Cubs Extend Winning Streak in Cuban National Series

The Holguín Cubs defeated the Camagüey Bulls 11-10 today, extended their winning streak to six games, and moved to within half a game of the top spot in the 64th National Baseball Series.

A five-run rally in the fifth inning gave the Holguín team a lead they defended until the end, in a game where a total of 28 hits were recorded between both teams, three of them home runs.

For the winners, Ernesto Torres stood out with a home run, Luis Raúl Domínguez with three singles and an RBI, and Edward Magaña, who hit a double and drove in three runs.

José Miguel Rodríguez, despite allowing six runs over 6.1 innings, earned his third win, and Frank Navarro recorded the final five outs to notch the save.

For the losing side, Yosbel Pérez and Alexander Ayala homered, with the latter driving in four runs in the contest.

Lumberjacks Crush Wasps, Close In on Leaders

Meanwhile, the Las Tunas Lumberjacks overpowered the Santiago de Cuba Wasps 16-6 and reached 20 wins, placing them a game and a half behind the leading Matanzas Crocodiles, who lost for the second consecutive day on Saturday.

The reigning champions extended their winning streak to four games and handed their rivals their fourth straight loss.

In an attack that produced 17 hits on the turf of the Guillermón Moncada stadium, Luis Pérez and Yassel Izaguirre homered, the latter's being a grand slam.

The win went to Anier Pérez, who allowed all of the opposing runs over six innings, and the loss was charged to veteran Alberto Bisset, who was punished for seven runs—two unearned—in 3.2 innings of work.

For the defeated Wasps, Francisco Martínez hit a home run and drove in three runs, as did Edilse Silva with a single and a double.

Matanzas Falls in Extras, Other Results

Matanzas fell 4-5 to the Sancti Spíritus Roosters at the José Antonio Huelga stadium, in a contest that extended to 11 innings.

The Roosters strung together ten hits but left 15 runners stranded. Fernando Betanzo struck out four batters to earn his fifth win of the tournament, and Yosney García took his second loss.

Eduardo Blanco hit a solo home run in the losing effort.

In other matchups, the Cienfuegos Elephants defeated the Mayabeque Hurricanes 5-3, the Pinar del Río Vegueros beat the Isle of Youth Pirates 4-1 behind a great pitching performance by Jenier Álvarez, and the Guantánamo Indians topped the Granma Alazanes 9-4.

Finally, the Villa Clara Leopards and Ciego de Ávila Tigers had their game suspended again due to rain, and the Industriales-Artemisa game was called in the ninth inning for the same reason, with the Hunters leading 9-8.