The Panamanian catcher hit the hit that placed the green team in the semifinal series along with Licey, Águilas and Gigantes
Las Estrellas celebrated their 112th year of foundation last night by qualifying for the semifinal series of the autumn-winter baseball tournament by leaving the Águilas Cibaeñas on the field in a match held at the Tetelo Vargas Stadium.
Bethancourt was the hero of the game when he hit a hit to left field with runners on third and first and just one out before a shot by reliever Wendolyn Bautista, who took the loss. The defeat of the Toros del Este by the Tigres del Licey 3-0, earned the Petromacorisan team to be in the Round Robin for the fourth time in the last five seasons, including the campaign that they were crowned for the third time in their history in the 2018-2019 tournament.
It was the sixth “walk-off” that the green banner team has given this season and the second where Bethancourt has been the hero of the game. The first time was on a bases-loaded transfer against the Bulls.
Despite the fact that the four teams have already qualified for the semifinal series (Licey, Águilas, Gigantes and Estrellas), two dates remain on the regular schedule, including a doubleheader this Saturday against the Tigres at the Quisqueya Juan Marichal Stadium. The victory went to reliever Edgar Ernesto García (1-0) when he pitched the ninth inning without any problems.
The Eagles were the first to put a number on the house. It happened in the top of the seventh inning on Melky Cabrera’s sacrifice fly to center field.
In the closing of that episode, the Stars evened the actions at one run per side. Junior Lake hit third base and in the play, Johan Camargo threw badly to first base, the ball went to the dugout of the Stars, a situation that Cristian Pache took advantage of to enter the race. In the ninth inning, the Stars sealed the win with Christian Bethancourt’s drive to left field.
The Bulls say goodbye
The Licey Tigers achieved their 31st victory of the winter tournament last night by whitewashing the Toros del Este three runs to zero at the Quisqueya Stadium. The veteran César Valdez threw beauties, once again, by painting his rivals blank in six innings. In addition, it is the third victory they have achieved in a row. With that defeat, the Bulls, when they fell defeated, put their mark at 18-30, they gave a dangerous slip that sought to get closer to the Stars.
The blue right-hander, who claimed his sixth win in a row, without losses, working in six innings, did not allow runs, allowed four hits, struck out five batters and gave way to Justin Grimm. Hansel Robles worked for the Tigers in the eighth and Jairo Asencio pitched in the ninth to reach his 14th save game of the winter tournament.
In San Francisco de Macorís, the Leones del Escogido defeated the Gigantes del Cibao 3-0 in a match held in the Julián Javier State.
