Havana, April 3 (ACN) - In one of the best games of the tournament, Ciego de Avila confirmed its leadership by defeating Industriales 1-0 in the Cuban baseball season.
The game was tied at zero runs in the eighth inning when the Tigers scored to add their 16th hit with only two losses and move four runs ahead of their pursuers in the standings, Pinar and Camagüey.
The winning run was driven in by Ronaldo Castillo with a single to ensure the undefeated pace of pitcher Luis Marrero, who in seven innings struck out five and remains undefeated at 3-0.
The Toros de Camagüey moved up to second place shared with their Tuesday's victim, the team from Pinar del Río, which they defeated 5-1.
In the game, the Camagüeyans counted on a successful start by Ángel Luis Márquez (6.2IP, 1CL, 6K) and a home run by Erminio Escobar.
The Alazanes de Granma reaffirmed their position as the team with the most home runs by hitting four to defeat the Cocodrilos de Matanzas 18-10.
Guillermo García (4-2), Yuniesky Remón (6-4), Darián Palma (5-2) and Alexquemer Sánchez (6-3) led the way for the eastern team and each had a trio of runs.
For the Yumurinos, Yoisnel Camejo (3-1), Yariel Duque (4-1) and Eduardo Blanco (5-2) homered, the latter with four RBIs.
After more than a week without playing, the Leñadores de Las Tunas, reigning national champions, beat the Elefantes de Cienfuegos 10-9 in a close duel to stay in the classification zone.
Rafael Viñales went 3-2 with three runs at the plate and Yordanys Alarcón hit two singles and a double to bring two teammates home.
Santiago de Cuba defeated Mayabeque 6-3 despite Dennis Laza's fifth complete game hit, in a game where Danny Betancourt reached his 164th win in the National Series.
Sancti Spiritus broke its streak of nine consecutive defeats by disposing of Guantanamo 6-2, thanks to a home run with bases loaded by Alejandro Escobar and Holguin was defeated 10-3 by La Isla with a home run by Yordan Manduley.
Finally, Artemisa won 6-4 against Villa Clara in a game where Andy Cosme and Osmel Solano homered for the winners and Mailon Tomás Alfonso hit two for Villa Clara. José Angel García saved his third game of the season, and now has 301 in his career.
After Ciego de Avila (16-2), Pinar del Rio and Camagüey (12-6), Industriales and Granma (11-7) and reigning champion Las Tunas (7-6) are in the top positions.
Then come Matanzas and Artemisa (9-9), La Isla (6-7), Mayabeque (8-10), Villa Clara and Santiago de Cuba (7-11) and Cienfuegos, Guantánamo, Holguín and Sancti Spíritus (6-12).
Sources: ACN and PL
