Juan Xavier Peñalver secured the victory over Cienfuegos. Author: Abel Rojas Barallobre
As rain continues to put a stop to play, the Cuban baseball league standings remain tight at the top and at the equator, two of the most coveted spots as the final third of the schedule plays out.
The bad weather of the last few days in the eastern part of the country has forced the cancellation of more matches, which will certainly be necessary to determine the qualifying matches or their order when participating in the quarter-final pairs.
When the 15th sub-series concludes, several matches will have to be rescheduled, foreshadowing delays in the start of the postseason scheduled after the return of the Cuban team from the Central American and Caribbean Games.
Meanwhile, Saturday’s results tipped the order even more, with the triumphs of Industriales and Villa Clara leaving Cienfuegos and Mayabeque, respectively, in the morning.
Industriales batters were controlled for eight innings by a Cienfuegos-Islay-Sotolongo pitcher, one of the season’s best starters, but managed to tie with two runs in the ninth and close out the game in the next game.
The 3-2 win ended with good passes from Frank Herrera and Juan Xavier Peñalver, who converted one half each of the strikeouts.
The Villa Clara Leopardos extended Mayabeque’s team’s losing streak to seven, leaving them on the pitch (2-1) when they combined a walk and two strikes, the decisive of which was the tube of shortstop Cristian Rodriguez.
At their estate, Guillermont Moncada, the Wasps of Santiago de Cuba defeated La Isla 6-2. The victory was won by starter Osvaldo Acuña (7.0 IP, 2CL, 3H, 4K and 1BB) and forwards Yoelkis Gibert (4-2, 3CI) and Francisco Martinez (HR and 2CI).
In Bayamo, Alazanes de Granma beat Artemisa 4-3 and kept their chances of getting into the top eight. Saturday’s card ended with Sancti Spiritus defeating Holguin 5-4.
The game between Camagüey and Ciego de Ávila was interrupted by rain in the third inning with a 2–0 lead to Tigres, while the Guantánamo-Matanzas and Pinar del Río-Las Tunas clashes were suspended due to weather preventing ground preparation. .
Source: Juventud Rebelde