each had an RBI double, Jose Rojas had a sac fly that drove in a run, and Christian Villanueva had an RBI single in Jalisco’s big sixth.

Mayos de Navajoa 4, Naranjeros de Hermosillo 1 – The seventh-seeded Mayos de Navajoa evened their series with the Naranjeros de Hermosillo Tuesday night

Bobby Bradley homered in the first for Navajoa, and Juan Perez score the game-winning run in the second from third when Hermosillo pitcher Elian Leyva’s pick-off attempt was wild.

Bradley was 2-for-3 with a homer, an RBI, and a stolen base, and long-time Major Leaguer Aaron Altherr went 2-for-2 with three walks.

There are no games in the LAMP playoffs on Wednesday night.

Cangrejeros, Gigantes Grab Wins In Game One in LBPRC Playoffs – A bases-clearing triple in the bottom of the sixth by Heliot Ramos pushed the Cangrejeros de Santurce over the Criollos de Caguas 5-1 on Tuesday night, giving Santurce a 1-0 series lead.

Alex McGarry added a two-run double in the seventh for Santurce. Danny Ortiz’ solo homer in the eighth gave Caguas their only run.

The Gigantes de Carolina edged the Leones de Ponce 4-2 in game one behind Bryan Torres’ 2-for-4 night with a pair of RBI.

Torres had an RBI single in the bottom of the third and another in the bottom of the seventh for the Gigantes, and Johnathan Rodriguez had a solo homer in the sixth.

JC Escarra clubbed a two-run double in the top of the fifth to drive in both of Ponce’s runs.

Game two in each series of the LBPRC semifinals is scheduled for Wednesday night a 6 p.m. EST. All LBPRC games are streamed live on the league’s facebook page.

Vasquez Has Big Night As Tiburones Chomp Cardenales in Game 1 – Danry Vasquez went 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI for the Tiburones de La Guaira, as they defeated the Cardenales de Lara 8-4 in game one of their LVBP playoff series.

Former Major Leaguer yasiel Puig went 3-for-5 for La Guaira.

The Cardenales pitching allowed five runs to score with two outs Tuesday night, and the Lara offense left 11 runners on base.

Noriega’s Homer Sends Leones Fans Home Happy – Gabriel Noriega’s solo homer in the bottom of the ninth game the Leones del Caracas a 6-5 win over the Tigres de Aragua in game one of their LVBP playoff series.

Noriega had a big night batting in the nine-hole, scoring two runs and going 1-for-2 with a walk for the Leones.

Jose Rondon went 1-for-3 with a walk and three RBI for the Leones, clubbing a three-run homer in the bottom of the fifth.

Game two in both LVBP first-round series are scheduled for Wednesday night at 6 p.m. EST, and all LVBP games are streamed live on Beisbolplay.com with a paid subscription.