DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – Minnesota Twins left-hander Francisco Liriano tallied 10 strikeouts and theEscogido Leones captured the Dominican Winter League championship with a 5-3 win over the Cibao Gigantes Thursday night at Julian Javier Stadium in San Francisco de Macorís.

The Leones, which won the Caribbean Series in 1988 and 1990, will travel to Margarita Island in Venezuela next week to battle the league champions from Venezuela, Mexico and Puerto Rico.

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Wladimir Balentien opened the scoring with a solo home run in the second inning to put Escogido out front. It proved to be more than enough run support for the embattled southpaw.

Two seasons after elbow surgery derailed one of the Major Leagues rising pitching stars, the Liriano (3-1) tossed five shutout innings while allowed just one hit to lead the Leones to the historic Game 9 victory. In seven playoff starts, the Twins hurler racked up 47 strikeouts in 37 innings with a 0.49 ERA.

A solo homer by former Dodgers farmhand Saul Soto and a run-scoring hit by Indians prospect Lucas Montero helped the Gigantes plate two runs in the eighth to make it a one-run affair. However, the Leones answered back an inning later.

Oakland A’s minor leaguer Alex Valdez collected two RBIs, including a crucial insurance run in the ninth, to seal the series-clinching win.

Former big leaguer Santiago Casilla threw a scoreless ninth inning to register the save and give the Leones its 14th Dominican League championship.

SERIES AT A GLANCE:
Game 1: Escogido 1, Gigantes 2
Game 2: Gigantes 1, Escogido 0
Game 3: Escogido 13, Gigantes 4
Game 4: Gigantes 2, Escogido 3
Game 5: Escogido 2, Gigantes 3
Game 6: Gigantes 4, Escogido 5
Game 7: Escogido 0, Gigantes 2
Game 8: Gigantes 3, Escogido 4
Game 9: Escogido 5, Gigantes 2

(Leones win series 5-4)

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Tags: Dominican Republic