Havana, November 20 (PL) - Industriales won two games against Sancti Spíritus and extended its lead at the top of the II Elite League of Cuban Baseball, which has already passed the first quarter of the regular calendar.
Early on, the Leones dominated the game, whose result of the previous day was invalidated due to the use of an illegal bat. They had to resume the game on Sunday after the illegal bat was used.
Shortly after the conclusion of the Saturday game, the National Baseball Commission issued a note that invalidated the 3x2 score in favor of the Azules and indicated that the game should continue today from the fifth inning, when there was a two-score hug and a pair of men on the field for the Havana team.
After the restart, the Leones scored runs in all their offensive innings to secure the 8x2 success, which individually went to the resume of starter Islay Sotolongo (5.0IP, 2CL,4H, 3K, 2BB), while reliever Ariel Zerquera conceded the loss.
At bat, catcher Oscar Valdés led the pack by hitting 4-3 and driving in three runs. Outfielder Ariel Hechavarría and shortstop Cristian Rodríguez had the same number of hits, while shortstop Luis Vicente Mateo hit a home run.
The game of the day also ended with a 6x2 victory for Industriales, their fourth in a row this season. They threaten to sweep the Gallos and extended their lead in the standings.
A full-length round-tripper by starter Walter Pacheco drove in half of his team's runs and sealed the result, which left pitcher Rafael Perdomo as the winner at the expense of Miguel Neira.
In Matanzas, the hosts defeated Las Tunas 10x2, won by Yoel Mogena (5.1IP, 2CL, 4H, 5K, 2BB) and in which Alejandro Meneses suffered the setback.
Yariel Duque hit a grand slam for the Cocodrilos, although the hit of greatest historical value in that game was produced by Yordanis Samón, a double which served to enter the select club of seven batters with 700 extra-base hits in national series.
Cazadores de Artemisa won against Santiago de Cuba by a 13x1 knockout, which was the second complete game of the season for Yunieski García (7.0IP,1CL,4H, 8K) and Wilber Reyna's setback.
Osbel Pacheco homered and drove in three runs, while Yoan Moncada and Dennis Laza each drove two men to the rubber.
This Monday concludes the third sub-series of the Cuban winter league, which has Industriales in the lead with a balance of 8-3, ahead of Sancti Spíritus and Matanzas (both 5-5), Artemisa and Santiago de Cuba (5-6) and Las Tunas (4-7).
