Elite League: Centrales sweeps leader Agricultores
Havana, December 5 (RHC)-- The Centrales team defeated 2-1 the leader Agricultores, over which it completed a fruitful sweep, to consolidate its second place and get even closer to the top of the standings of the 1st Elite League of Cuban Baseball, which dropped the curtains of its thirteenth particular subseries.
At Cienfuegos' 5 de Septiembre stadium, the interesting pitching duel was tied 1-1 at the end of the ninth inning. With two runners on base, the experienced Danel Castro, national record holder in hits, hit another run to bring in the winning run on a delivery by reliever Alberto Pablo Civil.
Victory for the speedy Cienfuegos' reliever Hermes Gonzalez, who pitched 1.2 innings in an immaculate manner.
Meanwhile, at the 26 de Julio Park in Artemio, the visiting Cafetaleros got rid of the broom by defeating Tabacaleros 7-5. They were losing 4-5 at the height of the ninth episode, but they produced a decisive three-run cluster, two of which were towed by Edilse Silva's double in front of reliever Frank Luis Medina with the angles congested.
Ernesto Góngora, who pitched 4.1 innings with two hits and a pair of strikeouts, won the game.
Finally, at the Estadio Latinoamericano, Ganaderos also escaped the sweep with a 2-1 win against Portuarios. The two runs were scored in the second inning on a hit by torpedo Ronaldo Perez against the starter and loser Jose Ignacio Bermudez, who in that game gave up two hits, gave away a ticket and hit two balls.
The victory was the first in the national series for the fast right-hander Roberto Hernández, who has recovered satisfactorily after undergoing surgery and could be one of the pitchers called up for the Cuban pre-selection for the World Classic. During the day, he was clocked with deliveries of up to 93 miles.
After these results, Agricultores (22-12) leads, but with its sweep, Centrales (19-16) is 3.5 games behind. Behind is Tabacaleros (17-17), Ganaderos and Cafetaleros are tied (15-18) and Portuarios is still in the basement (14-21).
