At the end of the first inning, the Camagüey Bulls were defeating the Holguin Cubs 5-0 at Calixto García Stadium. It seemed highly unlikely that the home team would achieve a 9-8 victory that would place them in second place in the 64th National Baseball Series.
Young left-hander Andriw Valido’s first start proved completely ineffective. As he failed to get an out, and of the five batters he faced, four hit against him. Including a home run and a double, and the other drew a walk.
The first rescuer, fellow left-hander Uberleydis Estévez, came in hesitantly but managed to pitch five innings with three runs. When Michel Cabrera entered the sixth inning, with no outs and a runner on second, the scoreboard showed Camagüey leading 8-6.
The Holguin team had already scored one run in the second inning on a solo home run by Carlos Barrabí (3-2). Added two more on a three-run homer by Lázaro Cedeño (5-2, 4 RBI), his eighth of the championship and 99th of his career. Which helped get starter Edgar Suárez off the mound (4 1/3 runs, 7 runs, 6 strikeouts, 6 strikeouts, 1 run, 3 bases). In the bottom of the sixth, the Holguin team scored another run to close the scoreboard to 7-8.
Cabrera (5-1), the winner, managed to go four scoreless innings. Also despite being hit seven times, with three strikeouts and three walks, two of them intentional.
The Toros led by one in the ninth, but a home run by Michael Gorgüet (5-2, 3 RBI), his second of the afternoon. Tied the score at bat time, and a walk to Ernesto Torres by defeated reliever Félix Guerrero (0-2). With the bases loaded, decided the game (9-8).
In an error-free game, the winners connected 14 hits, three fewer than the losers. For Holguin, in addition to Gorgüet, Cedeño, and Barrabí, Ernesto Torres (5-2, RBI) and Jorlis Bravo (4-2) stood out with their bats.
For Camagüey, Leonel Moas (4-4) and Alexander Ayala (6-3, 2 2B, 2 RBI) stood out offensively. While Yordanis Samón went 2-for-4, Reinaldo Almanza with a home run. And Eglys Eugellés drove in two, while Rafael Álvarez homered.
This Wednesday, the reigning champions, the Las Tunas Leñadores, defeated the Santiago de Cuba Wasps 9-6. Creating a three-way tie for third place in the standings.
For the winners, Yordanis Alarcón, Luis Antonio Pérez, and Henry Quintero, the latter with four RBIs in the game. Made a run for the ball for the second consecutive day.
Francisco Martínez, Yoelquis Guibert, and Yoel Yanki, the latter of whom earned a 14th RBI of the season. Reaffirming their lead in the department, also hit home runs in the losing effort.
The Mayabeque Hurricanes, visiting the 5 de Septiembre Stadium. Defeated the Cienfuegos Elephants 18-5 and remained firmly in the qualifying zone.
In another match, the Granma Alazanes defeated the Guantanamo Indians 6-4, and finally, the Pinar del Rio Vegueros, after six straight losses, defeated the bottom-placed Isla de la Juventud Pirates 5-2 to tie the series.
The Industriales-Artemisa and Villa Clara-Ciego de Avila matches were canceled due to the impact of rain. The Matanzas-Sancti Spiritus match was canceled due to an early morning power outage at the hotel where the current leaders are staying. Preventing them from getting much-needed rest.
Currently, the top of the standings are: Matanzas (22-9), Holguin (20-11 at 2.0), Industriales and Artemisa (18-10 at 2.5). Santiago de Cuba (19-11 at 2.5), Las Tunas (18-11 at 3.0), Sancti Spiritus (18-13 at 4.0), and Mayabeque (17-14 at 5.0). Camagüey (15-17 at 7.5) sits in eleventh place.
This Thursday, starting at 2:00 p.m., the third game of the seventh round of the National Series will be played.
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