Elite League: Tabacaleros and Portuarios sweep as visitors    Photo: JIT

Havana, December 19 (RHC)-- The qualifying stage of the First Elite League of Cuban Baseball closed this Sunday with the sweeps of Tabacaleros and Portuarios as visitors, although there are still several games pending from the first dates.

At the José Ramón Cepero stadium in Avila, Tabacaleros defeated Ganaderos 7-6 in extra innings. The game was tied 5-5 in the tenth. The tobacco boys scored twice and reliever José Ángel García solved the difficulties in the bottom half with just one hit and two strikeouts.

For the winners, who left 13 runners on the pads, Luis Pablo A Costa, who hit 5-3 with a pair of two-run homers and a tow.

Meanwhile, at the Victoria de Girón park in Matanzas, Portuarios defeated Centrales 13-9, with whom they now share third place.

The game was tied 9-9 in the tenth inning, and the Portuarios produced a decisive four-run run rally thanks to doubles by Jorge Alomá and starter Yasiel Santoya. Meanwhile, reliever Juan Xavier Peñalver threw three innings with only two hits and won the game.

For the Portuarios, who hit a whopping 19 hits, Santoya was outstanding, going 6-3 with four RBIs.

Finally, the leader Agricultores left Cafetaleros on the field 7-6 at the Mártires de Barbados stadium in Bayamon, with a run in the ninth inning thanks to one of the four errors committed by their rival, on a bunt attempt by Osvaldo Abreu.

The win was won by left-handed reliever Miguel Paradelo, who pitched an immaculate inning with one strikeout. 

After these results, and while waiting to know the scheduled dates for the recovery games, Agricultores (29-16) is in the lead, followed by Tabacaleros (24-21). Then there is a tie between Portuarios and Centrales (23-23), while Ganaderos and Cafetaleros, both with 18-26, close the table with little chance.