A strong start by left-hander Uberleydis Estévez and timely hitting led the Holguin Cubs to their second victory over the Artemisa Hunters, 6-3, maintaining their lead in the 64th National Baseball Series.
The Holguin team, who tallied eight hits, scored their first two runs in the second inning when Jorlis Bravo (4-1) homered to right field with a runner on base. They then added two more runs in the third and fourth innings to complete their tally, all charged to starter Andy Luis Pérez (4-3).
Estévez, now with a 2-1 record, pitched 6 1/3 innings. Allowing two runs on three hits, three strikeouts, and three walks.
Although Jesús Enrique Pérez was ineffective when he entered the game in the seventh inning. He later corrected his performance and allowed only one run in 2 2/3 innings, giving up five hits, striking out three, walking two, and committing one wild.
In addition to Bravo, Cristian Onofre (2-for-4) and Edward Magaña (2-for-5) stood out at the plate for the Cubs, while Lázaro Cedeño (1-for-3, 1 2B), Yasiel González (1-for-3), and Carlos Barrabí (1-for-1) each drove in a run. Barrabí was hit in the face by a pitch that required six stitches, but it did not cause any further complications.
This Thursday at their home stadium, Julio Antonio Mella, the Las Tunas Lumberjacks routed the Matanzas Crocodiles 12-2, extending their winning streak to four games and handing their opponents their fourth consecutive loss.
At the Coloso del Cerro stadium, the Camagüey Bulls rallied to defeat the Havana Industriales 9-7 in extra innings. While the Mayabeque Hurricanes secured their third consecutive victory, routing the Granma Alazanes 13-1 at Nelson Fernández stadium and climbing to sixth place in the overall standings.
The Sancti Spiritus Roosters moved up to seventh place with an 8-5 home win over the Santiago de Cuba Wasps, a team that has now lost four straight.
In other results from the day, the Guantanamo Indians defeated the Cienfuegos Elephants 7-3, and the Villa Clara Leopards edged the Pinar del Rio Vegueros 8-6. Finally, at José Ramón Cepero Stadium in Ciego de Avila, the Tigers of that province defeated the last-place Pirates of Isla de la Juventud twice. The game, originally scheduled for the previous day, was won 14-12 in eleven innings, thanks to a home run—his second of the game—by Jonathan Bridón, which drove in two runners.
In the second game, the Tigers won 4-1 with another home run by Bridón, this one with the bases loaded. Bridón drove in eight runs in the two games.
After Thursday’s results, the playoff positions are as follows: Holguin (27-14); Las Tunas (25-13, 0.5 points behind); Industriales (25-15, 1.5 points behind). Matanzas (26-17, 2.0 points behind); Artemisa (22-17, 4.0 points behind). Mayabeque (23-18, 4.0 points behind). Sancti Spiritus (23-19, 4.5 ERA) and Santiago de Cuba (21-18, 5.0 ERA).
This Friday, the Holguin Cubs and the Artemisa Hunters will face off for the third time at 26 de Julio Stadium, starting at 10:00 a.m. At the same time, the Wasps and Roosters will play, as well as the Chestnuts and Hurricanes.
- Cubs defeat Hunters again and maintain lead in the national series - 8 de November de 2025
- Cubs’ First Strike in Mayabeque - 24 de October de 2025
- Hurricanes knock out Holguin Cubs - 23 de October de 2025