EL MONARCA, exponent of Leñadores de Las Tunas hit 15 hits today to back up their 9×1 victory over Pinar del Río, as the final of the 63rd National Baseball Series got underway.

Visiting the Capitan San Luis stadium in this city, the Tuneros produced a decisive three-run run in the very first inning, which would have been enough to clinch the victory.

They took advantage of their initial opportunity to hit five hits against the defeated starter Mario Valle, who was barely able to get two outs, although the costly error by catcher Yasiel Agete put the three runs in the books as foul.

For the win, the Lumberjacks relied on the lumber of their leadoff man and sixth baseman Yordanis Alarcón, who went 5-4, with a double and two RBIs. Outfielder Denis Peña (4-2), coming off another excellent season, knocked Teammate 190 out of the park and drove in three runs. He also had a pair of defensive gems.

Seventh victory for left-hander Eliander Bravo, after throwing 6.0 chapters to the tune of four hits, while Rodolfo Díaz earned his 13th save, with solid relief of three innings in which he barely tolerated a single.

«Before starting the game, my coach and I make a study of each of the opposing batters, looking for the pitch that is the most difficult to hit. I’m very happy with my undefeated record in the postseason,» Bravo told JIT exclusively.

Las Tunas, which is seeking its second successive crown, now has a record of four wins without defeat in the first games of the finals in which it has participated.

The team from Pinar del Río shows «the other side of the coin», with only one success in the opening games of the 10 championship contests in which it has been a protagonist.

This Monday there will be no game due to the fact that the date was decreed as a National Mourning on the island. For the second game of this final, next Tuesday, the mentors of both teams announced their respective starters: Yunier Zamora (LTU) and Branlis Rodríguez (PRI).