Havana, December 24 (JIT)-- Artemisa's classification and the victory that put Las Tunas on the verge of completing the semifinalist quartet marked Saturday's day in the II Elite League of Cuban Baseball.

The Cazadores defeated the leader Matanzas 5x2 and reached 20 hits, unreachable for Sancti Spíritus, occupying the fifth place in the standings.

The game was decided in the third inning, when Dennis Laza hit a home run with two runners on. Similar hits by Raul Gonzalez and Ronmy Proenza extended the winners' lead.

Pitchers José Ignacio Bermúdez (5.0 IP, 1CL, 3H, 1K, 2BB) and Osdany Rodríguez (4.0 IP, 1CL, 4H, 1K, 1BB) earned wins and saves, respectively, while Denis Quesada suffered his fourth loss without a win.

With this result, the Artemiseños join their victims and Industriales in the group with a ticket to the post-season tournament, scheduled for January.

With two games left to complete the regular schedule, Las Tunas was one win away from becoming the fourth qualifier to the playoffs, after defeating Sancti Spíritus 8x1, although only a miracle would keep them out of the semifinals.