Hurricanes knock out Holguin Cubs

Once again stripped of their main strengths, the Holguin Cubs succumbed for the second day to the Mayabeque Hurricanes. This time by a 12-1 knockout in seven innings, as the eighth match of the 64th National Baseball Series continued.

On the grass of Nelson Fernández Stadium, there seemed to be only one team, the home team, capable of hitting 11 hits. Including a double and three home runs, and committing a single error.

Meanwhile, Albert Valladares (3-2), who pitched seven innings, struck out four and walked four, while allowing only four hits, with a double as his only extra-base hit, off the bat of Jorlis Bravo (3-1), who incidentally drove in his team’s only run with a sacrifice fly. The visiting defense committed a pair of blunders that led to three runs.

Yonathan Martínez stood out in the Hurricanes’ productive offense, going 3-for-5 with a home run and five RBIs. Also voting for the winners were Yoasán Guillén (3-2) and Frank Alfonso (3-1, 2 RBIs).

José Antonio Sánchez (1-2) failed in his first start of the series, allowing six runs, four of them earned, in 1 1/3 innings. He was hit twice, one of them a home run, walked two, and struck out two.

In relief, Andriw Valido allowed three runs, two earned, in 3 1/3 innings, and Yadir Bornot allowed three earned runs in 1 1/3.

This Wednesday was a festive day for the basement players, as at Cristóbal Labra Stadium. The bottom-placed Piratas de la Isla defeated the top-ranked Cocodrilos de Matanzas for the second day, this time 12-4.

The defending champions Leñadores de Las Tunas, visiting the Augusto César Sandino Stadium, lost 3-1 to the Leopardos de Villa Clara. At the Latinoamericano Stadium, the Indios de Guantanamo dominated the Industriales de La Habana 6-4 to continue the underdog rebellion.

The Cazadores de Artemisa and the Alazanes de Granma split the honors at Campechuela’s 26 de Diciembre Stadium. Granma triumphed 4-3 early in the match, and in the second game, which went to 10 innings, the Artemiseños fought back 7-4, creating a three-way tie for third place.