Portuarios comes from behind to qualify for the LEBC finals

Havana, January 11 (RHC)-- The Portuarios team defeated Centrales 9-8 today and qualified for the grand final of the first Elite League of Cuban Baseball (LEBC).

It seemed that the local fans present at the Victoria de Girón stadium in Matanzas would go home happy, since their team was leading 8-1 in the seventh inning, but a legendary reaction of the Portuarios team turned the scoreboard around with a bunch of eight runs in the inning.

After the departure of Matanzas' starter Yoennis Yera, who did an excellent job in the game, Centrales' pitchers could not do themselves justice, and in the so-called lucky inning, the Portuarios began to bat and did not stop until they stepped on home plate eight times.

Elder Nodal won the game, while Naykel Cruz took the loss.

Andy Vargas made a fabulous relief performance and was awarded the point for the game saved.

For the winners, Dennis Laza 5-3/2CI, Rangel Ramos 5-3/1CI and Alexander Pozo 4-3.

Now the Portuarios will face in the final the Agricultores, who already had their ticket to this stage, after defeating the Tabacaleros in the other semifinal in four games. The Mártires de Barbados stadium in the province of Granma will host the first two clashes of the decisive play-off to the best of seven games.

The LEBC champion will be Cuba's representative in the upcoming Caribbean Series, Gran Caracas 2023, which will take place from February 2 to 10.