Honestly, if you're only checking for scores in the middle of July, you're missing the weirdest, most intense baseball on the planet. Most people think the sport goes into hibernation once the World Series trophy gets hoisted. It doesn't. Not even close. Last night was a prime example of why winter ball is basically the "Wild West" of the diamond. While MLB stars are posting workout videos in sunny Arizona, the Dominican and Mexican leagues are playing games that feel like Game 7s.
January 12, 2026, was a massive night for the last night baseball scores that actually move the needle for the upcoming Caribbean Series.
The LIDOM Grinders: Escogido is Bullying Everyone
In the Dominican Professional Baseball League (LIDOM), the Leones del Escogido are officially a problem. They’re sitting at 10-3 in the Round Robin after a 7-2 win against the Toros del Este. If you didn't see the game, you missed a disaster class in catching. Two runs scored on passed balls by Tres Barrera. That kind of stuff just doesn't happen in the big leagues often, but in the high-pressure cooker of LIDOM? It's common.
Michael De La Cruz cracked a two-run single during a messy sixth inning that basically buried the Toros. Jorge Mateo—yeah, the same Mateo you know from the Orioles—was out there grinding out a bases-loaded walk. It wasn’t pretty. It was effective.
👉 See also: Ohio State Football All White Uniforms: Why the Icy Look Always Sparks a Debate
Meanwhile, the Aguilas Cibaenas absolutely hammered the Gigantes del Cibao 9-3. Ezequiel Duran, who usually plays for the Rangers, slapped a two-run double in the first. The Gigantes are now 2-11 in the Round Robin. It’s painful. Watching them right now is like watching a slow-motion car crash, honestly.
LIDOM Standings (Quick Look)
- Leones del Escogido: 10-3 (Clinched at least 3rd)
- Aguilas Cibaenas: 7-6
- Toros del Este: 7-6
- Gigantes del Cibao: 2-11
Mexico is Having a Pitching Renaissance
Over in the Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacifico (LMP), last night was all about the arms. The Tomateros de Culiacan are out here making everyone look silly. Manny Barreda and Sasagi Sanchez combined for seven innings of no-hit ball against the Algodoneros de Guasave.
Think about that.
✨ Don't miss: Who Won the Golf Tournament This Weekend: Richard T. Lee and the 2026 Season Kickoff
Seven innings of zeros. Culiacan ended up winning 6-0 to take a 1-0 lead in the series. Fernando Villegas provided the offense with a pair of RBI singles, but nobody was talking about the bats. When Barreda is on, he’s basically unhittable at this level. He walked four guys, which kept things "interesting," but he struck out six and never let the ball leave the infield for a hit.
The Charros de Jalisco also took care of business against the Aguilas de Mexicali with a 5-3 win. Tirso Ornelas is having a week. He went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs. Manny Banuelos, the veteran lefty, gave them six solid innings of one-run ball.
Venezuela’s "Wait, What Happened?" Moment
The Venezuelan league (LVBP) is currently a mess, and not because of the players. The playoffs were actually suspended for a bit because of political instability—specifically reports regarding the capture of Nicolas Maduro. They finally resumed with the Navegantes del Magallanes clawing out an 8-4 win over the Aguilas del Zulia.
🔗 Read more: The Truth About the Memphis Grizzlies Record 2025: Why the Standings Don't Tell the Whole Story
Luis Sardinas hit a two-run double in the eighth that finally gave Magallanes some breathing room. It was their first win of the Round Robin. On the other side of the bracket, the Cardenales de Lara lost an 11-inning heartbreaker to the Caribes de Anzoategui, 5-4. Jesus Sucre drove in the winning run.
Why You Should Care About These Stats
You might think these last night baseball scores are just trivia for die-hards. They aren't. These games determine who represents their countries in the Caribbean Series in Jalisco this February.
We’re seeing MLB talent like Luisangel Acuna (Mets) and Jorge Mateo (Orioles) playing in high-leverage situations that you just can't replicate in a cage. If you want to know who is going to be the "breakout" utility man in MLB this April, you look at who is hitting .350 in the LIDOM or LMP right now.
The intensity is different. In MLB, if a guy misses a sign in May, it’s a talking point. In the winter leagues, if you miss a sign in the Round Robin, the fans might not let you leave the stadium. It’s a different kind of pressure.
Practical Steps for Following Winter Ball
- Get the MLB.tv Subscription: Most people don't realize it, but many LIDOM and LMP games are streamed there.
- Watch the "Reinforcements": In these leagues, eliminated teams can "loan" their best players to playoff teams. It’s a wild system that keeps the talent level incredibly high.
- Focus on the Strike Zone: The officiating in winter ball is... creative. Pitchers who can navigate a shifting strike zone in Mexico or the DR usually come back to Spring Training with much better command.
The road to the 2026 MLB season actually starts in places like Culiacan and Santo Domingo. These scores are the first real data points we have for the new year. Keep an eye on the Tomateros; if their pitching holds up, they’re the favorites to take the whole thing in February.