Las Tunas defeats Granma 12-9 this Friday in the second-to-last game of the qualifying stage of the III Cuban Baseball Elite League

With little left to discuss except for enhancing the players' personal statistics in the qualifying stage of the III Cuban Baseball Elite League (III LEBC), the Las Tunas Leñadores achieved their 23rd victory of the tournament, defeating the Granma Alazanes 12-9 this Friday at Julio A. Mella Park in Las Tunas.

A 19-hit offensive performance, featuring a two-run home run by Roberto Baldoquín, enabled the Leñadores to score in five out of the nine innings of the game, which was secured by reliever Keniel Ferráz (4-2).

Ferráz allowed three runs over his four innings, striking out three batters and walking one. He took over the pitching duties in the third inning, replacing starter Raidel Alfonso, who had given up six runs—five of them earned—in just two innings. After Ferráz allowed a run in the third inning, increasing Granma's lead to 7-2, he delivered three solid innings, conceding only two hits, one of which was a two-run homer by Pedro Almeida in the fifth.

Meanwhile, his team staged a comeback against left-handed starter Yunier Castillo, scoring seven runs in just 3 2/3 innings. In the fourth inning, with the score tied at seven, first reliever Geyler Gracial (0-1) hit Baldoquín with a pitch while the bases were loaded, making the score 7-6. This was followed by an RBI single from Leonel Moas, which tied the game again.

Almeida's two-run home run in the fifth inning gave Granma a 9-7 lead, but Las Tunas responded with a crucial four-run surge in the sixth.

Leonel Moas (left) clinched the victory in Friday's game against Granma with a crucial single. (Photo by Boris Luis Cabrera)

During that inning, Las Tunas secured the win by combining five hits with a walk. With one out, Yunier Rondón hit a double to center field and was brought home by Yosvani Alarcón's hit. A walk to Yordanis Alarcón followed by a single from Luis A. Pérez leveled the score at nine. Another hit from Moas gave the team a 10-9 lead, which they maintained. The inning's final run was driven in by catcher Deismel Hurtado with an RBI single.

In the following inning, Las Tunas secured the final score, with a single from Héctor Castillo, a popup that advanced him to second, and a groundout that moved him to third, scoring later on Luis V. Mateo' single to left.

Gracial conceded five runs over 1 1/3 innings and took the loss, while closer Alberto P. Civil (5) delivered a flawless ninth inning to secure his fifth save in this LEBC III.

This Saturday, both teams will face off in the final match of the LEBC III qualifying stage, beginning at 2:00 pm at the Mella stadium. Granma will be eager to secure a win to avoid finishing in last place in the tournament.