The Matanzas Crocodiles became this Tuesday the first to reach 45 victories in the 64th edition of the National Baseball Series, which constitutes a record for the team in a 75-game campaign.

The troops led by Armando Ferrer, already with a secure place in the postseason, defeated the Cienfuegos Elephants 7-2 at their Victoria de Girón swamp, and anchored in the tournament’s second place, just half a game from the top spot, they continue the battle to achieve direct passage to the upcoming Elite League.

With an attack of 10 hits, the saurians sent the pachyderms to the mud, who with barely two wins in their last 10 games fell to eighth place and have endangered their qualification to the next stage.

Standing out with the bat in today’s contest were Brayan Peña, with a single that brought two teammates home, and Eduardo Blanco, who hit a rocket to drive in two more and become the new leader in that department with 68.

Yamichel Pérez worked two-thirds of an inning with much composure and calm and was credited with the victory, Luis Manuel Hernández claimed the save and Raikol Suárez took the loss.

For their part, the leading Las Tunas Woodcutters were laid out on the grass of the Nguyen Van Troi stadium with a score of 2-1 by a Guantánamo Indians team that had accumulated 14 consecutive defeats.

A rebellion by the tribe at bat that began with a home run by Danger Casi, continued with another three consecutive singles to score the winning run.

Rubén Rodríguez signed a great start, but the reliever Rodolfo Díaz could not preserve the lead and took the loss; Enyer Fernández kept the green and red axes quiet and took the victory.

In that match, Yordanis Alarcón reached two thousand hits in national series and became the second tunero, behind Danel Castro, to reach that figure.

The Artemisa Hunters sweated to defeat the Isla de la Juventud Pirates 3-2 at the 26 de Julio stadium and jumped to the seventh rung in the standings.

Daniel García made an excellent start to secure the credit, aided by veteran José Ángel García, who saved his 325th game, and by a home run from Osbel Pacheco.

At their Guillermón Moncada headquarters, the Santiago de Cuba Wasps refuse to surrender their aspirations of reaching the playoffs and knocked out the Granma Stallions 13-3, displacing them from tenth place.

Meanwhile, the match between the Villa Clara Leopards and the Camagüey Bulls was sealed by inclement weather, when the latter were winning 4-2 in the third inning.

The challenge between Industriales and Pinar del Río at the Latinoamericano stadium was also suspended due to the intense rains that have lashed the country’s capital since yesterday.

The matches Holguín-Ciego de Ávila and Mayabeque-Sancti Spíritus could not be played due to transport problems and will play a doubleheader today.