Matanzas Crocodiles

Havana, July 14 (PL) - The Matanzas Crocodiles will go out this Friday in search of a victory that will assure them for the eleventh time their presence in the semifinals of Cuban baseball.

With the 8-3 victory the day before over Artemisa, a team making its debut in the post-season, the Matanzas team is one game away from being included among the four big teams of the current tournament.

On his birthday, pitcher Noelvis Entenza got the hit that put the match 3-1 against the Cazadores.

Artemisa is obliged to prevail in the remaining three clashes to leave without options those from Matanzas, who show credentials to regain the crown won in 2019 and then lost in the following championships to Granma.

Before the Matanzas-Artemisa clash, the official retirement of pitcher Jonder Martinez, several times national champion and member of the Cuba team, took place.

Here in Havana, Industriales and Sancti Spíritus will break the two-win tie this Friday after the capital's Leones won 10-6 on Thursday with rookie Rafael Perdomo's tenth unbeaten run.

The other playoff will resume on Saturday in Santiago de Cuba, where the hosts also need a win to overcome Camagüey, after defeating the Toros 8-2 in the fifth game.

Santiago has the advantage in the quarterfinal playoffs 3-2 against the Toros of Camaguey.

For the Avispas de Santiago, Osvaldo Acuña, a 32-year-old rookie from San Luis, was outstanding the day before and came close to giving a no hit no run to the Camagüeyans.

So far, Las Tunas is the only team that has qualified for the semifinals. The Leñadores Tuneros swept the Ciego de Avila team in 4 games.