Ciego de Ávila strengthens its lead with another win against Industriales; Santiago de Cuba evens the series with Pinar del Río

The Ciego de Ávila Tigers secured another win, defeating Industriales 9-3, while Santiago de Cuba triumphed over Pinar del Río with an 8-3 victory. This result pushed the Tigers further from the top of the III Cuban Elite Baseball League (III LEBC), while Santiago de Cuba solidified their third place, now only two games behind the national champions, Las Tunas.

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With his relief, Yunier Batista secured Ciego de Ávila's 12th victory in the III Cuban Baseball Elite League. (Photo by Radio Bayamo)

Ciego de Ávila 9, Industriales 3

A collaborative performance by pitchers Leonardo Reyes (1-1) and Yunier Batista (2), backed by a 10-hit game, enabled Ciego de Ávila to achieve its second victory against Industriales, winning 9-3 at José R. Cepero Park in Ciego de Ávila. Reyes pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing three runs, one earned, while striking out four and walking three, securing his first win of the season. The young right-hander gave up only one hit in the first three innings. However, in the fourth inning, after hitting his second batter of the afternoon, he was let down by poor defense. An error by center fielder Yoasán Guillén on a hit by Dennis Laza allowed Industriales to score the first run, leaving Laza at third base. Shortly after, a sacrifice fly to right field by Yoandry Peñalver reduced the deficit to 3-2. After Reyes recuperated and dismissed five batters in a row, Industriales posed a threat in the sixth inning with back-to-back singles from Ángel Echavarría and Laza, after one out, prompting the starter's exit. From then on, reliever Batista effectively contained Industriales' hitters, facing thirteen batters and allowing only three to reach base—one due to an error in the seventh and two via hits in the eighth. His scoreless outing of 3 2/3 innings, featuring two strikeouts and no walks, secured him his second save of the III LEBC. Meanwhile, the Tigres' offense backed both pitchers by scoring five earned runs in six innings against Industriales starter Raymond Figueredo (1-3). In the second inning, Figueredo faced challenges by loading the bases through a walk, a hit-by-pitch, and a single. Catcher Fernando de la Paz then hit a sacrifice fly to center field, giving Ciego a 1-0 lead. In the third inning, with two outs, a single from Leo Escalante, an RBI double by Frederich Cepeda, and a single from Robert L. Delgado increased the lead to 3-0. When Industriales narrowed the gap to 3-2 in the fourth inning, Ciego quickly responded in the fifth, reclaiming their 2-run lead, with a single from Rodolexis Moreno, a triple by Escalante, and a wild pitch. These runs would have clinched the win, but in the seventh inning, Ciego scored four runs off the Industriales' bullpen. In the inning, they recorded four hits, including back-to-back RBI doubles from Ronaldo Castillo and Escalante. Ultimately, Industriales' starter took the loss, giving up six hits for six runs, with three strikeouts and a walk. This marked Industriales' third consecutive defeat and their eighth in the last 10 games, causing them to fall to fourth place. For Ciego, it was their fourth consecutive victory, solidifying their first-place position, now a full game ahead of Las Tunas.

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Santiago de Cuba 8, Pinar del Río 3

Santiago de Cuba recorded 14 hits, featuring a home run by Jeison Martínez, while veteran right-hander Danny Betancourt (1-1) pitched five innings, allowing just one run, to secure an 8-3 victory over Pinar del Rio at Capitan San Luis Park, leveling the series at one win apiece. Betancourt secured his 168th win in National Series history, by starting the game with four scoreless innings, and only allowing a run in the fifth. He did not pitch in the sixth. The right-hander finished the game with five hits, one strikeout, and one walk. When he exited the game, his bullpen supported him with four innings, allowing two earned runs. This included a solo home run by Yaser J. González in the sixth inning, narrowing the score to 3-2, Santiago leading. Santiago took an early lead in the first inning. Facing right-handed starter Raikol Suárez (0-2), Jeison Martínez hit a single and was driven in by Yoel Yanki's double. Soon after, Yoel Yanki scored on an RBI single by José Noroña. In the third inning, Jeison Martínez hit a solo home run, extending the Wasps' lead to a temporary 3-0. Pinar then staged a comeback, narrowing the gap to 3-2. Santiago secured the game in the eighth inning by scoring three runs. During this inning, after one out, Noroña hit a double, Andy Rodríguez followed with a single that advanced Noroña to third, and a wild pitch allowed him to score. A hit by José L. Gutiérrez put runners on the corners, and a double by Alexander Llánes brought both home against a Pinar bullpen that had to use three pitchers in the inning. Santiago's last two runs were scored in the ninth inning after Francisco "Pancho" Martínez walked, and Jeison and Yanki hit consecutive doubles. This victory was Santiago's sixth in their past 10 games, earning them third place in this III LEBC. The loss dropped Pinar to fourth place, where they are tied with Industriales.

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