Havana, May 27 (RHC) The defending champions Alazanes de Granma opened Thursday with a firm step in the postseason of the 61st National Baseball Series, by beating Industriales 8x2.

Havana, May 27 (RHC)-- The defending champions Alazanes de Granma opened Thursday with a firm step in the postseason of the 61st National Baseball Series, by beating Industriales 8x2.

The team led by Carlos Martí hit 12 hits, including three home runs and a double, to support the work of three pitchers: starter César García and relievers Miguel Paralelo and Kelbis Rodríguez.

García worked seven innings, allowed six singles and two clean runs, with four strikeouts and one walk to earn his sixth win of the tournament against four setbacks.

For his part, Paralelo pitched one third and allowed one hit, and Rodríguez pitched one and two thirds innings with only one hit allowed.

The Blue's starter, Pedro Álvarez, was the one to lose, giving up six hits and five scoreless runs in four episodes and two thirds, with two passports granted.

For the Gran Menses offense, starter Lázaro Alfredo Cedeño batted 3-2 with a home run, two runs batted in and two runs scored; center fielder Francisco Jesús Venecia was 3-2 with two runs scored; catcher Iván Prieto was 4-2 with a home run, three runs batted in and one run scored; and shortstop Osvaldo Abreu was 4-2 with one run batted in.

The other home run of the starters was hit by first baseman and left fielder Guillermo Avilés.

For Industriales, center fielder Roberto Acevedo hit two singles in four visits to the plate, as did designated player Jorge Alomá.

The Huracanes from Mayabeque also started their quarter-final series against the Tigres de Ciego de Avila with a 6x1 success, with an attack of 11 hits, including four runs.

The victory went to starter Yadián Martínez (9-8), who in seven innings accepted only one dirty run, with seven hits allowed and the same number of strikeouts.

Firefighter Marlon Vega pitched the last two innings to earn his 13th save of the tournament, with two hits allowed and one batter retired on strikes.

Yander Guevara (7-5) suffered the setback by allowing 10 hits and six clean sheets in seven chapters and one third.

Meanwhile, the Vegueros de Pinar del Río tied the duel against the Gallos de Sancti Spíritus by knocking them out in eight episodes with a score of 12x2 and an offense of 18 hits, including a triple by outfielder Yaser Julio González. Erlis Casanova (10-3) was the winner and José Eduardo Santos (8-4) was the loser.

Finally, the Cocodrilos of Matanzas also tied their game against the Leñadores de Las Tunas, with a 3-1 win by left-hander Yamichel Pérez (7-4), the third save by Naykel Cruz and a loss by starter Alejandro Meneses (9-2).

Today, Friday, the Huracanes will face the Tigres and the Alazanes will face the Leones. The other two play offs will be rescheduled.