Ciego de Ávila takes revenge, defeats Las Tunas 5-4 and moves closer to the top

Jonathan Bridón hit two home runs for Ciego de Ávila in their 5-4 win over Las Tunas on Monday. (Photo by ACN)

Jonathan Bridón's solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning was crucial in the Ciego de Ávila Tigers' narrow 5-4 win against the Las Tunas Lumberjacks at José R. Cepero Park in Ciego de Ávila on Monday afternoon.

The home run ultimately clinched the game, granting the Ciego de Ávila Tigers their fourth victory in six games against the Las Tunas Tigers, ensuring at least a tie in the series between the two teams in this Third Cuban Elite Baseball League (III ELCB).

In the seventh inning, Rodolexis Moreno hit a three-run home run off reliever Rubén Rodríguez (2-1), breaking a 1-1 tie and giving the Tigers a lead they maintained, as the opposing team couldn't recover on the scoreboard.

Kevin Soto, the right-handed starting pitcher for Ciego de Ávila, pitched six solid innings, preserving a slim one-run lead thanks to Bridón's first of two home runs in the second inning off Las Tunas starter Cristian Rojas. However, in the seventh inning, the right-hander faced a rally from the Leñadores, who tied the game.

Soto started the inning by giving up a single to Yosvani Alarcón, and after pitching to his brother, Yordanys Alarcón, a walk to Jean Lucas Baldoquín prompted manager Danny Miranda to turn to the bullpen. Soto exited the game after 6 1/3 innings, having allowed just three hits, with three strikeouts and two walks, but ended up with a no-decision.

Reliever Yunier Batista (4-0) was unable to halt the national champions, as he gave up back-to-back singles to Leonel Moas and catcher Lázaro Ponce, with Ponce bringing in the tying run.

After Moreno's home run in the seventh inning gave Ciego a 4-1 lead, Las Tunas responded in the eighth inning with two outs, scoring twice by stringing together three hits, including one from Baldoquín that brought in both runs.

In the ninth inning, Batista encountered difficulties once more, beginning the inning by letting the first two batters get on base. Las Tunas nearly caught up by scoring a run on a passed ball with a runner on third, but the right-hander managed to avert the danger by getting Yordanys Alarcón out with two men on base, clinching the crucial win for the Tigres. Las Tunas left 10 runners on base.

This victory marked Batista's fourth win in the III LEBC and also snapped the Ciego de Ávila team's three-game losing streak in the tournament.

The win enabled Ciego de Ávila (23-15) to close in on Las Tunas (20-10), with two games left to be played between the teams.