Photo: Roberto Morejón

By Orlando González Cruz

Havana, January 14 (RHC)-- The series for the championship of the Elite League of Cuban Baseball (LEBC) began this Saturday in an atypical way, after a disputed duel worthy of a final. The game was sealed in the ninth inning with the scoreboard tied at 11 runs.rlando González Cruz.

The Portuarios were disrespectful visitors at the Mártires de Barbados stadium in the province of Granma, and did not stop until they scored five runs in the first inning against César García, starter of the Agricultores. 

The leader of the Eastern rotation could not even get one out and was replaced by Kelbis Rodriguez, who managed to quell the initial momentum of Michael Gonzalez's disciples.

On the other hand, Agricultores demonstrated that they have a frightening offensive lineup and scored two runs thanks to Guillermo Avilés' two-run homer in the second act, with a teammate in circulation, on a delivery by the young Jose Ignacio Bermúdez.

By dint of home runs, the students of the experienced Carlos Martí got the tie and the advantage, including home runs by Rafael Viñales and Andrés De La Cruz.

If there is one virtue that the Portuarios have shown in the competition, it is that they do not give up, and it is difficult to stop an inspired team, no matter how much the forecasts insist on casting them in the role of victims.

In the so-called "lucky inning" they were down eight by five and scored a three-run run to equalize, although it is fair to recognize that Agricultores had defensive lapses in the inning.

The homeowners managed to widen the difference again and reached 11 runs at the end of that chapter.

It seemed that the lunge was definitive, but the westerners had other plans and came back to equalize the match.

With the duel tied at 11, they reached the final chapter and the Agricultores were inches away from leaving the port warriors on the field, but an accurate throw by Alexander Pozo to the mask of Oscar Valdés frustrated the run that could have given the victory to the home team.

After this play, the umpires decided to seal the game due to darkness, since the Bayamo stadium does not have functional lighting at the moment.

This Sunday both teams will resume the first game of the final at ten o'clock in the morning. If up to three innings are played and there is a winner, the second game of the play-off will be held on the same date. If more than three innings are played, game two would have to be held next Monday. 

It is worth remembering that the champion of this tournament will be Cuba's representative in the upcoming Gran Caracas 2023 Caribbean Series, which will take place from February 2 to 10 in Venezuela.