Photo: Noire Aguilera

Yasiel González returns to the starting lineup with the Cubs’ victory

Right-hander Yasiel González returned to the starting lineup and, going 3-for-5 with his first home run and walk-off hit, became the hero of the Holguin Cubs‘ 7-6 victory over the Guantanamo Indians at Calixto García Stadium, in the second game of the 64th National Baseball Series.

The Holguin Cubs took control in the first inning when, after two outs, they hit three consecutive hits off Yoandro Daudinot (6 RBI, 7 H, 3 ER, 5 K), including Michael Gorgüet’s first home run, which drove in three runs.

Against starter Wilson Paredes (5 RBI, 2 RBI, 2 K, 2 BB), the Guantanamo team scored one run in the fourth on a home run by Robert Luis Delgado (4-2) and another in the fifth on a double by Alexis Laborde (3-2) and an RBI single by Yasmani Velázquez (3-1).

The Cubs scored their fourth run in the seventh on a single by Adriel Hechavarría (4-2), walks to Luis Raúl Domínguez (3-2) and Cristian Onofre, and a sacrifice fly by Edward Magaña. They added two runs in the eighth on a home run by Yasiel, another hit by pitch, a pair of walks, and a wild pitch to make it 6-2.

Michel Cabrera (1-0), the eventual winner, replaced Paredes in the sixth and managed to score three consecutive runs, leading by four in the ninth.

In that inning, Cabrera (4 RBI, 6 H, 4 ER, 1 K, 2 BB, 1 WP) showed signs of fatigue, and the Indians tied the game with four hits, three consecutive, two doubles, and a walk.

In the bottom of the ninth, against visiting reliever Aurelio Delgado (0-2), who was losing, Onofre reached on a fielding error by the first baseman, reached second on a pitcher’s mistake on Magaña’s sacrifice fly, and scored the decisive run on a shot to right by Yasiel.

For Wednesday’s game, the Cubs will rely for the second time on the returning Carlos Santiesteban (1-0), who already had a strong five-inning start in which he didn’t allow a run. Allowed only three singles, struck out three, and walked two.

On Tuesday, a three-way tie at the top of the national series was played by the Matanzas Crocodiles, the Sancti Spiritus Roosters, and the Santiago de Cuba Wasps.

The Matanzas team knocked out the Villa Clara Leopards 14-4 at their Victoria de Girón Stadium, with a 16-hit effort. The Roosters, also hosting the game at José Antonio Huelga Stadium, defeated the Ciego de Avila Tigers 4-2, thanks to the effective pitching of José Isaías Grandales (1-0) and a home run by Lázaro Fernández.

Meanwhile, at Guillermón Moncada Stadium, the Santiago de Cuba team lost their unbeaten record after being defeated by the Pinar del Rio Vegueros 22-0 in just five innings. Alexei Ramírez and William Saavedra homered, and Gabriel Cantero earned the win from the mound.

In other results, Granma defeated Camagüey 9-1, fueled by 19 hits; and Las Tunas routed Isla de la Juventud 10-2 with a grand slam by Henry Quintero.
The Artemisa-Cienfuegos and Mayabeque-Industriales games were rained out and continue this Wednesday.

The top of the standings is as follows: Santiago de Cuba, Matanzas, Sancti Spiritus (5-1); Industriales (4-1), Artemisa (3-1); Las Tunas and Holguin (4-2); and Camagüey, Pinar, and Granma (3-3).

Noire Aguilera Montaña
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