The Matanzas Crocodiles knocked out the Artemisa Hunters today 11-1 and distanced them to two and a half games from the top of the 64th National Baseball Series.
During the matchday, where inclement weather prevented the playing of two games, the Santiago de Cuba Wasps triumphed and are now tied in second place in the tournament with the Artemisa team.
The Crocodiles, entrenched in their Victoria de Girón, deployed an attack of 11 base hits, two of them home runs by José Amaury Noroña and Brayan Peña, to win via the mercy rule in eight innings.
Pedro Mesa was hermetic over five innings to add his fourth win of the contest and Yosney García hung three zeros with just one hit to achieve his third save.
The Wasps, also at their home ground of the Guillermón Moncada, again appealed to the power of their bats to defeat the Camagüey Bulls 7-2, a team that is teetering on the line that delimits the qualification zone.
The newly arrived and always useful Adriel Labrada connected a home run and drove in three runs and Yoel Yanqui, going 4-3, also drove in three and hit his tenth home run of the championship to tie for the lead in that category with his teammate Yoelquis Guibert, who will soon depart with him to Nicaragua to fulfil their professional contracts.
Alberto Bisset pitched five innings to record his 168th win in domestic championships, and Edenis Cruz took the loss.
The Mayabeque Hurricanes took advantage of that result to break through the barrier separating the privileged zone and tie with the Bulls, by defeating the bottom-placed Isla de la Juventud Pirates 6-2 at the Nelson Fernández.
Kevin Gamboa carried the weight of the offence by going 3-2 with a double included and three runs batted in, and Alyanser Álvarez pitched seven innings without allowing a run to win his third game of the campaign.
Meanwhile, the incredible Cienfuegos Elephants, on their home turf at the 5 de Septiembre, defeated the Pinar del Río Vegueros 9-1 and continued their battle to sneak into the post-season.
Yordan Artiles stood out with the bat, with a single, a triple and three runs batted in, and Alexander Vargas shone on the mound by going the distance with five strikeouts issued.
At the Augusto César Sandino in Villa Clara, the Granma Alazanes and the Leopards of that province split honours in their double-header.
In the first game, the visitors prevailed 5-3, supported by a cluster of four runs in the fifth inning, when Pedro Almeida connected for a triple and Yordan Luis Rivas a double, both driving in runs.
Yuricen Blanco got four outs to get the credit, Leandro Bellas recorded the save and Raidel Alfonso took the loss.
In the closer, the hosts won 1-0, thanks to an excellent pitching performance from Alain Sánchez, who allowed just three base hits in the seven innings the clash lasted. Yoel Mojena was a worthy opponent, but allowed a home run from Osman Caruncho that decided the game.
Finally, the Guantánamo Indians, at their Nguyen Van Troi stadium, remain determined never to return to the basement of the general standings and dispatched the Ciego de Ávila Tigers 6-4, despite two home runs from Asniel Jiménez.
The rain again wreaked havoc this Thursday in the tournament; the Las Tunas and Holguín game had to be called because of it, when the latter were winning 1-0 in the fourth inning, and the Industriales-Sancti Spíritus duel could not even begin.
Both matches will be played tomorrow.
