A comfortable victory (9-1) and a losing streak (0-3) were the Sunday harvest for the Holguin Cubs against the Vegueros de Pinar del Rio at Captain San Luis Stadium during the fifth game of the 64th National Baseball Series.
On Saturday, the Holguin Cubs scored three runs against starter Leodán Reyes (1-3) in 2 2/3 innings. All driven in by a home run by Lázaro Cedeño (6th), decisive in the victory of the game that concluded this Sunday after being rained out.
The Cubs continued their offensive momentum on Sunday, scoring four runs, three earned, off first reliever Mario Luis del Hoyo and two earned runs off Juan Luis Hernández in 1 1/3 innings.
Holguin starter Wilson Pardes was effective again, allowing one single in three complete innings while striking out three batters. However, due to pitching restrictions, he was unable to restart the game. A task that Michel Cabrera duly took on for Mercer, giving him his fourth win of the season without a loss.
Cabrera pitched four innings, allowing one earned run, four hits, three strikeouts, two walks, and two hit by pitch. Ramiro Rodríguez dominated the six batters he faced, three of them via strikes.
In short, the winners hit eleven hits, while the losers hit five, in an error-free game.
For Holguin, in addition to Cedeño (5-2, 4 RBI), Yasiel González (3-2, 2 RBI) also hit his sixth home run, all on earned bases. The scheduled seven-inning second game was rained out when Holguin. Batting in the bottom of the fourth inning with one out, lost 3-0.
Right-hander José Antonio Sánchez, starting for the first time in this series, allowed two earned runs, with three doubles and four walks, two of them intentional.
Reliever José Miguel Rodríguez got four of the five batters he faced, one by striking out, but couldn’t prevent Luis Pablo Acosta. Leading off the fourth inning, from blasting a ball to left field. His first home run of the contest and only his third hit in 31 official at-bats (AVE 96).
Meanwhile, Pinar del Rio starter Yosvani Martínez, already having a strong relief role in the subseries, was effective again. With a walk and three singles, two by Cedeño and the other by Yasiel.
Meanwhile, Santiago de Cuba ended a five-game losing streak this Sunday with a 9-6 victory over the Cienfuegos Elephants. A result that propelled them back into second place in the series.
In other results, Matanzas consolidated its lead with a 12-8 victory over Guantanamo at the Nguyen Van Troi Stadium, Villa Clara upset Industriales 12-7 at the Latinoamericano. While Artemisa blanked Ciego de Avila 6-0 to move up to third place with the team from the capital.
In other matches, Las Tunas and Mayabeque split the doubleheader, as did Sancti Spiritus and Granma. While Camagüey defeated Isla de la Juventud 9-4.
At the end of the first third of a 75-game championship, the Cocodrilos (20-5) are followed by the Santiago de Cuba Wasps (16-7 at 3.0). The Industriales Lions, and the Artemisa Hunters (15-7 at 3.5).
Completing the privileged segment are: Las Tunas (14-8 at 4.5), Holguin (15-9 at 4.5). Sancti Spiritus (14-11 at 6.0), and Camagüey (13-12 at 7.0).
Starting this Tuesday, the 7th, Holguin hosts the Las Tunas Lumberjacks with the game scheduled for Thursday. The 9th, at the Orlando Proenza Vera Stadium in Buenaventura, in the municipality of Calixto Garcia.
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