Licey Tigers Unleash Pitching Powerhouse for Round Robin
The Licey Tigers, reigning Dominican Republic baseball champions, have unveiled their starting pitchers for the next three crucial games of the 2024-25 round Robin, honoring the legacy of Don José León Asensio.
Kicking off the series on Monday at 7:30 pm, southpaw Zach Muckenhirn (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will take the mound at the Quisqueya Juan Marichal Stadium as the Tigers host the Leones del Esgido. Muckenhirn, boasting a strong performance in the All Against all with four strikeouts and only one walk in 6.1 innings across two appearances (one start),aims to continue his impressive form.
Tuesday night sees the Tigers travel to Santiago de los Caballeros to face the Águilas Cibaeñas at the cibao Stadium. Veteran right-hander Radhamés Liz will make his first Round Robin start, bringing his formidable regular season record of 3-1 and a stellar 1.64 ERA to the mound. Liz, who dominated in nine starts with 33 strikeouts and 18 walks, allowed only 22 hits in 38.1 innings, showcasing a remarkable WHIP of 1.04.
Wrapping up the three-game stretch, César Valdez will take the mound for the Tigers at the Quisqueya Stadium against the Águilas on Wednesday at 7:30 pm. This will mark Valdez’s third start in the All Against All. He enters the game with four strikeouts, one walk, and five runs allowed in 7.2 innings pitched.
Unleashing the Power: An In-Depth Dive into the licey Tigers’ Pitching Rotation
Welcome back, baseball fanatics! Today, we have a real treat for you. Joining me is former Licey Tigers pitcher, Franklin Frias, who led the team to victory back in ’98 and knows a thing or two about dominating on the mound. Franklin, welcome to the show.
Franklin: Thanks for having me. It’s always a pleasure to talk baseball.
Moderator: so, Franklin, the Tigers are gearing up for a crucial three-game stretch in the Round Robin, facing off against the Leones and the always-tough Águilas Cibaeñas. They’ve announced a pretty remarkable pitching rotation – Muckenhirn, Liz, and Valdez – what are your thoughts?
Franklin: You know, on paper, this looks like a powerhouse rotation. Muckenhirn, the southpaw, had a great showing in the All Against All, showcasing some serious command. Liz has been lights-out all season – his ERA is phenomenal, and Valdez, while he’s given up a few runs, has shown flashes of brilliance. They’ve got experience and young talent – a great mix.
Moderator: I agree, Liz’s stats are truly impressive. A 1.64 ERA? That’s practically unheard of!
Franklin: Definitely. But remember, the Round Robin is a whole diffrent beast.The pressure is on, the fans are hungry, and every pitch counts.
Moderator: Absolutely! So, Franklin, muckenhirn kicks things off against the Leones. What do you anticipate seeing from him?
Franklin: Muckenhirn needs to work on his consistency. He’s got the stuff, but he has to locate his pitches. Against a team like the Leones, he can’t afford to be leaving pitches over the plate.
Moderator: That’s crucial. Now, Liz facing the Águilas in Santiago, that’s a tough matchup. How do you see that playing out?
franklin: Liz thrives under pressure. I think he’ll feed off the energy in Santiago. He needs to trust his fastball, mix in his off-speed pitches, and keep those Águilas hitters guessing. They have a potent lineup, so liz needs to stay focused on every batter.
Moderator: Valdez wrapping up the series, also against the Águilas. do you think he has what it takes to secure the sweep?
Franklin: Valdez has the potential, but he needs to be sharp. He can’t afford any mistakes. He needs to avoid giving up those big innings and keep the Águilas off balance.
Moderator: Great insights, Franklin.Now, let’s open this up to our viewers.What are your predictions for the Tigers’ pitching performance in this crucial three-game stretch? Do you think Muckenhirn, Liz, and Valdez can deliver the goods? Let us know in the comments below!
