SANTIAGO, Dominican Republic -- The chants started in the stands in the eighth inning and continued for the remainder of the game at Estadio Cibao.

Lee-say camp-e-on -- Licey, champion.

The fans were right. The Licey Tigres were champions, at least on this night, upsetting the No. 1 seeded Aguilas Cibaenas, 5-2, in the first matchup of the two undefeated teams in the 2008 Caribbean Series. Licey (3-0) and the Aguilas (2-1) square off again in the series finale on Thursday.

Should each team finish round-robin play with one loss, there will be a playoff game to determine the Caribbean Series champion. Licey is now the front-runner for this year's title after topping the Dominican Winter League champion Aguilas; just don't tell that to Licey manager Hector De La Cruz. Monday's victory was just the third step on the way to a championship, he said. Licey faces Venezuela in Tuesday's matinee.

"I have never been the kind of person that makes predictions, but we put ourselves in a good position," Cruz said. "We are going to take it day to day like we have been doing. We are going to treat everything the same way."

The Licey way so far this series has been the winning way.

The Tigres scored the game's first run in the fourth inning when shortstop Anderson Hernandez scored from second base on a single up the middle by right fielder Nelson Cruz. Hernandez reached base with a single to left field and advanced to second on a wild pitch by Aguilas starter Fabio Castro.

It would be one of Castro's few mistakes on the mound, and he cruised until the seventh inning when Licey tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the frame on a two-run double by Matt Tupman. Jose Batista and Ronnie Belliard came home on the double for a 3-0 Licey lead.

"We've been battling the Aguilas since the finals. We were able to get back at them in this series," Tupman said. "I hit them pretty well all during the year, and I was lucky enough to barrel one [tonight]."

As for Castro, he did not face another hitter after Tupman and was replaced by Santiago Ramirez after giving up five hits in 6 2/3 innings.

Ramirez didn't fare much better, giving up a two-run homer to the first hitter he faced, Yordany Ramirez, to extend Licey's lead to 5-0. Yordany stopped short of calling the homer lucky. He did acknowledge it as clutch.

"I think it was a changeup, and I hit it hard," Ramirez said. "I was able to get hands around and it went for a home run."

Licey starter Ramon Ortiz did his part. The right-hander was charged with only three hits in 6 2/3 scoreless innings to earn the victory before yielding to reliever Oneli Perez in what turned out to be an eventful seventh inning.

It was unclear if Ortiz could continue. It was clear that he was not going to get the opportunity.

"It was our decision to take him out of the game," De La Cruz said. "It was that time of the game, he pitched well and we're happy with the decision."

Ortiz's exit almost marked the end of Licey's one-run lead. Aguilas shortstop Tony Pena drove the first pitch he saw from Perez to the wall in left field to set up a play that undoubtedly will become part of Dominican baseball folklore. Victor Diaz, who had reached via a base on balls, tried to score from first on Pena's base hit but was thrown out at home on the relay throw from shallow left field by Hernandez. Licey left fielder Emilio Bonifacio made a perfect throw to Anderson to set up the thrilling inning-ending play and send the crowd into a frenzy.

"He made a good play. He's played good all year," Cruz said. "He made a good approach in left field. He's a great player."

The Aguilas loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the ninth inning and rallied, scoring two runs off Jesus Colome but the rally fell short. Licey reliever Jailen Peguero retired all three batters he faced to end the game and earn the save.

The champion chants followed.

"When we made the first run, I thought, 'We're gonna make it.' We felt like we could probably win 1-0," Cruz said. "We added those four runs and we felt more comfortable, like we know we're going to win the game. We've got to play it game by game. Come tomorrow, play the game and try to win the game."