For the umpteenth time, the Vegueros de Pinar del Río showed off their traditional power on the mound and eliminated Industriales in the semifinals of the 63rd National Baseball Series, which opens the way for them to discuss the crown in the domestic classic for the first time since 2016.
Branlis Rodríguez and Raudel Lazo, two left-handers from different generations but with the same recipe to get outswere the protagonists of the Pinar del Río whitewash at the Capitán San Luis park, which was once again packed from corner to corner to see the best team of the season.
A total of 10,500 people, according to the official count, entered the Vegueros’ home, although the crowd was much larger if we take into account all the people who gathered behind the left field fences. And the general consensus is that it was worth it, because the team managed by Alexander Urquiola stood up to the challenge and knew how to control the push of the Leones and their desire to come back.
As we said, Branlis and Lazo emerged as heroes. The former pitched 6.1 scoreless innings, at a rate of 2 hits, 3 strikeouts and the same number of walks. Only one man got to the second base for the Vegueros starter in his entire career and he always found the tools to dominate the capital team when they put runners on base.
Lazo, a 35-year-old veteran with experience in the American Major Leagues, took care of the rest and retired the 8 batters he faced. It could be said that the reliever has been a fundamental weapon for the Vueltabajos in the present postseason, as he has one victory and 3 saves in 6 starts, with a WHIP of 0.67 and no runs allowed in 9 innings of work.
From the offensive rectangle, outfielder Luis Pablo Acosta stood up for the Pinar del Río team with a 2-run single in the fourth inning that was enough to knock down the blue resistance. The seventh hitter for the western team reached the box after hits by Tailon Sánchez and Yoan Rojas and responded with a single to center field against the pitches of Pavel Hernández.
The Lions’ right-hander also did a good job, with 7 innings to his name, in which he retired half a dozen green-footed pitchers by way of the strikesHowever, against this team any slip-up is paid dearly and the Industrialista shooter was able to prove it again.
But there is not much to blame the inexperienced and depleted pitching of the Havana Lions, in fact, the team suffered more from the offensive decline of some important players than from the mistakes of its pitchers. For example, Oscar Valdés and Yasiel Santoya, key pieces in Guillermo Carmona’s lineup, only hit 3 hits in 43 plate appearances, with just one RBI in the semifinals.
Valdés hit .048 and Santoya hit .111, well below their real potential. Overall, Industriales suffered against the pitchers from Pinar del Río, against whom they only hit .245.
After this victory, Pinar del Río, which last season occupied 14th place, returns for the first time to a final since Series 55, when they lost in a vibrant duel against the Tigres from Ciego de Ávila. In that match, the Vegueros were down 0-3 and managed to level the score with 3 consecutive wins, but in the seventh match Roger Machado’s pupils sentenced the game at the Capitán San Luis.
Now they will have the opportunity to write a different story against Granma or Las Tunas, the other two teams seeking a ticket to the final. At the moment, the Leñadores are ahead 3-1. Whoever the opponent is, the Vegueros will start as favorites to win the championship for the first time since Series 53, when they beat Matanzas for the Cuban title.
