III Elite League - Postseason | Las Tunas is one win away from advancing to the final, after an 11-9 victory over Santiago de Cuba in Game 4

The Las Tunas Lumberjacks initiated their offense early, benefitted from a strong start by right-hander Albert Valladares, and relied on excellent closing by Albert Pablo Civil to secure an 11-9 victory over the Santiago de Cuba Wasps in Game 4 of the semifinals of the III Cuban Baseball Elite League (III LEBC) at Guillermón Moncada Park in Santiago de Cuba. This win puts them just one victory away from reaching their first final in these tournaments.

Box score

Game 5 of the series is scheduled for this Monday at 2:00 p.m. at Guillermón Moncada Stadium. It's highly probable that left-hander Eliander Bravo from Las Tunas and right-hander Yosiel Serrano will face off again, as they did in Game 1 of the series.

Unlike Saturday's game, where Santiago de Cuba secured its first win of the semifinal in a tight 7-6 contest that extended to 10 innings, this time the Leñadores' offense left nothing to chance, effectively settling Game 5 within the first four innings.

In the first three innings, it appeared we were on track for another decisive showdown in the finals, as both teams were tied at two, with the starters effectively containing each other's offenses.

For Santiago, manager Eddy Cajigal chose veteran right-hander Alberto Bisset (0-2). With limited options in his rotation for the game, Cajigal relied on Bisset's experience. Notably, Bisset had achieved a decisive victory against Las Tunas in the previous Elite League season, pitching 6 2/3 scoreless innings on December 14, 2023, and securing a narrow 1-0 win with the help of his bullpen.

After Bisset allowed a pitch and two hits in the first inning, including one by Yosvani Alarcón that drove in two runs, he appeared to recover by retiring eight of the next nine batters, maintaining two scoreless innings as his team tried to support him offensively.

The response was swift against right-hander Albert Valladares (4-2). In the bottom of the third inning, with two outs, Francisco Martínez hit a single, stole second base, and Osvaldo Abreu's RBI-single brought the Wasps to 2-1. Continuing the play, Abreu advanced to second on a wild pitch, and moments later, Jeison Martínez's single to left field tied the game. It was a new game.

The noise from the Santiago conga at the Guillermón Moncada Stadium suggested that Las Tunas' time was running out, and this Sunday the best-of-seven series would be fully tied. However, those who anticipated an early outcome were mistaken.

The Leñadores quickly quieted the entire stadium in the top of the fourth inning by sending Bisset and the first reliever, the talented young left-hander Jaime Pelegrín, off the field. They scored five runs, ensuring they would never fall behind again.

The sequence began with an error by second baseman Jeison Martínez, allowing Yordanis Alarcón to reach first base. A single from Yudier Rondón and a decisive double by Leonel Moas led to Bisset being taken out of the game, which might have been a slightly premature decision by the Santiago native. Pelegrín took over and was immediately met with a single from Lázaro Ponce, driving in the inning's second baseman via Rondón's legs. A sacrifice fly by Héctor Castillo brought Moas home, paving the way for Roberto Baldoquín's two-run homer, which completed the five-run streak and resulted in Pelegrín leaving the mound.

Ultimately, Bisset was unable to get through the third inning, giving up five runs—four of which were earned—on four hits. He recorded no strikeouts or walks and threw a wild pitch, resulting in a significant defeat.

With Las Tunas ahead 7-2, right-hander Wilber Reyna was brought in to maintain the score and anticipate a comeback from the most potent offense of this III LEBC. However, after a scoreless fifth inning, any remaining hope was extinguished in the sixth, as the Leñadores added four crucial runs.

The inning featured just three hits, but two were crucial. Luis V. Mateo hit a single with two runners on, increasing Las Tunas' advantage to 8-2. The other pivotal moment was Yosvani Alarcón's three-run homer, which brought the score to 11-2, nearly sealing the fate of the home team.

With a strong start, right-hander Albert Valladares took control of Santiago de Cuba in Game 3 of the III LEBC semifinals, putting Las Tunas on the brink of the final. (Photo by István Ojeda/Periódico26)

And I say almost because Santiago launched a strong comeback in the last third of the game. In the bottom of the sixth inning, with Valladares still pitching, Edilse Silva started off with a solo home run. After one out, José L. Gutiérrez hit a single, leading Las Tunas manager Abeicy Pantoja to go to his bullpen.

Consequently, Valladares completed 5 1/3 innings, conceding nine hits but restricting the opposing team to just three runs. He also recorded four strikeouts and one walk, ultimately earning the win.

However, the Leñadores' middle relievers fell short of expectations, and their defense also disappointed. In the seventh inning, first reliever, right-hander Rodolfo Díaz, allowed a walk after securing one out, followed by a shortstop Baldoquín error that kept Abreu on base. Eduardo García then hit a two-run double.

In the eighth inning, Gutiérrez hit a leadoff single, and catcher Alexander Llánes was hit by a pitch, prompting Silva to leave the game. Facing the new pitcher, right-hander Rubén Rodríguez, Raydel Sánchez hit a single, and an error allowed the Wasps to score. Consecutive hits by Francisco Martínez and Abreu added another run for the Santiago team, who now trailed 11-7 and, with the bases loaded, were just one swing away from tying the game.

Rodríguez was swiftly substituted, and closer Alberto Pablo Civil (6) entered to mitigate the damage in an inning that appeared disastrous for the visitors. Civil initially seemed to exacerbate the situation when he started by giving up a single to Jeison Martínez, making the score 11-8. However, the experienced right-hander managed to retire the next three batters, though he conceded another run on a sacrifice fly by Silva to left field.

Alberto Pablo Civil looks euphoric after completing a six-out save in Game 4 of the III LEBC semifinals against Santiago de Cuba. (Photo by István Ojeda/Periódico26)

Manager Pantoja didn't think twice about leaving Civil in the ninth inning to pursue a six-out save, and the seasoned reliever delivered flawlessly. He pitched a perfect inning, including striking out Harold Vázquez, to clinch the win that brings the Las Tunas team close to another Cuban final and their first in the Elite editions of Cuban baseball.

Player of the Game

Yosvani Alarcón | Las Tunas

3-for-5, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI

Best Performers

Alberto P. Civil, Las Tunas	Roberto Baldoquín, Las Tunas	Yosvani Alarcón, Las Tunas	Albert Valladares, Las Tunas	Jeison Martínez, Stgo de Cuba
SV, 2 IP, H, SO	1-for-4, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI	3-for-5, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI	W, 5.1 IP, 9 H, 3 ER, 4 SO, BB	4-for-4, R, 2 RBI

Team Comparison

TEAMS	R	H	HR	TB	SB	LOB	E
Santiago de Cuba	9	15	1	19	1	9	2
Las Tunas	11	11	2	19	1	4	2