"F**k you Juan Soto", "Albert Pujols leading the way" - Fans react as Leones defeat Tigres to claim LIDOM championship in a Game 7 nailbiter

In his first season as a baseball manager, MLB legend Albert Pujols led the Leones Del Escogido to the Dominican Professional Baseball League (LIDOM) title. Leones edged out two-time defending champions Tigres del Licey in Game 7 of the Serie Final, the league's championship series with a score of 6-5.

"What a game. What a series. What a finish. Leones del Escogido defeat Tigres del Licey in Game 7 of the LIDOM championship" - @ MLB

The match was held at the Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, home of both teams and named after the Baseball Hall of Famer.

Apart from Pujols, several other MLB names were present in the contest. Johnny Cueto, Rafael Montero, and Junior Caminero all starred in the match. Interestingly, New York Mets star Juan Soto—who missed the Amazin' Day festivities of the team, was present to show his support for the Tigres del Licey.

With the fiery and passionate nature of the league, some baseball fans on X expressed how they felt about the LIDOM championship.

"F**k you juan Soto," exclaimed one fan.

"Pujols leading the way! Gonna be a great MLB manager one day," said another.

"Baseball was made in the USA. But for us DOMINICANS IS RELIGION," a fan claimed.

"SOTO PACKKKKKKKK," one fan stated.

"My goodness...Dominican League Baseball is an incredible vibe. What a game," a fan wrote.

"The MLB absolutely needs more of this," a fan shared.

Through the heroics of Tampa Bay Rays infielder Junior Caminero, who smashed a 454-foot go-ahead home run, Leones were able to fend off the star-studded Tigres side. It was Leones's first league title since 2015-2016, and the first of Albert Pujols's managerial career.

LIDOM championship history

With their LIDOM championship, the Leones del Escogido further cemented themselves as the third-most successful club in Dominican baseball history. The squad currently has 17 league championships along with four Caribbean Series titles.

Leones also stopped a possible three-peat by Tigres del Licey who won the previous two iterations of the Serie Final. Had the latter won another title, they would have been the first team since the the 1995-1998 Aguilas Cibaeñas to have won three straight championships.

Tigres del Licey is currently the most successful club in Dominican baseball history with 24 league titles and 11 Caribbean Series crowns. They're followed by Aguilas Cibaeñas which has 22 league championships and 6 Caribbean Series titles.