Suffering through, Lumberjacks of Las Tunas They managed to escape the ambush set by the Azucareros de Villa Clara and advanced to the semifinals of the 64 National Baseball Series (SNB).
The reigning monarchs of Cuba achieved a tight 9-7 victory in the decisive quarterfinal challenge and thus retained their chances of defending their reign.
Their success allowed them to complete the semi-final quartet, in which the teams from Matanzas, Industriales and Artemisa, the latter their next rival, were already installed.
Against all odds, the fight against Villa Clara reached the limit, and at the Julio Antonio Mella Stadium, those led by Abeysi Pantoja knew how to take advantage of their strengths and weaknesses of the rival to achieve the hard-fought victory. according to press reviews.
Monarca Las Tunas: fourth place in the semifinals of #64SNB
Today they beat the Villa Clara team 9×7, in the seventh and last match of the quarterfinals. #Cuba #Baseball #CubanBaseballhttps://t.co/JkGnyT0QBf pic.twitter.com/PNpitWIcXs— JIT Cuban Sport (@jit_digital) January 30, 2026
A definition in extremis
The sparks flew in the same initial inning, when the Oranges got the scoreboard going thanks to Cristian Moré’s home run with a teammate in circulation.
The strong local response was recorded at the bottom of that inning with a bunch of six scores. Key to the reaction was the three-run home run signed by Yassel Izaguirre, but also the defensive lapses of the Villa Clara team.
As happened in the final stretch of the regular campaign, Ramón Moré’s disciples did not let the flag fall, and that effort was rewarded with Cristian Rodríguez’s full-round hit that balanced the score.
By then the bullpen of both sides had taken charge of the fate of the game. Rodolfo García and Omar David Pérez had managed to control the powerful group of the Lumberjacks and at the most dangerous moment the host high command turned to Alberto Pablo Civil, who achieved his personal revenge for the failed attempt in his previous rescue by getting the last six outs.
On the Villa Clara side, Omar David faltered in the eighth inning, and a double by Yuniesky Larduet and a single by Yudier Rondón combined to finally sentence the match in favor of the Leñadores.
Industriales and Artemisa advance to the semifinals of the National Series
Tuneros to the podium
Their victory against Villa Clara allows Las Tunas to at least remain on the podium of the National Series. Although the Lumberjacks were shipwrecked in the semifinals against the Artemis Hunters, what they did during the qualifying section ensures them at least the third place on the podium.
Both sides will draw their weapons next Monday at the home of the Las Tunas, although the semifinal phase will begin a day before with the confrontation in the Victoria de Girón park between the Crocodiles of Matanzas and the Leones of Industriales.
As for the Azucareros, beyond their final outcome against Las Tunas they showed determination and future with a group full of young figures.
First, by successfully overcoming the tension in the recovery phase of suspended matches – which were key in their classification – and then by forcing the current champions to play seven games to guarantee their survival.
