III Elite League – Postseason | Francisco Martínez's grand slam in the tenth inning gives Santiago de Cuba a 15-14 victory over Las Tunas, forcing Game 6 of the series this Wednesday

Francisco Martinez hit a grand slam in the bottom of the 10th inning off closer Alberto Pablo Civil (1-1), securing a 15-14 victory for the Santiago de Cuba Wasps over Las Tunas in Game 5 of the semifinals of the III Cuban Baseball Elite League (III LEBC). This win brought the best-of-seven series to 3-2, with Las Tunas still leading, and forced a return to the Julio A. Mella stadium for Game 6 next Wednesday.

Box score

In the highly anticipated match, which serves as Las Tunas' second opportunity to clinch a spot in the final of this III LEBC, or alternatively, could result in a 3-3 series tie with a win for Santiago de Cuba, there has been no announcement regarding the pitchers. However, right-handers Alejandro Meneses for Las Tunas and Osvaldo Acuña for Santiago de Cuba appear to be the most probable starters for this crucial game.

Francisco Martínez again decided a victory for Santiago de Cuba in extra innings in this semifinal of the III LEBC, this time with his grand slam in the 10th inning, sending the series back to Las Tunas for Game 6. (Photo by István Ojeda/Periódico26)

In a match where the two teams combined for 29 runs, achieved 30 hits, and made eight errors, Santiago de Cuba succeeded in preventing a series loss at Guillermón Moncada Park. This led to a Game 6, which seemed improbable by the fourth inning as Las Tunas was ahead 8-0.

It was a remarkable comeback and possibly one of the most extraordinary in a single Cuban postseason game. Just envision that, two innings later in the sixth inning, Las Tunas was on the verge of winning Game 5 by a knockout score, with a 10-2 lead.

How did they get here? Simply put, Las Tunas unleashed a 10-hit offense in the first six innings, scoring once in the opening inning with a triple by Yudier Rondón and Yuniesky Larduet on base from a single. In the second inning, they scored four times, all against starter Yosiel Serrano, who didn't make it past that inning. During this inning, Larduet hit a two-run single that forced Serrano out, and Rondón hit a two-run home run off reliever Danny Betancourt. In the fourth inning, Betancourt also exited after allowing a double by Lázaro Ponce and an RBI single by Héctor Castillo, extending the Leñadores' lead to 6-0. Two more runs were added in the inning when, against new reliever Islay Sotolongo, a ground ball error by shortstop Yunior Otero allowed one run, and a single by Rondón brought in another, making it 8-0. Following a walk to Luis V. Mateo, Sotolongo was also taken out, a move that deserves commendation for coach Eddy Cajigal.. This time, knowing he had to win, he didn't hesitate to pull his relievers.

At the same time, left-handed starter Eliander Bravo from Las Tunas once more delivered an impressive performance against the Santiago de Cuba offense, giving up four consecutive scoreless innings, allowing four hits, and only one walk.

In the fifth inning, Santiago de Cuba's offense began to come alive against Bravo. During this inning, the Santiago de Cuba team scored its initial two runs. Raydel Sánchez started with a double to right field. A ground ball by catcher Alexander Llánes advanced him to third base, and he scored on a single by José L. Gutiérrez. An error on a grounder by Francisco Martínez left runners at first and third, and Osvaldo Abreu promptly hit a sacrifice fly to right field.

Las Tunas quickly responded, reclaiming an eight-run advantage by adding two runs in the top of the sixth inning off Santiago's third reliever, right-hander Isdenis Núñez. Rodón started the inning with a triple to right field, and after two outs, Yordanis Alarcón hit a home run to left. Las Tunas was ahead 10-2.

For Isdenis, who had been pitching since the fourth inning, these were the first two hits he had given up in the game. Ultimately, the right-hander completed a solid 3 1/3 innings of relief, allowing only two runs in the sixth inning while effectively containing the Las Tunas offense, permitting just three hits along with three walks and two strikeouts. The seventh inning would be his last; with Ponce on first base after a single and two outs already recorded, he walked Larduet, prompting Cajigal to call for the reliever.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Wasps initiated their relentless offensive, resulting in 13 runs over the final four innings of the game. This was particularly notable against Las Tunas manager Abeicy Pantoja, who inexplicably permitted his first reliever, Yanielquis Duardo, to be continuously punished.

In the seventh inning, with one out, a triple by Llanes, a double by Gutierrez, and a grounder by Francisco Martinez that advanced Gutierrez to third, resulted in a run and left another potential run just 90 feet from home plate. Pantoja decided to pull Bravo from the game after a solid 6 2/3 innings, during which he allowed 6 hits and 2 walks. However, Duardo, who had been effective in the series up to this point, struggled this time. In this inning, Duardo allowed two more runs when Abreu hit an RBI single, scoring Gutiérrez from third, followed by a Jeison Martínez double that brought Abreu home. Santiago was now trailing 10-5.

However, the real disaster and puzzling inaction from the Las Tunas manager occurred an inning later. Edilse Silva kicked off the eighth inning with his second home run of the semifinal, a solo shot that reduced Las Tunas' lead to 10-6. Singles from Yulieski Remón and Sánchez, along with a ground ball error by Llánes, loaded the bases. Gutiérrez hit a sacrifice fly, bringing the score to 10-7, and after Francisco Martínez struck out, Abreu's single drove in another run, bringing Santiago just two runs shy of tying the game. Abreu's undeniable performance should have prompted Duardo's removal, but Pantoja showed no intention of pulling his reliever, and Jeison Martínez made him pay for his boldness, hitting a three-run home run that flipped the score, putting the Wasps ahead 11-10 in front of a jubilant Guillermón Moncada Stadium.

Jeison Martínez's home run in the eighth inning gave Santiago de Cuba its first lead in the game. (Photo by István Ojeda/Periódico26)

Las Tunas, who had controlled the game throughout, suddenly found themselves in a tight spot, just three outs away from extending the series. However, they persevered, and in the ninth inning, they leveled the game against reliever Israel Sánchez. After the first out of the inning with Ponce's strikeout, Castillo hit a crucial double to right field, stole third base, and scored on Roberto Baldoquín's single to right. This hit led to Sánchez's exit and a short inning for Yoandro Daudinot, who, after walking Larduet, passed the ball to right-hander Wilber Reyna (3-7), who eventually secured the win.

After Santiago failed to score in the bottom of the ninth, the game moved into extra innings with the IBAF Rule in effect to determine the series outcome. With runners on first and second and the potential for a sacrifice bunt, Reyna made the situation more complex by committing a throwing error to second base, allowing both runners to advance. Mateo then relinquished a slim lead with a grounder to second base that enabled Larduet to score from third, and an unnecessary intentional walk to Yosvani Alarcón left runners on the corners. Shortly after, a popup by Yordanis Alarcón to left field caused Gutiérrez to commit Santiago's fifth error of the game, giving Las Tunas a 13-11 advantage. The inning's final run was driven in by Lázaro Ponce, whose single to center seemed to secure the Leñadores' advancement to the final with a score of 14-11.

The Santiago team faced a challenge, trailing by three runs and having to contend with closer Alberto Pablo Civil in the bottom of the tenth. Civil aimed to complete his second consecutive six-out appearance to clinch another Las Tunas' victory. However, with runners on second and first, Civil loaded the bases by hitting Gutiérrez in an 1-2 count. This set the scene for Francisco Martínez's decisive home run. Despite being 0-for-5 earlier in the afternoon, Martínez took advantage of a favorable 2-1 count to secure Santiago's second victory in this semifinal.

Player of the Game

Francisco Martínez | Santiago de Cuba

1-for-5, HR, R, 4 RBI

Best Performers

Yudier Rondón, Las Tunas	Jeison Martínez, Stgo de Cuba	Jose L. Gutiérrez, Stgo de Cuba	Francisco Martínez, Stgo de Cuba
4-for-6, 2 3B, HR, 3 R, 4 RBI	3-for-4, 2B, HR, R, 4 RBI	2-for-3, 2B, 3 R, 3 RBI	1-for-5, HR, R, 4 RBI

Teams Comparison

TEAMS	R	H	HR	TB	SB	LOB	E
Santiago de Cuba	15	15	3	29	0	6	5
Las Tunas	14	15	2	27	2	11	3