MIAMI.- Dominican Republic (Tigres del Licey) is in another final of the Caribbean Series. The Quisqueyans defeated Panama (Federales de Chiriquí) 4-1 to defend the title they won in the last edition in Venezuela.
Since the Caribbean Series adopted the format of playing one final game in 2013, Dominican teams have been in five of the 11 played and have won three.
The Dominican Republic, which had lost its game against Panama on Wednesday in the round-robin round, came out early to seal its place in the grand final. In the first inning they made a run when Dawel Lugo hit to send Gustavo Nuñez to the rubber.
“This is a game of results and they worked for us. We had a plan and tomorrow we are going with César Valdez,” said Dominican leader Gilbert Gómez.
In the third the felines’ offensive reappeared to make two more lines and support the work of Cameron Gann. The always timely Emilio Bonifacio drove in Junior Lake with a single and later stepped on the plate.
Gann left a line of 4.1 with two strikeouts, walked two and allowed three Panamanian hits. Then the bullpen was dominant to guarantee a place in the final of the Miami Caribbean Series 2024 at LoanDepot Park, home of the Miami Marlins, receiving support from another run in the sixth inning.
This is the third time that the Caribbean Series has been held in Miami. In 1990 and 1991 the Dominican teams lifted the trophy, but history does not pressure Gilbert.
“It is understood that it is a very special series for the Caribbean player. Tomorrow that story does not have much weight, we have to go out and win later,” added the leader.
The finals in the Caribbean Series for teams from the Dominican Republic
The final format for the Caribbean Series is relatively modern. It was established for the 2013 edition and since then Dominican teams have been present in five and have won three.
In 2020 Toros del Este won the title by beating the Cardenales de Lara (Venezuela) 9-3 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. A year later the Águilas Cibaeñas won the crown after defeating the Criollos de Caguas (Puerto Rico) 4-1 in Mazatlán, Mexico.
And the Tigres del Licey themselves were the monarchs of the last edition by beating the Leones del Caracas 3-0 in their own home.
The initial year of this format the Leones went 4-3 – in 18 innings – against the Yaquis of Ciudad Obregón (Mexico). The other setback for a Dominican team in the Caribbean Series final happened in 2018, when the Águilas Cibaeñas fell 9-3 to the Criollos de Caguas.
