In a game that will be unforgettable for many, Matanzas secured their ticket to compete for the gold of the 64th National Baseball Series. The Yumurinos will remember it for the comeback they made in the ninth inning with two outs and José Amaury Noroña’s grand slam in the tenth inning. Industriales and their thousands of fans were left impotent, unable to hold onto a lead and force a seventh game.
What is certain is that the Latinoamericano Stadium experienced a Sunday filled with emotions and quality baseball. The Cocodrilos scored the first three runs in the fourth inning, including a home run by Ariel Martínez, which led to the exit of starter Reemberto Barreto. However, the Azules tied the game minutes later with similar doses of home runs by Ariel Hechavarría and Jorge Enrique Alomá.
Then came another six runs for the capital team in the final third of the game, supported by a long and effective relief effort from Rafael Perdomo, who left the game with just one out away from victory for closer Juan Xavier Peñalver. Peñalver was hit at will by the Yumurino squad to the point that they tied the score at nine. The stage was set for extra innings, which Noroña decided with a definitive grand slam with the bases loaded. Final score: 15-11.
Matanzas showed better resilience in the face of defeats, their offense functioned with timely execution led by key players Martínez, Noroña, Yurisbel Gracial, and Eduardo Blanco. Their pitching solved the toughest problems without having illustrious names, except for Yoennis Yera, Yamichel Pérez, and Armando Dueñas. That is called teamwork, and they deserved to take this victory to once again think about a title, almost with the same men who achieved it in Series 59.
Brander Took Revenge and Extended the Playoff
Right-hander Brander Guevara redeemed himself from his failed outing in this semifinal and delivered a masterclass pitching performance against the Leñadores de Las Tunas, striking out 10 batters over seven innings while allowing only one run—enough to push the Cazadores de Artemisa to a sixth game in the only semifinal still ongoing.
A run in the second and a cluster of four in the third were all the production needed by the team led by Yulieski González to keep their hopes alive of reaching the finals for the first time in the history of the National Series. Their opponents scored one in the fourth and took advantage of a home run by Yosvani Alarcón in the eighth to add two runs, but it was not enough to avoid the 5-3 loss.
Although the predictions still favor the current national champions, the courage shown on the field by the Artemisa players against a team that surpasses them in offense and experience is more than commendable, no matter what happens for the rest of the playoff. And we cannot tire of repeating that their mentor is an excellent unifier and deserves international opportunities now, with some national squad.
First win for Cuba in the Series of the Americas
The national team achieved its first knockout victory (10-0) this Sunday in the Series of the Americas against the weak team from Argentina after two initial losses to Nicaragua (5-4) and Venezuela (8-4). The Antillean offensive production was held back for four innings until the bats finally came alive, led by home runs from Yasiel González and Roel Santos. Right-hander Randy Cueto earned the win with an impeccable pitching performance.
This Monday, Cuba will face Curacao and is obliged to win in order to keep hopes alive of advancing to the medal round.
