The Dominican Winter League championship series is underway between the Gigantes del Cibao and the Estrellas Orientales.
The best-of-seven series is tied at a game apiece, with Game 3 set for 6:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday. Fans can watch the game — and every game of the series — live on MLB.TV. Broadcasts are in Spanish.
Here’s what you need to know about the LIDOM Serie Final.
Game 1: Estrellas 5, Gigantes 4 (11 innings)
The Estrellas pulled off a dramatic walk-off win in extra innings in Game 1. After losing a two-run lead in the top of the ninth on a go-ahead three-run homer, the Estrellas rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth on Gustavo Nuñez’s single, then won in the 11th when Nuñez stole third and scored after the catcher’s throw sailed into left field.
Game 2: Gigantes 6, Estrellas 3
One night after saving most of the excitement for the later innings, almost all of the offense in Game 2 came in an action-packed third inning. The Estrellas jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the third, thanks to a bases-loaded walk followed by Jeremy Peña racing down the line to beat out a run-scoring infield single. The Gigantes answered with a five-run bottom half of the inning, with all five runs coming with two outs. That proved to be more than enough, as Gigantes starter Tyler Alexander tossed six innings of two-run ball before turning it over to the bullpen to slam the door and even the series.
Estrellas: C Christian Bethancourt
The former Braves and Padres catcher went 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored out of the No. 9 spot in the batting order in Game 1 before going hitless in the Game 2 loss.
Gigantes: SS Hanser Alberto
LIDOM’s regular-season hits leader kept it up in Game 1 of the finals, going 3-for-6 with a stolen base. He added another base hit in his club’s Game 2 victory.
Remaining schedule for the series
Game 3 (Gigantes at Estrellas) — Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. ET
Game 4 (Estrellas at Gigantes) — Friday at 4 p.m. ET
Game 5 (Gigantes at Estrellas) — Saturday at 6:30 p.m. ET
If necessary
Game 6 (Estrellas at Gigantes) — Sunday at 4 p.m. ET
Game 7 (Gigantes at Estrellas) — Monday at 4 p.m. ET
The Gigantes went 23-17 in the regular season to finish in first place among the six LIDOM teams. The Estrellas, who are managed by former big leaguer Fernando Tatis Sr., went 22-18 to finish second.
The two teams reached the finals by advancing out of the first round-robin playoff stage, which was made up of the top four teams in the standings (the other two were Tigres del Licey and Aguilas Cibaeñas).
The Gigantes won their only LIDOM championship in the 2014-15 season. They reached the finals last winter, but they lost to Aguilas. The Estrellas are three-time LIDOM champions, having most recently won in 2018-19.