Ciego de Ávila completes the qualifying round with a 10-0 win over Las Tunas

The Ciego de Ávila Tigers concluded the qualifying round of the Third Cuban Elite Baseball League (III LEBC) with a decisive 10-0 win in seven innings against the Cuban national champions, the Las Tunas Lumberjacks.

During a game at the José R. Cepero stadium in Ciego de Ávila, Sancti Spiritus right-hander José Isaías Grandales (3-4) pitched a complete game, and 17 hits secured the win.

José I. Grandales performed excellently in the Tigres' 40th game of the Third LEBC. (Photo by Diario Digital Jit)

Grandales was solid, allowing just four hits in his seven scoreless innings, with four strikeouts and one walk. The right-hander completed his work by retiring 12 of the last 15 batters faced, for his third win of the tournament.

Ciego's offense took charge with a decisive five-run second inning against starter Eliander Bravo (3-1) and reliever Wilson Paredes. This inning alone would have sufficed, featuring 10 batters who came to the plate, accumulating four hits, two walks, and an error. Asniel Jiménez hit a bases-loaded single to drive in the first run, followed by Rodolexis Moreno's double that brought in two more. An error allowed the fourth run, and Leo Escalante's sacrifice fly added the fifth.

Bravo struggled in that inning, concluding his performance with only 1 1/3 innings pitched, allowing five hits for five runs—three earned—without recording any strikeouts and issuing one walk, resulting in a loss. Alongside the lead reliever, Paredes, Las Tunas also brought in two additional pitchers.

Following the five runs in the second inning, the Ciego de Ávila team continued their momentum by adding another run in the third, two in the fourth, one in the sixth, and clinching the game-winning run in the seventh, courtesy of another sacrifice fly by Escalante.

The win enabled Ciego de Ávila to secure the home series against Las Tunas with a 5-3 score, a crucial advantage if they end up tied for first place with their opponents after the tournament's qualifying stage is completed.

To clinch first place in this qualifying stage of the III LEBC, Las Tunas needs to win just four out of the remaining eight matches: four away games against Santiago de Cuba and four home games against Granma.