63 National Baseball Series
Las Tunas, June 30 (RHC) - Leñadores de Las Tunas confirmed their superiority over Ciego de Avila at their home grounds and obtained their second success in the quarterfinals of the 63rd National Baseball Series.
Last year's champion team turned the scoreboard around with three runs in the seventh inning to seal the 5x3 with which they travel comfortably to Ciego de Ávila in search of two more wins to reach the semifinals of the championship.
The Leñadores' offense took advantage of the end of the work of the rookie starter Ediel Ponce (6.0IP, 1CL, 3H, 4K, 6BB) to attack the Tigres' bullpen.
In the so-called lucky inning, the Tuneros combined three hits with an equal number of tickets, two of them intentional and an error in the field to complete the trio of scores that defined the game.
Reliever Keniel Ferraz got the hit, Alberto Pablo Civil got the 27th out to earn his ninth save of the championship, while also reliever Kevin Soto suffered the setback.
This was Las Tunas' seventh straight victory over their rivals in postseason games, a streak that includes the 4-0 sweep in the quarterfinals of the last national series.
With a 2-0 record, both teams will travel to Ciego de Avila, where they will resume the match this Monday.
In the westernmost of the provinces, Sancti Spíritus drew its duel with Pinar del Río after winning 2-0 with a quality opening game by José Eduardo Santos.
In another playoff game, rain forced to seal the match between Matanzas and Granma with a 5x2 advantage for the Cocodrilos in the eighth inning when the Alazanes had two men on base and one out.
That game will be concluded on Sunday, according to the Cuban National Baseball Commission through its profile on the digital social network X.
Industriales and Santiago de Cuba will also clash for the third time at Havana's Latin American Stadium in a series dominated 2-0 by the Avispas.