Stalwarts and greenhorn bring oomph to Winter Baseball

Santo Domingo.- Old stalwarts like Manny Ramirez and Miguel Tejada, and greenhorns like Robinson Cano are stealing the Winter Baseball show, and keep their respective teams in competition for the crown.

It was standing room only at San Pedro’s Tetelo Vargas stadium where fans were treated to Cano’s first time in a Dominican baseball uniform since the 2008-2009 winter season.

It was definitely Cano’s night: An infield grounder drove in a run in the first and a double which capped a 5-run rally in the 4th inning was enough for the Estrellas of San Pedro to beat the Gigantes of San Francisco.

Batting fourth as designated hitter to the delight of the more than 10,000 fans, the US$240 million player went to the plate for his first turn at bat, with runners on first and third, and the rest is history, in the Estrellas 7 to 2 win over the Gigantes.

Meanwhile Ramirez and Tejada are doing what they know best: Slam line drives. They are given the credit for keeping the Aguilas of Santiago in the competition, hitting just like their glory years in the Majors.