Photo from ACN / Agencia Cubana de Noticias
Santiago de Cuba, August 2 (RHC)-- Despite the congas and the Chinese bugle sounding against them, the Industriales team won today at the Guillermón Moncada Stadium the seventh game of the semifinal and will discuss the title of the island's baseball tournament.
With the 3-1 victory, the Azules, who have won the most championships with 12, assured their return to the final after two consecutive defeats that had evened the series against the Avispas.
Right-hander Raymond Figueredo (6.0 IP, 1CL, 4H, 5K and 2BB) made his third start in the playoff against the Santiagueros and signed his second hit, undoubtedly the most important for the Azules who will face Las Tunas for the gold.
With the score so close, the bullpen played a leading role. Frank Herrera (2.0 IP, 2H, 2K) kept the lead and Juan Xavier Peñalver earned his 15th save of the entire fair by hanging up the last run.
It was another high tension game, at the height of the existing rivalry between the protagonists of the Cuban baseball classic, decided in the fifth inning when the Azules stepped on the rubber a couple of times with four hits, among them Alberto Calderón's homer and Yasmani Tomás's single, both of which brought in the key runs.
The hosts' starter, Alberto Bisset, suffered the setback and added three of his team's four losses in the series against Industriales.
The final between Industriales and Las Tunas begins on Saturday at the Julio Antonio Mella stadium, home of the Leñadores.
Santiago de Cuba won the bronze medal after a praiseworthy performance in the season.