Villa Clara beat Artemisa 6-0 with a two-hit shutout to keep its eyes fixed on clinching the eighth and last ticket to the postseason phase of the Cuban National Baseball Series.

Havana, May 19 (ACN) - Villa Clara beat Artemisa by a score of 6-0 with a two-hit shutout to stay fixed on clinching the eighth and last ticket to the postseason phase of the Cuban National Baseball Series.

Mentor Pedro Jova's Azucareros scored the decisive four runs in the second inning with three hits, including a double by Magdiel Gómez, as well as taking advantage of an error.

The best lumber in the lineup was the torpedo Cristian Rodríguez, who hit 4-2 and drove in a run. Oscar Hernández, who in five innings allowed only one hit and struck out five.

The Azucareros, who now have a 38-35 record, will finish this Thursday the completion of the postponed games of the qualifying stage, with a doubleheader against Artemisa and Mayabeque.

If the central islanders win both games, they would close with a balance of 40-35 and equalize with Pinar del Rio, but they would get the coveted eighth and last ticket to the playoffs, because they won the particular series against Vegueros de Pinar.

Sancti Spíritus (45-30), Las Tunas (43-32), Granma (43-32), Mayabeque (41-33), Industriales (40-33), Ciego de Ávila (41-34) and Matanzas (40-35) have already qualified. 

The other thing to be defined is the order in the table between Industriales and Mayabeque.