Pirates hold off Hurricanes and Hurricanes hold flurries in Cuban Baseball
Havana, February 4 (RHC/PL)-- The Pirates of Isla de la Juventud consummated the sweep against the current monarchs Alazanes de Granma, while the Mayabeque Hurricanes extended their stay at the top of Cuba's main baseball tournament.
In an unexpected twist of history, the Filibusteros fulfilled their destiny on familiar ground, playing at the Cristóbal Labra stadium, and defeated the Granmenses 1-0, thanks to the work of starter Dorvis Navarro and reliever Kendry Hernández.
In front of a crowd full of emotion, Navarro (1-1) was immense during seven complete chapters, allowing no runs, only one hit and giving away two tickets against one of the most consolidated offensive lineups of the championship.
The epilogue of the match also found another hero in the figure of Hernández (two), who scored his second save after two perfect innings, as no opponent touched the pads when his spikes touched the pitching board.
Although he did not achieve his goal, the Alazanes' pitching was a worthy opponent, with outstanding performances by César García (0-2, 6.0, 1C, 6H, 4K, 5BB), Kelbis Rodríguez (0.2, 1BB), Miguel Paralelo (0.1) and Carlos Santana (1.0, 1H).
The only batter capable of scoring two hits was starter Aquimo Jiménez (4-2); however, the loudest applause went to outfielder Leonardo Urgellés, who drove in the last run of the game.
Likewise, Mayabeque once again overcame Ciego de Avila (3-0) to ratify that it is serious in the race, after the accurate dominance of Marlon Vega (2-0, 3.2, 0C, 2H, 2K, 2BB), while the setback ended in the service sheet of Fernando Betanzos (0-1, 5.2, 3C, 4H, 3K).
In other results in the closing of the third private subseries, Leones de Industriales knocked out Cachorros de Holguín 19-8, Vegueros de Pinar del Río defeated Indios de Guantánamo 9-8 and Avispas de Santiago de Cuba defeated Cazadores de Artemisa 6-1.
Also, Elefantes de Cienfuegos and Leñadores de las Tunas defeated Toros de Camagüey (5-4) and Azucareros de Villa Clara (10-7), respectively, while the challenge between Cocodrilos de Matanzas-Gallos de Sancti Spíritus was suspended due to Covid-19 positive cases in the ranks of the latter team.
Thus, Mayabeque (6-1) leads the standings, ahead of Santiago (6-2), Matanzas (6-2), Ciego de Avila (5-3), Pinar (5-3), Isla (5-3), Villa Clara (4-3) and Industriales in the eight places that give access to the playoffs of the competition, whose voice of "to play" was heard last January 23.
