Industriales secured a shutout victory, but the Tigres advanced to the playoffs! Las Tunas continues their unbeaten streak, while Vegueros remains determined
- BaseballdeCuba
- Apr 29, 2025
- 4 min read
Despite losing by a shutout in their debut against Industriales at the Latinoamericano stadium, the Ciego de Ávila Tigers became the first team to qualify for the playoffs of this III Cuban Baseball Elite League.
Industriales 5, Ciego de Ávila 0
The Ciego de Ávila Tigers have suffered 12 defeats in this Third Cuban Baseball Elite League. Two of their last three losses were shutouts, with right-handers Lismay Ferrales (last Thursday) and Pavel Hernández (5-2) leading the charge. Hernández pitched six strong innings this Tuesday at Estadio Latinoamericano.
The Blues took control of the game with a four-run surge in the second inning. Pedro Roque started with a single to left field, advanced to second on a wild pitch by José Isaías Grandales (2-3), and scored thanks to a double from Yuri Fernández. After one out, Yosvany Peñalver walked, and Ángel Alfredo Hechevarría extended the lead to 2-0 with a single to center field.
Denis Laza was intentionally walked, and Dayron Miranda struck out without swinging with the bases loaded, marking the second out. Just as it seemed Grandales might evade the Lions' threat, Yasiel Santoya hit a single, bringing in two additional runs.
During the bottom of the fifth inning, Denis Laza hit his sixth home run of the season, connecting with a pitch from reliever Liomil González.
Industriales 5, Ciego de Ávila 0, it was essentially a commanding lead as the game unfolded.
Ciego de Ávila managed six hits, including two doubles, but stranded nine runners on base. Six of these were against Pavel Hernández, who dominated the game throughout. The Tigers went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position against Pavel.
In the second inning, following a fielding error by second baseman Yuri Fernández, Yoasán Guillén stepped up to bat with two runners on base and grounded out to the shortstop for the third out. The Tigers had additional scoring opportunities in the third, fourth, and fifth innings.
Bottom of the third: Osmani Linares advanced to scoring position with one out after Rodolexis Moreno executed a sacrifice bunt. Ciego de Ávila hasn't been very successful with their sacrifice bunt tactics. They have 14 sacrifice hits, but in those innings, they've managed to score only eight runs, with a batting average of .208 when runners are in scoring position.
Tigers manager Dany Miranda reevaluated his approach. However, on Tuesday afternoon, no tactic proved successful: Frederich Cepeda began the fourth inning with a double and remained on base. After one out, Jonathan Bridón and Fernando De La Paz both struck out.
In the fifth inning, Guillén started with a single and Linares followed by drawing a walk. However, Pavel then took control with his pitching variety at the Coloso del Cerro, retiring the next three batters consecutively. The sixth inning was a quick 1-2-3, marking Pavel's seventh quality start of the year, allowing no runs over six innings, giving up four hits, striking out four, and issuing two walks. The Blues' bullpen continued its strong performance, even though the Tigers stranded two runners on third in both the seventh and eighth innings.
Las Tunas 10, Granma 7
The Alazanes' late rally fell short, yet they demonstrated their determination to fully commit to qualifying.
The Leñadores jumped to a 7-0 advantage with a four-run surge against left-hander Yunier Castillo (1-4) in the top of the fourth inning, initiated by a three-run homer from Leonel Moas Jr. The Alazanes answered back in the bottom of the inning with six runs, highlighted by a grand slam from Andrés De La Cruz off left-hander Cristian Rojas.
All the runs in the inning were unearned because of an error by Luis Vicente Mateo on a ground ball hit by Pedro Almeida at the start of the inning. The Leñadores increased their lead with three solo home runs hit by Yudier Rondón and the Baldoquín brothers (Jean Lucas and Roberto Súlivan) in the sixth, seventh, and ninth innings, respectively.
Granma's pitchers did not manage to strike out any batters.
Wilson Paredes (2-0) gave up four walks but only allowed one run, securing the win after pitching 2 ⅔ innings. Alberto Pablo Civil achieved his fourth save with a scoreless performance over 2 ⅓ innings.
Pinar del Río 5, Santiago de Cuba 4
Prior to the heavy rain starting in the top of the seventh inning, Santiago de Cuba stranded 10 runners on base, including two instances of bases loaded with two outs in the third and sixth innings. They accumulated 10 hits, three of which were doubles, but were unable to capitalize. The Vegueros secured the win by delivering three hits at a critical moment.
The decisive moment came in the second inning with a four-run rally. Just four at-bats made the difference:
-Yasiel González hit a two-run homer to even the score at 2-2 against right-hander Osvaldo Acuña (3-3, 6.06 ERA). The "pativerdes" took advantage of Acuña, managing five hits in eight at-bats and scoring four runs.
-Lázaro Fernández's double made the score 3-2.
-A single by Eliser Arrechavaleta increased the lead to 4-2.
In the next inning, a ground ball to second base by Dainier Gálvez brought in the fifth run, ultimately determining the outcome of the game. Veteran Alberto Bisset delivered an outstanding 5 1/2 innings of relief pitching, conceding just one hit and one run, yet the Vegueros maintained their lead throughout.
Left-handed pitcher Geonel Gutiérrez (2-2, 4.19 ERA) secured the win after throwing 5 1/2 innings, despite not being dominant: he gave up 10 hits and allowed 14 players to reach base.
Defeats by Granma and Santiago de Cuba left them with an unchanged 14-19 record, yet the Alazanes have a minor edge, having won the series 5-3 against the Wasps.
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