Industriales almost have a third-place finish; Pinar del Río is eliminated after losing to Santiago de Cuba; Two teams are still vying for the last playoff spot
- BaseballdeCuba
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The Third Elite League of Cuban Baseball (III ELCB) wrapped up its regular season with three games on the final day. Industriales clinched a 3-2 win against Ciego de Ávila, virtually guaranteeing their third-place finish in the regular season. In contrast, Pinar del Río lost to Santiago de Cuba 14-6, thereby knocking themselves out of the postseason contention. Granma kept its hopes alive for the last postseason spot in this III ELCB by defeating the leader Las Tunas 6-3, maintaining its competition with Santiago de Cuba.
Industriales 3, Ciego de Ávila 2
One inning was sufficient for Industriales to secure a 3-2 victory over Ciego de Ávila in a game played this Thursday at Latinoamericano Park in Havana, compelling Santiago de Cuba to win all four remaining games to contend for third place in the race to the III ELCB postseason. Should Santiago win all four, Industriales would end up in fourth place in the qualifying stage. Although the series between the two teams was tied with four wins each, as clarified by our colleague Yirsandy Rodríguez, the TQB (+0.113) does not favor the capital team, as they have fewer runs scored between them (59-56).
In today's game, during the first inning after starter Kevin Soto left due to illness and with two outs, José I. Grandales struggled to stop a streak of four hits. This included a single by Denis Laza, doubles by Roque Tomás and rookie Dayron Miranda, with Miranda driving in the game's first two runs, while a single by Yasiel Santoya added the third. That was all the Blues managed to produce, and even though they got four more hits off Grandales and drew two walks, they couldn't score again in the next three innings he pitched. However, they didn't need more. Industriales starter Leodán Reyes (2-0) and two relievers combined efforts to limit the Ciego de Ávila team to two runs and eight hits, overcoming situations that could have led to more runs. A similar scenario unfolded in the fourth inning when Ciego had two hits and runners positioned at the corners with two outs, but Reyes ended the threat by striking out Alfredo Ramos. An inning later, the Tigers scored their two runs after Reyes got into trouble by hitting a batter and issuing a walk; a grounder advanced the runners, and a passed ball brought in the first run. The second run came on Frederich Cepeda's RBI single to right. That was Reyes' final inning, ending with five hits allowed for two runs – one earned – with six strikeouts and two walks. In relief, right-hander Fher Cejas excelled, allowing two hits over three innings with four strikeouts and no walks. Cejas overcame his only challenging moment in the seventh inning when, with one out, Rodolexis Moreno singled to left and stole second, putting the tying run 180 feet from home. However, the Azul reliever struck out shortstop Greysón Bergery and then got the dangerous Leo Escalante to ground out. In the ninth inning, closer Armando Dueñas Jr. (7) began by giving up a single to Ronaldo Castillo to center field. However, he stayed calm and retired the next three batters, securing the win and earning his seventh save of the tournament. The save places him alongside José A. García from Pinar del Río as the leader in that category.
Santiago de Cuba 14, Pinar del Río 6
A huge nine-run fifth inning allowed Santiago de Cuba to secure a 14-6 victory over Pinar del Río at Guillermón Moncada Park. This crucial win is significant for the eastern team as they continue to compete for the final postseason spot in the III ELCB. Conversely, the defeat eliminated Vegueros, led by coach Alexander Urquiola, from any chance of securing the last qualifying position. It was a day to forget for the Vegueros' pitching staff, who, despite an early 4-0 lead in the first inning after crushing veteran starter Danny Betancourt, failed to maintain their lead and ended up conceding 14 runs—10 of them earned—including the disastrous fifth inning that sealed the game. During that inning, four Pinar del Río pitchers attempted to halt an offense that delivered six hits, including four extra-base hits with two home runs by Yoelkis Guibert—now the tournament leader with 10—and one by Eduardo García, who ultimately drove in three runs to solidify his RBI lead with 43. For Santiago, right-hander Yosiel Serrano (1-0) came in during the first inning to relieve Betancourt and completed six solid innings, conceding the other two Pinar del Río runs with 7 hits, 3 strikeouts, and two walks, securing his first win of the season. The victory gives the Santiago team a strong chance of advancing to the postseason in a tight race with Granma, and the four remaining games on the schedule, all against Las Tunas, will be crucial.
Granma 6, Las Tunas 3
Granma managed to hold their ground against Santiago de Cuba in the race for the final postseason spot, defeating Las Tunas 6-3 at Mártires de Barbados Stadium. Right-hander Sammy E. Benítez (4-2) delivered an impressive performance, keeping the Leñadores scoreless for seven consecutive innings and perhaps should not have started in the eighth. Through seven innings, Benítez gave up only five hits, recorded two strikeouts, and issued two walks. However, in the eighth inning, he allowed three consecutive hits, including a two-run double by Yunier Rondón, which led to his departure from the game. Ultimately, Benítez allowed three earned runs, but a nearly flawless relief effort by Juan D. Pérez (1), who issued just one walk over two innings, secured the win, his fourth of the season. Benítez received backing from an offensive surge that clinched the game in the initial third. Facing starter and losing pitcher Raidel Alfonso (1-1), Andrés de la Cruz and Osvaldo Abreu opened the first inning with singles, and a hit by pitch to Alexander Pozo loaded the bases. Yordanis Samón brought in the first run with a sacrifice fly to right. Although there was potential for more runs, Alfonso regained his composure, helped by his catcher who caught Pozo trying to steal. In the third inning, Alfonso's fortune changed. Abreu hit a single, Pozo was walked, and after two outs, Andy Cosme, Alexquemer Sánchez, and Pedro Almeida each hit consecutive singles, bringing in three runs and extending the lead to 4-0, which secured the victory. Almeida's hit resulted in Alfonso's departure, who concluded with 2 2/3 innings pitched, allowing seven hits and five earned runs, along with two strikeouts and two walks. Granma scored an additional run in the inning due to a wild pitch and another in the eighth inning to complete the scoring. Despite the defeat, Las Tunas kept its lead in this III ELCB. Meanwhile, the win moved Granma (15-21) to within one game of Santiago de Cuba (16-20), as both teams are set to compete in a decisive series of four games against Las Tunas.
