With a knockout of 10-0 in five innings, the Cachorros of Holguin avoided a sweep against the Alazanes of Granma on Sunday at the Calixto García stadium in the game that closed the first half of the VIII National Series of U23 Baseball.
Seven of those runs were scored by the Holguin team in the first inning, four against the starting pitcher and loser Mario Carrillo (0-1), to whom all four batters he faced hit singles, and the other three against Julio Antonio Rodríguez. Who also did not record an out after allowing a single and issuing two walks.
In a lost cause, Yoan Sánchez provided effective relief for four innings without allowing runs and only four hits, but the Holguin team took advantage of the wildness of José Tornés and Alex Ricardo, who each issued two walks, to touch home plate three times and complete the knockout.
On the opposing side, right-hander Arley Espinosa (1-0) stood tall like a colossus. In the five innings of labor, only three batters reached first base, two by walks and one by an infield hit. In Holguin’s offense, out of ten hits, Andriw Valido (2-2, 1 2B, 2 RBIs), Geosvelis Poll (3-2, 2 RBIs), and Christian Onofre (3-2, 1 RBI) stood out.
On Saturday, the Alazanes won twice, 5-3 in the first game, coming from behind, with a victory for Yurisel Rivera (1-1), a relief loss for Juan Luis Matos (0-1), a save by Yurisén Blanco (2nd), and a home run by Leonardo Alarcón (1st).
Granma’s second Saturday victory was 4-2 with a win for Alexei Ricardo (1-1), a loss for Estiven Rodríguez (0-1), and a save by Blanco (3rd). At the Guillermón Moncada stadium, the Avispas from Santiago de Cuba won the match 2-1 against the Indios from Guantanamo, winning twice this Sunday, 8-1 and a knockout in five innings of 12-1.
In the previous day, the Guantanameros had won 6-4 in eight innings. Now the Group D standings are as follows: Granma, Santiago de Cuba and Holguin (5-4) and Guantanamo (3-6).
During this Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, the Cachorros will host the Santiago Avispas. Which will mark the farewell to their fans in this tournament that only has eighteen games in its qualifying stage.
Translated by Aliani Rojas Fernandez
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