The Holguin Cubs broke the curse at Cristóbal Labra Stadium on Thursday. Defeating the Isla de la Juventud Pirates 4-3 in a 10-inning thriller to secure their elusive 41st victory in the 64th Cuban National Baseball Series.
The Islanders took the lead in the third inning with three hits. Including an RBI double by veteran Luis Felipe Rivera (5-3, 2 RBIs), off Michel Cabrera, in his first start of the season. Which has seen him pitch 22 games. They maintained this lead until the seventh inning.
Cabrera pitched five innings, allowing eight hits, one earned run, striking out seven, and walking two, one intentionally.
In the so-called “lucky inning,” the Cubs tied the game when Richard Oliva led off with a double. Followed by Luis Miguel Santiesteban (2-2) driving him in with a single. This chased the first reliever, Yadier Garay, who had entered the game in the previous inning with the bases loaded and two outs, and struck out Nelson Batista.
Futhermore the home team’s manager again turned to Alberto Hechavarría. Who had delivered a clutch relief appearance in Tuesday’s game, retiring all three batters he faced. However, he couldn’t prevent Oliva from scoring when Luis Raúl Domínguez grounded out to second.
In the sixth inning, Jesús Enrique Pérez came in for Holguin and pitched three scoreless innings, allowing no hits and striking out three. With the game tied at one run apiece, and Hechavarría (2-2) still on the mound, the game reached the tenth inning. Also where the Cubs scored three runs, two of them driven in by singles from Jorlis Bravo (4-1) and Michel Gorgüet (4-3).
In the bottom of the tenth, the Pirates singled and scored two runs off José Miguel Rodríguez (6-2). Who earned the win after pitching two innings with two hits, one strikeout, and one walk.
On the same day, the Las Tunas Lumberjacks and the Matanzas Crocodiles won their respective games and, with 42 wins each. Virtually secured their place in the National Series postseason.
At Estadio 5 de Septiembre, the reigning champions from Las Tunas needed 11 innings to defeat the Cienfuegos Elephants 4-2 for the third consecutive day. Meanwhile, the Cocodrilos defeated the Alazanes de Granma 10-2 at their home stadium, Mártires de Barbados, with a barrage of 16 hits, maintaining their second-place position.
At Nelson Fernández Stadium, the Huracanes de Mayabeque swept the Avispas de Santiago de Cuba, complicating their playoff hopes. They won the first game 7-0 and the second 6-5, thanks to Dennis Laza’s 13th home run of the season, which brought in two runners.
Industriales secured their third consecutive victory against the Tigres de Ciego de Avila at José Ramón Cepero Stadium. This time by a score of 9-3, keeping them in the leading pack. The Sancti Spiritus Gallos defeated the Guantanamo Indios 9-4 at Nguyen Van Troi Stadium. Climbing to sixth place in the overall standings. Meanwhile, in Camajuani, the Villa Clara Leopardos beat the Artemisa Cazadores 6-3, leaving the latter team in last place.
Finally, at Capitán San Luis Stadium, the Camagüey Toros handed the Pinar del Rio Vegueros a crushing 9-0 defeat.
The top of the standings now looks like this: Las Tunas (42-21); Matanzas (42-26, 2.5 points behind). Holguín (41-26, 3.0 points behind); Industriales and Mayabeque (39-26, 4.0 points behind). Sancti Spiritus (37-31, 7.5 points behind). Cienfuegos (34-30, 8.5 RBI) and Artemisa (34-31, 9.0 RBI).
- Leopards three wins away from the National Series postseason - 14 de January de 2026
- Seven-Game Playoff Reinstated for the Entire Postseason - 13 de January de 2026
- Cubs sweep Tigers and still aspire to second place - 26 de December de 2025