In a dramatic display of offensive prowess, Sergio Alcántara delivered a career-defining performance to secure a crucial 6-5 victory for Toros del Este against Gigantes del Cibao during Day 18 of the Dominican Winter League’s Round Robin stage. The electrifying matchup at Julián Javier Stadium culminated in an eighth-inning breakthrough that solidified the Toros’ championship aspirations.
Alcántara’s remarkable night featured two crucial doubles and three RBIs, including the game-winning hit that broke a 5-5 deadlock in the final frames. His clutch performance elevated his Round Robin hit total to 10, surpassing his regular season output of nine hits and establishing him as the tournament’s offensive catalyst.
The Toros’ victory was a collective effort featuring multiple standout performances. Eric Filia contributed significantly with a two-run double, maintaining his impressive on-base presence in five of his six appearances. Meanwhile, designated hitter Eloy Jiménez etched his name in league history by matching the all-time Round Robin record of nine doubles, a benchmark previously set by Jerry Brooks during the 1994-95 season with Azucareros del Este.
From the bullpen, reliever Yaramil Hiraldo (2-1, 1.29 ERA) earned the victory after dominating with a scoreless inning and two strikeouts. Closer Joe Corbett secured his seventh save of the season, while Christopher Molina (0-3, 3.86 ERA) absorbed the defeat for Gigantes del Cibao.
The triumph maintains Toros del Este (11-7) in second place within the Round Robin standings, their position contingent upon the postponed matchup between Águilas Cibaeñas and Leones del Escogido. A potential Escogido victory on Sunday would guarantee the Toros their seventh appearance in the Championship Final Series, adding strategic importance to the postponed contest.
The game unfolded as an offensive spectacle with both teams exchanging leads throughout the evening. Jiménez initiated scoring with a first-inning double, immediately countered by Ricardo Cespedes’ infield single. Alcántara’s two-run double in the second inning established an early 3-1 advantage, subsequently extended to 5-1 by Filia’s fourth-inning double.
Gigantes del Cibao mounted a formidable comeback through David Bañuelos’ two-run homer in the fourth inning and strategic small-ball execution in the fifth, narrowing the deficit to 5-4. Jorge Bonifacio completed the resurgence with a solo shot in the sixth that temporarily leveled the score at 5-5, setting the stage for Alcántara’s eighth-inning heroics.