Havana, November 28 (JIT)-- As has become customary on double game dates, the Sancti Spiritus Roosters divided honors against the Matanzas Crocodiles and kept the top spot in the II Elite League of Cuban Baseball, which began its fifth particular subseries.

In the first hour, in a sealed game, the local espirituanos stopped the crowd of their José Antonio Huelga stadium by winning 8x2 against Matanzas, with the fourth success of left-hander Ariel Zerquera -leader of the tournament- pitching five innings of relief with four hits and an equal number of strikeouts.

Yunier Mendoza batted 4-4 for the Gallos. Yasser Julio González supported with a home run.

In the second duel, the Yumurinos Cocodrilos took revenge with a 4x1 win, with a great performance by left-hander Yoannis Yera, who in six innings only allowed two hits and struck out nine times. For the Saurios, former major leaguer Rusney Castillo drove in two runs.

The division of honors for the Gallos merged with the defeat of Industriales by a 6x0 loss against Artemisa at the Latinoamericano stadium.

It was the second victory for Dario Sarduy, who in six innings gave up an equal number of tickets, but allowed only three hits and fanned five opponents. First save for Yan Cabrera and a timely batting performance by the bullpen of Jeison Martinez, 4-2 with a homerun and a foul ball.

Las Tunas counted on the sixth home run of its slugger Rafael Viñales and defeated Santiago de Cuba 4x3, which recorded its eighth defeat in a row. Viñales leads in home runs (6) and runs batted in (18), something that is lacking in current Cuban baseball.

This was the third victory for Yadián Martínez and the fourth save for Alberto Pablo Civil, who tied for the lead in that category with Yanielkis Duardo (SSP).