A hit by left-handed starter Yariel Duque towed the score that clinched the 5-4 victory of the Matanzas Crocodiles against the Espiritu Roosters, in the first game of this semifinal matchup of the 61st National Baseball Series.

Sancti Spíritus, June 10 (ACN)-- A hit by left-handed starter Yariel Duque towed the score that clinched the 5-4 victory of the Matanzas Crocodiles against the Espiritu Roosters, in the first game of this semifinal matchup of the 61st National Baseball Series.

The scoreboard of the José Antonio Huelga stadium was tied 4-4 in the top of the ninth inning, in which Erisbel Arruebarrena hit a double to the reliever Yankiel Mauri and the mentor Eriel Sánchez replaced him with the left-handed Ariel Zerquera to work Duque, who threw away that indication with his golden single.

He (Zerquera) had already worked me and put me in trouble with breaking pitches in the lower zone. But I prepared myself for another similar one because I thought he would repeat me, he stayed a little higher and I was able to hit the single to center, commented the strong Duque in an interview with ACN at the end of the duel.

The Saurians had taken an early lead in the first inning with a run without a hit, but they took good advantage of the two tickets of starter Yuen Socarrás.

But the hosts equalized in that episode with a single by the crack Frederich Cepeda and, after an uncorrect move by the left-handed starter Dariel Góngora, Yunier Mendoza's propulsive hit.

In the second inning, the visitors' defense failed, and with two errors by the bartender Yadil Mujica and a biangular by Magdiel Gómez against Góngora, the Gallos took the lead again, now 3-1, while the fourth run was towed by Cepeda in the fourth inning, all against Góngora.

Meanwhile, the Saurios scored one in the fifth, another in the seventh and one more in the eighth, leaving the table set for Duque's golden jit in the ninth.

Meanwhile, Noervys Entenza pitched an excellent 2.1 innings of relief with just one hit and earned the victory. Yankiel Mauri, who did not have his best day, took the setback.

José Eduardo Santos and Yamichel Pérez, for Gallos and Cocodrilos, were announced as starters for tomorrow,