Las Tunas beat Industriales, keeps the lead in Cuban baseball

HAVANA, Cuba, Dec 6 (acn) The leader Las Tunas scored twice on top of the ninth inning to beat away 4-3 Industriales, in the beginning of the eleven subseries of the second stage of the 57th Cuban National Baseball Series.

Industriales had taken the lead 3-2 in the previous inning thanks to an RBI-single by PH Yoandry Urgelles, but the local closers failed again when allowing two RBI-hits by DH Danel Castro and C Yosvani Alarcon, the latter was the visitor´s best batter when hitting 2 for 5, with two RBIs.
The victory went to reliever Diego Granado, who pitched 1.1 scoreless innings, with a strikeout, while lefty Wilber Perez took the loss.
Meanwhile, Matanzas remained second in the standings, one game behind Las Tunas, after defeating 5-3 Granma, defending monarch.
RF Yasiel Santoya batted 2 for 4 with two RBIs and was the best hitter for the Crocodiles, which also counted on another good pitching performance by right-hander Roy Hernandez who took the win when surrendering 2 runs and 6 hits in 6.2 innings.
Reliever Yanier Blanco earned the save and lefty Leandro Martinez lost.
Finally, Pinar del Río still breathes after winning 6-5 over Artemisa in game decided under the Schiller Rule.
Right-hander Isbel Hernandez was the winner, while the also closer José Angel Garcia earned the defeat.
1B William Saavedra hit 2 for 5 and was the offensive highlight for the winning side, which remains in fifth seat, but now reduced to 3.5 games the difference with Granma, who appears fourth with the final ticket to postseason so far.