Photo: Roberto Morejón/JIT

Industriales defeats Leñadores 3-1 in the final Baseball League

In another exciting pitching duel, the visiting Industriales Lions defeated the Las Tunas Leñadores 3-1. Taking a 2-1 lead in the final playoff series of the IV Cuban Elite Baseball League.

At Julio Antonio Mella Stadium, the Lions demonstrated early on their determination to tip the scales. In their favor in the pursuit of the title, currently held by Ciego de Avila.

They scored two runs in the third inning against the starting pitcher, who took the loss, Leodán Reyes. Converting a walk into three hits, including a double by Roberto Álvarez and an RBI single by the returning Yasmani Tomás, batting third.

To seal the victory, Guillermo Carmona’s team scored their third run in the fifth, driven in by Taylon Sánchez. Another player clamoring for a spot on the Cuban roster for the Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo.

With the game close and a slim 3-1 lead, Carmona pulled Sánchez from the mound and brought in Yunier Batista, who was untouchable for three innings.

In the ninth, he faced pressure from all sides. The Alarcón brothers and their teammates were up next. And they could tie the game with their powerful swings.

The young reinforcement from Ciego de Avila exchanged glances with home plate umpire Juan de Dios León. Displeased with his calls, and with Yosvani Alarcón, who was “questioning” the counts. He also had a small blister on his pitching finger.

But he didn’t abandon the mound.

“It was a clear question: if I started the relief appearance, I had to finish it. I told my pitching coach, Renier Madruga, that I wasn’t going to abandon the game. I focused, put more power into my pitches, and the job worked out,” Batista declared after his fourth save of the playoffs—he has 11.1 scoreless innings—and his 13th of the season.

Also this Sunday, both teams will play their fourth game at the same venue. Alain Sánchez will start for the Havana team, and left-hander Enyer Fernández will start for the home team.

With information from Jit

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