THE HURRICANES de Mayabeque and the Roosters of Sancti Spíritus maintained today the strong struggle for the first position of the 61 National Baseball Series, by defeating the Indios de Guantánamo and the Cazadores de Artemisa, respectively.
Manager Michael González’s men beat the Guantanamo team 6-5 to reach 25 wins against 14 losses, while Eriel Sánchez’s men beat the Artemiseños 10-5 and now have 27 wins against 16 failures.
Both teams continue to embrace the leadership of the tournament, although Mayabeque (.641) exhibits a better win-loss average than Sancti Spíritus (.628).
This Sunday, the Mayabequenses hit 16 hits, including a brace by first baseman Rafael Fonseca to score two goals and support the pitching work of four pitchers.
Outfielder Alexander Pozo went 3-for-3 with one run scored and another RBI; catcher Luis Fernández 4-3 with two RBIs and waiter Juan Manuel Martínez 5-3 with an RBI.
For the losers, central patrolman Biorgelvis Roque connected 3-3 with an RBI and right ranger Robert Luis Delgado 3-4 with a triple, scored and two RBIs.
Hurricanes fourth pitcher Marlon Vega got the hit by giving up just one single over 3 2/3 innings, with one strikeout and one walk.
The Indians’ fourth pitcher, Frank Navarro, charged with the setback, allowing two earned runs and as many hits in just two-thirds of a performance.
The Gallos had nine hits, including two homers and a home run by left-center fielder Alejandro Escobar to complete a three-run comeback in the ninth.
From the batting cage, Sancti Spiritus third baseman Rodoleisi Moreno got three hits in five visits to the plate, including a double. He also stepped on the home on one occasion and towed two companions. Shortstop Moisés Esquerres had two hits, including a double in five at-bats, with one run scored and three RBIs.
The victory fell to the second reliever José Luis Braña, who did not give any freedom in an inning, and the game was saved by Yankiel Mauri. The Sancti Spiritus closer threw three innings and accepted three hits and a clean score, with five strikeouts and three walks.
The defeat corresponded to the second fire extinguisher of the artemiseños, José Ángel García, by allowing three clean runs and the same number of hits, with a walk given away, in one inning and a third.
In the remaining challenges, Ciego de Ávila, second in the championship, beat Pinar del Río 7×3, Isla de la Juventud fell 4×5 to Las Tunas, Industriales shut out Camagüey 4×0, Santiago de Cuba defeated Matanzas 7×6, Granma gave it a super knockout of 15×0 to Cienfuegos and Villa Clara lost 4×10 against Holguín. The 18th subseries of the tournament will begin on Tuesday.
