The pitching couldn't hold up: Las Tunas scored 62 runs in the series against Pinar del Río

Nine months and 29 days after clinching the 63rd Cuban National Baseball Series championship, the Las Tunas Leñadores have maintained their dominant pursuit against the Pinar del Río Vegueros.

Following an 8-3 win on Sunday at Julio Antonio Mella Stadium, the Leñadores clinched the series 5-3 over the Vegueros in the III Cuban Baseball Elite League. The major highlight of the weekend was the remarkable offensive performance of the Las Tunas team, which concluded the four-game series by scoring 42 runs in 31 innings against the Vegueros' pitching.

This year, the Leñadores have averaged 7.8 runs against the erratic "pativerdes" pitching staff.

The Las Tunas Lumberjacks remain at the top of the 3rd LEBC. (Photo by Las Tunas Newspaper)

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The Turning Point: An Aggressive Surge in the Second and Third Innings

Las Tunas secured an early lead by scoring four runs in both the second and third innings, exploiting starter Gabriel Cantero's control issues (he allowed seven walks in 1 ⅔ innings). With the bases loaded and two outs, Las Tunas took advantage:

- Yudier Rondón drew a walk to drive in the first run.

- A balk by Cantero cost the second run of the inning.

- Yosvany Alarcón (12 RBIs vs. Pinar del Río this year) added another with another walk.

- Roberto Súlivan Baldoquín (entered the game with a .519 OBP against Pinar del Río, the highest of any Las Tunas hitter) was hit by reliever Mario Valle for the 4-0 lead.

Pinar del Río scored three runs in the entire game.

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Top 3 Key Plays (WPA)

1. Rondón walk (B2, +18%): He broke the ice with the bases loaded.

2. Moas home run (B3, +12%): He extended the lead to 5-0.

3. Yunieski Larduet single (B3, +10%): He drove in the sixth run.

Box Score (Highlights)

Las Tunas Batting:

- Leonel Moas: 1-3, HR, RBI, 2 runs.

- Yosvany Alarcón: 1-2, 2 BB, RBI (11 vs. Pinar in 2024).

- Roberto Súlivan Baldoquín: 1-2, HBP, RBI (.519 OBP vs. Pinar).

Pinar del Río Batting:

- Tailon Sánchez: 2-for-4, 2 HR (8 RBI vs. Las Tunas).

- Lázaro Fernández: 1-for-3, RBI (one of the top 3 players with the most errors in the series).

Defense:

- Pinar del Río: 0 errors. The SS-2B combination (Dainel López-Tailon Sánchez) committed no errors in 13 at-bats.

Pitchers:

- Las Tunas: Villa Clara right-hander Raidel Alfonso won in his debut, pitching 5 IP, 2 ER, with one strikeout and no walks. The bullpen allowed one run (Tailon Sánchez's home run off Yoelkis Cruz Jr.) in four innings.

- Pinar del Río: Gabriel Cantero exploded (1.2 IP, 4 ER, 1 K, 7 BB) and collapsed; the bullpen allowed another four runs.

What's Next

The Las Tunas Lumberjacks are set to compete against the Ciego de Ávila Tigers in a series that could be crucial for deciding the top two positions in the league. Meanwhile, Pinar del Río will head to Santiago de Cuba for an important series in the playoff qualification race.