Wounded by two consecutive arrows in their own Victoria de Girón swamp, the Matanzas Crocodiles will go out today determined to bite the Artemisa Hunters to distance them from the top of the 64th National Baseball Series.
Yesterday, the Artemisa team again showed their ferocity by prevailing 9-4 in ten innings and placing themselves just a game and a half behind the Matanzas team, thanks to a decisive cluster of five runs in the extra episode.
Leonardo Ocle got the win from the mound and Yansué Moré, with a home run, along with José Antonio Jiménez, with a double and a single, led the attack of 11 base hits.
The Crocodiles’ defeat coincided with the stumbles of their closest pursuers, Santiago de Cuba and Industriales, which allowed the Artemisa team to climb alone into second place in the standings.
The Wasps conceded 8-1 to the Camagüey Bulls, backed by the solidity of Dariel Góngora and the batting of Leonel Moas, who hit a home run and drove in three runs.
Meanwhile, the Sancti Spíritus Roosters again subdued Industriales at the Latinoamericano, this time with a score of 3-1. José Isaías Grandales pitched seven innings of dominance for his fourth win, and Yankiel Mauris closed impeccably to record his fourth save. Lázaro Fernández added a home run for the Spirituan cause.
The Las Tunas Lumberjacks crushed the Holguín Cubs 12-1 with a grand slam from Osmani Urrutia Jr., and a flawless performance from Yosmel Garcés, who allowed no earned runs in five innings.
Meanwhile, the Granma Alazanes defeated the Villa Clara Leopards 1-0 in the called game, driven by the effectiveness of César García and Juan Danilo Pérez, and benefited by an error that decided the duel.
The Guantánamo Indians left the basement by defeating the Ciego de Ávila Tigers 5-4 with a home run from Greyson Bergery, while the Mayabeque Hurricanes prevailed 5-2 over the Isla de la Juventud Pirates and the Cienfuegos Elephants laid out the Pinar del Río Vegueros 5-4.
This Thursday, Santiago de Cuba will play a double-header against Camagüey to make up the suspended match from Tuesday, as will Villa Clara and Granma, who will also face off twice at the Augusto César Sandino.
