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Winter Leagues: HR lifts Licey into Dominican Series

Francisco's ninth-inning solo shot turns away Gigantes, sets up meeting with Escogido

Dominican Winter League

Licey 9, Gigantes 8
Milwaukee's Juan Francisco delivered a go-ahead home run in the ninth inning Saturday, and Licey held on for the victory and a spot in the Dominican Series against Escogido. Gigantes took a lead with a five-run sixth inning, but Francisco's fifth homer of the winter flipped the script. Leadoff man Leury Garcia went 3-for-4 for Gigantes, and Erick Aybar went 1-for-5 for Licey. Box score

Venezuelan Winter League

Magallanes 11, Zulia 6
Minor League veteran Mario Lisson homered twice in a round-robin playoff victory for Magallanes, and Ronny Cedeno went 3-for-4 from the No. 9 spot in the lineup. Two players -- Ernesto Mejia and Luis Maza -- had three hits for Zulia, which took a 6-0 lead and then allowed 11 unanswered runs. Box score

Caribes 6, La Guaira 5
Slugger Alex Cabrera reached base five times and drove in two runs for La Guaira, but it wasn't enough to hold off Caribes in the round-robin playoffs. Alexi Amarista and Cory Aldridge each had three hits for Caribes, and six different players scored in the victory. Box score

Mexican Winter League

Hermosillo 3, Los Mochis 2 
Luis Alfonzo Garcia doubled in the 11th inning to lift Hermosillo in a walk-off, a result that evened the semifinal series at three games apiece. These two teams will meet for one decisive game Sunday for the right to play Navojoa in the championship round. Box score

Spencer Fordin is a reporter for MLB.com.