Alexei Ramirez

Havana, March 18 (JIT) - Ciego de Avila beat Holguin 7x6 and took advantage of Las Tunas' defeat to stay alone at the top of the 63rd National Baseball Series, in a day in which former major leaguer Alexei Ramirez of Pinar left Industriales on the field.

At the Calixto García stadium, the Tigres avileños counted on the lumber of Raúl Valdés, 4-2 with a double, home run and three runs. 

Reliever Liomil González was successful, despite allowing four hits and granting two tickets in 1.2 innings.

The Cubs of Holguin showed lethal offensive inopportunity, as they left 18 runners on base by not taking advantage of their 14 singles, combined with nine tickets.

Guantánamo got rid of the monarch Las Tunas 9x1, breaking the chain of five successive successes, also as a visitor at the Julio Antonio Mella Park.

The Guaso Indians, who left 11 men in circulation, hit 11 hits including the fourth home run by Over Cremet, who tied in that leadership with Alfredo Despaigne (GRA), Oscar Valdes (IND) and Jose Noroña (MTZ).

The victory went to reliever Randy Salazar and the save to Andiovis Baró, who threw four innings with one hit. In this game, Rodolfo Rodríguez, from Guantanamo, was ejected for using an adulterated bat.

Granma won the particular sub-series against Santiago de Cuba with an 8x5 victory today. First smile of the experienced left-hander Leandro Martínez, who threw seven episodes with one hit, four strikeouts and no tickets. Guillermo García went 4-2 and Despaigne hit his fourth home run.

In Regla Schiller, Pinar del Río beat Industriales 5x4 with a decisive single by former major leaguer Alexei Ramírez at the Coloso del Cerro. In a losing cause, Oscar Valdés hit his fourth home run.

In other results, in a game of 21 runs, 29 hits and five errors, Matanzas relied on a pair of home runs by Noroña to beat Cienfuegos 12x9. Camagüey beat Villa Clara 4x1 and there were two knockouts: Mayabeque to Sancti Spíritus (12x2) and Artemisa to Isla de la Juventud (11-1).