Photo by James Farrance Photography
By Christopher Soto
Dominican Winter League (LIDOM)
Tigres del Licey (7-8) 8, Gigantes del Cibao (6-9) 2 Box Score
- 2B Arismendy Alcantara: 1-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI(3), K | .237 AVG/.749 OPS
- RHP Harol Gonzalez: 3.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 K, 1 BB, Loss | 0-2, 4.00 ERA, 1.56 WHIP
Making his third start of the LIDOM season, Gonzalez pitched well through his first three innings of work before running into trouble in the fourth. After holding the Tigres to only one hit and one walk thru the third inning, Gonzalez allowed a lead-off single in the fourth followed by a hit by pitch to put runners on first and second with nobody out. Sorely needing a double play to help him get out of the jam, Gonzalez would get the ground-ball he needed in order to turn it but Yankees first baseman Greg Bird did not field the ball cleanly and was only able to get the runner at second base. Gonzalez would recover to strike-out Alcantara for the second out but uncorked a wild pitch and allowed a single to Brian Navarreto resulting in both runners scoring and ending his night.
While it didn’t end well, Gonzalez was solid overall tossing 40 of his 67 pitches for strikes with a 11.9% swinging strike rate as he frequently got batters to swing over the top of his change-up down and in. As for Alcantara, his only hit of the game came in the seventh inning as part of a five run rally. With one out and the bases loaded, Alcantara turned on an inside fastball and JUST missed a grand slam as it hit the top of the fence in right field instead settling for a two RBI double.
