Defending champion Ciego de Avila leads Baseball National Series

Defending champion Ciego de Avila leads Baseball National SeriesHAVANA, Cuba, Sep 8 (acn) The reigning champions Ciego de Avila appeared today at the head of the Cuban baseball championship in its 55th edition, when combining its win over Guantanamo with the loss of the then leaders Granma to Las Tunas.

The Ciego de Avila Tigers beat 4-3 Guantanamo and the winner was the reliever Yadir Rabbi and Yunier Cano achieved his third save of the season, while Luis Castillo took the loss.

The catcher Osvaldo Vasquez hit his third homer of the season and veteran first baseman Yorelvis Charles drove in two runs, as the most outstanding offensive players of the winners.

Now Ciego de Avila has balance of six wins and two losses, located on top of the standings, half-game ahead of Granma, which lost 5-3 to Las Tunas despite homers by Adrian Moreno, Guillermo Aviles and Lazaro Cedeno.

Pinar del Rio also appears half-game behind the top by beating 8-2 Villa Clara thanks to an attack of 14 hits, including homer by outfielder Reinier Leon, who hit 3 for 4 with three RBIs.

In other matches of the Cuban National Baseball Series, Mayabeque defeated 9-8 Sancti Spiritus, Cienfuegos won 3-2 over Santiago de Cuba and Holguin defeated 2-0 Camagüey.