Matanzas Defends Its Throne in the National Baseball Series

Wounded by two consecutive arrows in their own Victoria de Girón swamp, the Matanzas Crocodiles will take the field today determined to bite the Artemisa Hunters and push them away from the top of the 64th National Baseball Series.

Yesterday, the Artemisa squad again displayed its ferocity by prevailing 9-4 in ten innings, moving to just a game and a half behind the Matanzas leaders, thanks to a decisive cluster of five runs in the extra episode.

Leonardo Ocle earned the win from the mound, while Yansué Moré, with a home run, and José Antonio Jiménez, with a double and a single, led the attack of 11 hits.

The Crocodiles' defeat coincided with the stumbles of their closest pursuers, Santiago de Cuba and Industriales, which allowed the Artemisa team to climb into sole possession of second place in the standings.

The Wasps fell 8-1 to the Camagüey Bulls, backed by the solid pitching of Dariel Góngora and the batting of Leonel Moas, who hit a home run and drove in three runs.

Meanwhile, the Sancti Spíritus Roosters once again subdued Industriales at the Latinoamericano stadium, this time with a 3-1 scoreboard. José Isaías Grandales pitched seven innings of dominance for his fourth win, and Yankiel Mauris closed impeccably to earn his fourth save. Lázaro Fernández added a home run for the Spirituan cause.

The Las Tunas Lumberjacks crushed the Holguín Cubs 12-1, powered by a grand slam from Osmani Urrutia Jr. and a flawless relief effort from Yosmel Garcés, who allowed no runs in five innings.

Meanwhile, the Granma Alazanes defeated the Villa Clara Leopards 1-0 in a pitchers' duel, driven by the effectiveness of César García and Juan Danilo Pérez, and benefiting from a decisive error that settled the contest.

The Guantánamo Indians left the cellar by defeating the Ciego de Ávila Tigers 5-4 with a home run from Greyson Bergery, while the Mayabeque Hurricanes prevailed 5-2 over the Isla de la Juventud Pirates, and the Cienfuegos Elephants edged the Pinar del Río Vegueros 5-4.

This Thursday, Santiago de Cuba will play a doubleheader against Camagüey to make up Tuesday's suspended game, as will Villa Clara and Granma, who will also face off twice at the Augusto César Sandino stadium.