Havana, November 9 (JIT) -- The Matanzas team defeated for the second time the Santiago de Cuba team (6x5) and leads the II Elite Cuban Baseball League (LEBC).

Considered as one of the most compact teams of the tournament, the so-called Cocodrilos turned the scoreboard definitively in the seventh inning with a pair of runs driven by Yariel Duque and Luis Angel Sanchez, after alternating the dominance of the game.

Center fielder and former Major League Rusney Castillo led the Matanzas' attack with three hits, including a double and two runs batted in, which underpinned the success of reliever Frank Luis Medina (2.1 IP, 4H, 1K) and Armando Dueñas (2.0 IP, 1H). For the Avispas del Oriente, José Luis Gutiérrez and Lázaro Martínez produced 4-3 in a losing cause.

In Sancti Spíritus, in the center of the island, the Artemisa team evened the sub-series against the local Gallos with a 4x3 victory, also decided in the seventh inning by Osmel Solano's sacrifice fly.

At bat, José Antonio Jiménez (4-2, 2CI) and Dennis Laza (3-3) were the most effective Cazadores, whose contribution consolidated the victory of Osdany Rodríguez (3.0 IP, 2H, 3K, 1BB) and Miguel Lahera's 73rd lifetime save (1.0 IP, 1K, 1BB).

To Ariel Zerquera's record was the setback, who has been responsible for both outcomes of his team in the tournament, after the win on the opening day of the winter league.

In Las Tunas, rain prevented the conclusion of the game between the Leñadores and the Leones de Industriales and they will play a doubleheader today.

Behind Matanzas (2-0) are Industriales (1-0), Sancti Spíritus and Artemisa (1-1), Las Tunas (0-1) and Santiago de Cuba (0-2).