Havana, July 29 (RHC)-- The Leñadores de Las Tunas became this Saturday the first finalist team of the Cuban baseball championship, after defeating the Cocodrilos de Matanzas 5-4.

It was the fourth success in six outings for the Tunas team, which for the first time beat the Matanzas team in a post-season series after losing three in a row.

In the fourth inning, the Tuneros scored two runs to definitively take control of the game. After that chapter the slate was full of zeros although there were threats from both sides.

Reliever Keniel Ferraz maintained his undefeated record in the postseason in four decisions, a performance that confirmed him as one of the main men of the Tunero bullpen.

Matanzas internationals Andrys Pérez and Yurisbel Gracial each hit home runs with the bases clean that served to tie the score and go ahead on the board momentarily against left-handed starter Ángel Sánchez.

In the eighth inning the Leñadores' hitter, Alberto Pablo Civil, got a key run in the middle of tactical plays by both sides that included a stolen base, an intentional bunt and a bunt attempt by sixth baseman Eduardo Blanco that killed the inning with the possible tying run at second base.

With this victory the leaders in the regular campaign secured their pass for the third time to the discussion of the most coveted title of the national sport.

In the 2017-2018 tournament, the Tuneros lost for the gold against Granma in seven games and in the following tournament they were proclaimed champions by defeating Villa Clara in only five games in the final.

Matanzas was definitely in fourth place in the championship and finished without a podium for the second time in the last 12 years.

On Monday, the other semifinal series will resume in the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba, where the host team will seek to even the duel that benefits Industriales by 3-2.