THE MONARCH exponent Leñadores de Las Tunas defeated Vegueros de Pinar del Río 6×4 today to claim their second successive success in the final of the 63rd National Baseball Series.

With this victory, the Tunas players have now won eight consecutive championships, in addition to the last two against Villa Clara in Series 58 and the 4-0 sweep against Industriales last season.

Visiting the Capitán San Luis stadium in this city, and with the game tied 3×3, mentor Abeyci Pantoja’s team scored three runs in the tenth inning, driven in by a double from catcher Yosvani Alarcón with the angles congested, off a delivery from reliever Jenier Álvarez.

Eighth win for closer Alberto Pablo Civil, who scattered two hits in as many innings, and managed to strike out left-hander Frank Gonzalez with the bases loaded for the final out of the game.

«I like the difficult moments, in which I stay calm on the mound because that makes the opponents desperate. There is no pressure for me and there is for them, so I almost always do the job well,» said Civil.

Pinar del Río left 13 runners in circulation, as the powerful sluggers located between the fourth and sixth innings in the line-up, who are in charge of pulling in runs, went without a hit.

This Wednesday they will travel to Las Tunas, where the third game of the final will be played two days later at the Julio Antonio Mella stadium.

For the Leñadores, who are seeking their second successive crown, right-hander Alejandro Meneses will pitch, while mentor Alexander Urquiola announced right-hander Bladimir Baños as the starter for the Vegueros.