With the start of the new particular sub-series, the most awaited duel erupts today at the Victoria de Girón: Cocodrilos de Matanzas versus Leones de Industriales, a crucial clash between the front-runners of the 64th National Baseball Series.
The atmosphere in the Yumurín colossus already feels electric. A series of five challenges, laden with epic and history, pits two squads against each other that refuse to yield ground despite the multiple absences due to injuries and illnesses that have shaken their rosters.
Matanzas, second with 31 victories and 19 defeats, defends its lair; Industriales, third with a record of 29-18, arrives determined to roar louder than ever.
The statistics announce a clash of titans. The blues’ offence boasts a .298 average, well above the Cocodrilos’ .273; furthermore, those led by Guillermo Carmona have 143 extra-base hits, including 41 home runs, while the pupils of Armando Ferrer have accumulated 91 and 25, respectively.
From the mound, the Leones also stand out with an ERA of 3.90, superior to the locals’ 4.67, and with 321 strikeouts, they lead the tournament.
In defence, however, the Yumurín side rules: .979, the best average in the championship, compared to the capital side’s .969.
Also scheduled for this Tuesday are the challenges Las Tunas–Camagüey at the Cándido González, Mayabeque–Pinar del Río at the Capitán San Luis and Sancti Spíritus–Artemisa at the 26 de Julio.
Cienfuegos visits La Isla at the Cristóbal Labra, Ciego de Ávila faces Granma at the Mártires de Barbados and Villa Clara takes on Guantánamo at the Nguyen Van Troi. The leaders, Cachorros de Holguín, will open their series tomorrow against the Avispas de Santiago de Cuba.
Regarding individual leaders, the Santiagan Yoel Yanqui dominates batting with .466; the Holguiner Yasiel González leads in home runs with 16 and his teammate Lázaro Cedeño leads in RBIs with 56.
From the mound, the Granman César García is the most effective with a 1.77 ERA, the Matancer Silvio Iturralde has accumulated seven victories, the Tunero Alberto Pablo Civil has eight saves, and the Capitalino Pavel Hernández sets the pace in strikeouts with 61.
The standings show Holguín at the summit with 31-18, followed very closely by Matanzas (31-19) and Industriales (29-18). Further back are Las Tunas (27-18), Cienfuegos (26-20), Sancti Spíritus (28-22), Mayabeque (26-21) and Artemisa (26-21), closing the qualification zone. (Author Boris Luis Cabrera)
