WITH THEIR respective victories on Wednesday, the Industriales, Matanzas and Ciego de Avila teams secured tickets to the post-season phase of the 63rd National Baseball Series.

Industriales came from behind to beat Isla de la Juventud 8×5. They were down 3×4 going into the seventh inning, but scored the decisive five-run rally with just three hits, including a home run by catcher Oscar Valdés and a double by shortstop Ángel Alfredo Hechavarría. Each drove in a pair of runs.

Third win for Carlos Cuesta and first save for José Ernesto Pérez, who pitched a solid two-hit shutout.

Meanwhile, the Matanzas Crocodiles split honours in their battle with Mayabeque, who won the first game (5×4) thanks to Adrián Sosa’s tenth save.

Then, the Yumurino team took revenge (9×2), supported by José Amaury Noroña’s 19th home run, which confirmed him as the leading hitter (78).

Ciego de Ávila also «split the point» in their double-header against Camagüey. Their 6×1 win was scored as Dachel Duquesne’s ninth -tournament leader-, in relief role. They then gave up 1×2.

In the battle for the coveted eighth playoff position, Guantánamo came out on top by defeating Santiago de Cuba twice and momentarily occupies that spot alone.

In the first game they won 6×5, scoring all their runs in the sixth inning, when they were down by five. Yoandri Daudinó’s fourth win and Yorlis Rodríguez, who hit 3-2, with a home run and a pair of runs.

Then, the Indios del Guaso came out on top 11×7, backed by the 17th home run of their slugger Over Cremet.

Sancti Spíritus could only manage one of the two scheduled games, in which they beat Cienfuegos 5×2. Closer Yankiel Mauri signed his 12th save to confirm his place at the top of that section, after pitching two chapters without a hit or a run. The other game was rained out. The Espirituanos are now in ninth place, half a game behind Guantánamo.

In another result, Granma won the double-header against the reigning champions Las Tunas. The Alazanes started with a 10×5 success, thanks to 17 hits – including leader Alfredo Despaigne’s 20th homer – and then went on to win 5×4. In a losing cause, Tunero Rafael Viñales hit his 17th round-tripper of the season.

Leaders Pinar del Río beat Artemisa 3×0, with the fifth hit by Branlis Rodríguez, the only pitcher used by the Vegueros.

Villa Clara and Holguín were also suspended due to rain.

After these results, seven teams have a safe place in the play-offs. Pinar del Río, Granma, Las Tunas, Santiago de Cuba, Industriales, Matanzas and Ciego de Ávila enjoy that privilege.

For the last place, the hard-fought battle remains between Guantánamo, Sancti Spíritus and Villa Clara.