The Ciego de Ávila squad, with good pitching by Fernando Betanzo and an offense of 11 hits, began its tour for the west region with a victory by winning 5x3 and, incidentally, broke the undefeated streak of the current runner-up Matanzas, by continuing this Saturday, at the Víctoria de Girón stadium, the 61 National Baseball Series.
It was not Betanzo who was credited with the success, but the six full innings of work, with only four hits to his account, earned him applause. Due to the vagaries of this sport, the winner was Kevin Soto, despite only facing two batters and allowing one hit.
For the losers, who until this match had four wins in a row, the left-handed ace Yoani Yera did not have good luck either. In seven full innings, he struck out ten Ciego de Ávila players and left the team with a two-run lead, but those who followed him could not preserve it.
First third
The first third was quite calm for the two pitchers. Yoani Yera only allowed a double by Rubén Valdés in the third, but then dominated the next two batsmen.
On the Ciego de Ávila side, Fernando Betanzo had the biggest complication in the first inning due to a double by Ariel Sánchez and an error by right fielder Leovanys Pérez, who interfered with teammate Danny Luaces' fielding on an easy hit by Jefferson Delgado.
With runners on second and third bases, there was a fly ball to the central ranger and Sánchez's “step on-run” attempt was frustrated by an accurate shot by Luaces with the collaboration of the Fadraga mask.
Second third
The Ciego de Ávila team were the first to score because in the fourth a double by Abdel Civil found Yorbis Borroto in first. The Yumurinos responded with a pitch to Jefferson, a double by Arrubarruena and a sacrifice fly by Yariel Duque. The evils were not greater thanks to tremendous fielding by Leovanys in the right meadow.
The locals took the lead in the sixth when, after two outs, Arruebaruena got a hit and Duque brought it home with a two-base hit.
Last third
Liomil González took charge of the Ciego de Ávila box in the seventh and with singles from Eduardo Blanco and Aníbal Medina, combined with a wild pitch, allowed the Yumurinos to tie. Kevin Soto got the last out of that inning. The advantage of the hosts was then two lines.
Armando Dueñas came to work for Yera in the eighth and the reception was not friendly: three straight doubles from Leosvanys, Borroto and Raulito to level the score at three. The one with the advantage was brought by Fadraga with a cannon to the central defender against reliever Carlos Álvarez.
Yorelvis Charles' men added another in the ninth for a hit by Alexander Jiménez, a walk to Borroto and a driving rocket by Yuddiel González against the second firefighter, Haykel Parra. It was all that “el matador” Yosvany Ávalos needed to score the point for saved game, since he did not allow freedoms in two full innings of work.
Supersonic
Be careful with the momentum: Leosvany Pérez should be very helpful for Ciego de Ávila team in the outfield, but he must control his explosiveness. He has already been seen three times trying to field balls that belong to another outfielder.
In third will be the charm?: Yosvany Ávalos, who twice last year was on the verge of joining the Cuba Sub 23 team, seems to want to make true those that in the third… The boy has already added two saved games at the start of the campaign.
Like the wine: Despite his seniority, Yorbis Borroto, today, is essential in the aspirations of Los Tigres. This Saturday he fired three rockets in four at-bats, with two RBIs and one scored.
Other results
Mayabeque was the only team that was able to keep the losing score unblemished by beating Sancti Spíritus 8-2, while Pinar del Río also came out the narrow door by losing to Santiago de Cuba 5-0.
Industriales came from below and defeated Granma 8x4, while Isla de la Juventud achieved its first success in the competition by beating Holguín 9x6. Guantanamo smiled against Artemisa 5x3, as did Villa Clara against Camagüey 10x2.