Cubs Fall in Tough Battle to Roosters and Lose Top Spot

Without four of their regulars, including the third, fourth, and fifth hitters in the lineup. The Holguin Cubs fell 1-0 to the Sancti Spiritus Roosters, who thus achieved their third victory in the twelfth games of the LXIV National Baseball Series.

It was a great duel between the losing pitcher, Carlos Santiesteban (5-3), and the winning pitcher, José Isaías Grandales (7-4). Who earned the win by allowing only two singles in nine innings. While striking out 11 and issuing three walks (one intentional) and hitting one batter.

Santiesteban (7.0 IP, ER 1, H 5, K 7, BB 2, BI 1) allowed the first run in the seventh inning when fifth batter Daniel Fernández led off with a single, Yasser García advanced him to second with a sacrifice bunt, and Frederich Cepeda Jr. drove him in with a double to right field. Securing the win for the second consecutive game.

In the eighth, Holguin got their first hit, a leadoff single by Edward Magaña. Luis Miguel Santiesteban then drew a pitch, and Magaña, on a risky play, stole third base. However, with runners on second and third and no outs, Grandales struck out Arley Poll, Nelson Batista, and Marcos Fonseca in a row.

The Cubs threatened again in the ninth when Adriel Hechavarría led off with a single, Luis Raúl Domínguez sacrificed him to second, Jorlis Bravo received an intentional walk, and Hechavarría stole third.

Then Carlos Barrabí struck out, and Jorlis stole second. Ernesto Torres, who hadn’t started as the regular, came in to pinch-hit for Andrys Agüero and was caught by a great fielding play from third baseman Lázaro Fernández, ending a hard-fought game.

In summary, the Gallos had six hits and committed one error, while the Cubs had two hits and played flawless defense. This Saturday, Lugdis Pineda announced Frank Navarro (1-0, 1 save, 0.64 ERA, and .204 opponent batting average) as the starting pitcher. Also while the home team will rely on left-hander Yohannys Hernández (3-0, 1 save, 2.66 ERA, and .202 opponent batting average).

On the same day, Matanzas routed Camagüey 14-4, Industriales earned their fourth victory against Santiago de Cuba, 8-7, Mayabeque defeated Ciego de Avila 13-2, and Villa Clara blanked Cienfuegos 4-0.

The Las Tunas-Artemisa game was postponed, and the scheduled Pinar del Rio-Granma game was not played due to insufficient rest for both teams. Caused by a prolonged power outage in the area of ​​their hotel.

The top of the standings now looks like this: Matanzas (37-22); Industriales (35-21, 0.5 ERA, .625 AVG); Las Tunas (33-20, 1.0 ERA, .623 AVG); Holguin (36-22, 0.5 ERA, .621 AVG); Mayabeque (32-24, 3.5 ERA, .571 AVG); Cienfuegos and Artemisa (31-24, 4.0 ERA, .564 AVG); and Sancti Spiritus (32-27, 5.0 ERA, .564 AVG).