Leñadores vs. Vegueros

Pinar del Río, July 21 (JIT) - Leñadores de Las Tunas hit 15 hits to back up their 9x1 victory over Pinar del Río, at the beginning of the final of the 63rd National Baseball Series.

Visiting the Capitán San Luis stadium, the Tunas players produced a decisive three-run cluster in the very first inning, which would have been enough to clinch the victory. 

They took advantage of their initial opportunity to hit five hits against the defeated starter Mario Valle, who was barely able to get two outs, although a costly error by catcher Yasiel Agete put the three runs in the books as unearned.

For the win, the Leñadores relied on their leadoff man and sixth hitter Yordanis Alarcón, who went 5-4, with a double and two runs. Outfielder Denis Peña (4-2), in another excellent season, hit Teammate 190 out of the park and drove in three runs. In addition, he had a pair of defensive masterpieces.

Seventh victory for left-hander Eliander Bravo, after throwing 6.0 chapters with four hits, while Rodolfo Díaz earned his 13th save, with solid relief of three innings in which he barely tolerated a single.

“Before starting the game, my coach and I make a study of each of the opposing hitters, looking for the pitch they connect with the most difficulty. I am very happy with my undefeated record in the postseason,” commented Bravo in an exclusive interview with JIT.

Las Tunas, which is seeking its second successive crown, now has a historical record of four wins without defeats in the first games of the finals in which it has participated. 

The team from Pinar del Río shows “the other side of the coin”, with only one success in the first games of the 10 championship contests in which it has been a protagonist.

This Monday there will be no game due to the fact that the date was decreed as a National Mourning on the Island. For the second game of this final, next Tuesday, the mentors of both teams announced their respective starters: Yunier Zamora (LTU) and Branlis Rodríguez (PRI).