Extended to three the lead at the top of the event, ahead of tied Industriales and Artemisa

The leader Matanzas signed this Sunday its 20th victory and extended to three the lead at the top of the II Elite League of Cuban Baseball, which has seven games left to complete the preliminary phase.

In the 11×3 victory over Santiago de Cuba, Yurisbel Gracial (4-3, including a home run) with five runs batted in. Yordanis Samón and José Amaury Noroña also had three hits for Yamichel Pérez’s fourth league win (5.0 IP, 3H, 4K, 2BB).

Veteran pinch-hitter Danny Betancourt suffered the loss, despite Ariel Pestano Jr.’s two-run homer.

Industriales moved up to second place with Artemisa, after beating Sancti Spíritus 11×5. Kevin Hernández (6.0 IP, 5CL, 5H, 5K, 1BB), supported by a pair of homers by Yasiel Santoya and three runs by Ariel Hechavarría, was the runner-up.

The roosters Dunieski Barroso and Yadiel Guerra hit home runs in a losing cause, while reliever Yankiel Mauris took the loss.

The success of the Leones was combined with the failure of Artemisa against Las Tunas 10×8, a game in which both teams played impeccable defense.

Yordanis Alarcón hit a home run and drove in two runs. The Leñadores bullpen made the best decisions from the mound with Rodolfo Díaz winning and Alberto Pablo Civil’s sixth save.

The setback went to reliever Dorvis Navarro, who was not helped much by Raul Gonzalez’s home run.

Sunday’s results left Matanzas in the lead at 20-13, ahead of Artemisa and Industriales (17-16), Las Tunas and Sancti Spíritus (16-17) and Santiago de Cuba (13-20), the latter virtually eliminated from the post-season scheduled for January.