Industriales ends Ciego de Ávila's streak with a 13-4 win; Pinar del Río moves up again with a narrow 3-2 victory over Santiago de Cuba

The Industriales Lions snapped Ciego de Ávila's four-game winning streak, winning 13-4 in the third meeting between the two teams this Sunday. Meanwhile, Pinar del Río took the lead in the series against Santiago de Cuba, with a close 3-2 victory that placed both teams in third place in the III Elite Cuban Baseball League (III LEBC).

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Industriales 13, Ciego de Ávila 4

Two significant rallies in the third and fifth innings propelled the Industriales Lions to a commanding 13-4 victory over the Ciego de Ávila Tigers this Sunday at José Ramón Cepero Park, elevating them to third place in the III LEBC. A 12-hit offensive surge—five of which came off Ciego de Ávila's starting pitcher Kevin Soto (3-2) —secured a crucial win for Industriales, ending their three-game losing streak. After a one-run tie in the first inning, Industriales surged ahead with five runs in the third inning, during which Ciego de Ávila's defense made two errors, and Yasiel Santoya's three-run homer was the highlight, completing the five-run inning.

Yasiel Santoya drove in three runs with his home run in the third inning. (Photo by Carlos Alvarado)

Starter Soto, who was aiming for his fourth win of the season, instead suffered his second loss after giving up six runs—five of which were earned—in only 2 1/3 innings. Soto recorded one strikeout, issued two walks, and allowed five hits, including a triple by Brandon Pérez and Santoya's home run. With the Lions ahead 6-1, Ciego attempted a comeback in the bottom of the third inning by loading the bases and scoring two runs against starter Diosbel Nápoles. However, coach Guillermo Carmona promptly opted to bring in his bullpen, and right-hander Fernando Betanzo (1-1) entered the game to halt the opposing offense. Betanzo pitched 4 2/3 innings in relief, giving up one earned run on four hits, striking out two, and walking none, to secure his first win of the tournament. In the eighth inning, left-hander Yordan Williams took over and ensured the Industriales' victory with two scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and one walk. After the fifth inning, Industriales scored again in the fourth and completed their final scoring in the fifth by adding six runs. During this inning, in addition to four hits, the team benefited from three walks and an error. The key hits of the inning included a single by catcher Andrys Pérez, which brought in two runs, and a double by Yosvany Peñalver to right field, also driving in two runs. This victory moved Industriales back to third place in this III LEBC, while Ciego de Ávila fell by half a game, yet remained at the top of the tournament.

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Pinar del Río 3, Santiago de Cuba 2

Pinar del Río needed just one inning, the fourth, to secure a narrow 3-2 victory over Santiago de Cuba and regain third place in the III LEBC. In the game, held at the Capitán San Luis stadium, Pinar capitalized on a fourth inning where left-handed starter Carlos Benavides (1-1) was poorly supported, with Santiago's defense making four errors - they made seven errors in the game - that proved crucial in Sunday's defeat. With the Easterners leading 2-0 and two outs, Yaser J. González extended the inning by hitting a single to left off Benavides. Immediately after, a fielding error by right fielder Edilse Silva, on a hit by Joan Rojas, allowed Yaser to score from first base, and Rojas to reach second, from which he scored shortly after on a single by Yasiel González that tied the game at two.

The decisive run was scored on a double by first baseman Frank González, which required a video review. This hit changed the score, giving Pinar a 3-2 lead.

From that moment, the Vegueros didn't let any advantage slip away. Although the Santiago starter remained solid, allowing no further liberties and completing six innings with only four hits, three unearned runs, four strikeouts, and a walk, he ultimately took the loss. Meanwhile, the Wasps' offense, despite gaining an early two-run lead against right-handed starter Mario A. Valle (2-2) by scoring one run in the second inning with a double by Eduardo García, a single that advanced him to third, and a grounder by Silva that brought him home, and another run in the third on a sacrifice fly by García, couldn't achieve much more against the Veguero starter from the fourth inning onward. Valle truly took complete control of the game, retiring a total of 15 consecutive batters between the third and seventh innings with three strikeouts. In the eighth inning, after Francisco "Pancho" Martínez hit a single to right field with one out, Pinar del Río's manager, Alexander Urquiola, decided it was time to bring in his bullpen. Valle delivered an outstanding performance, pitching 7 1/3 innings and allowing two runs—only one earned—while giving up three hits, striking out five, and issuing one intentional walk. His efforts secured him his second win of the III LEBC. The task of preserving the victory fell to veteran José A. García (4), who pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and one walk. This not only made him the leader in saves in the Elite League with four but also marked his 312th career save in the National Series, all-time leader in that category.

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