Late runs make the difference for Cibao.  Manny Ramirez and Liam Hendriks star for Aguilas.

CIBAO 5, ESTE 2 IN CIBAO

Twins:  Jeremias Pineda was used as a reserve and was 0-for-1.

Este:  Eugenio Velez (Milwaukee) was 3-for-4 with a run.  Elih Villanueva (Miami) struck out five in five innings, giving up one run on three hits and three walks.

Cibao:  Adrian Nieto (Washington) was 2-for-3 with two doubles and a walk, scoring once.  Maikel Franco (Philadelphia) was 2-for-4 with a double, scoring once and driving in two.  Ramon Ramirez pitched a perfect perfect inning, striking out all three men he faced.

The game:  Este led 2-1 after one and it was still 2-1 after six.  Cibao scored two in the seventh to take the lead and Franco doubled in two in the eighth for a pair of insurance runs.

AGUILAS 2, ESCOGIDO 1 IN ESCOGIDO

Aguilas:  Dan Black (White Sox) was 2-for-4 with a home run, his fourth.  Manny Ramirez--yes, that one--was 1-for-4 with a home run, his second.  Liam Hendriks (Kansas City) pitched five shutout innings, giving up five hits and a walk with three strikeouts.

Escogido:  Jordan Pacheco (Arizona) was 2-for-4 with a double.  Wilkin Castillo was 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI.  Edward Valdez pitched five innings, allowing two runs on six hits and one walk with four strikeouts.

The game:  Ramirez homered in the second and Black homered in the third to put Aguilas up 2-0.  Escogido scored once in the seventh, loaded the bases with two out in the eighth, and got the tying run to second with two out in the ninth.

THURSDAY'S GAMES

Cibao at Aguilas

Licey at Oriente