Final Playoff: Tigers Roar Again in Lions Headquarters

Ciego de Avila proved again to be worth of getting the Cuban baseball title in the current season by defeating Industriales Lions for the second time as visitors with an 8×3 score.

Combined pitching of Osmar Carrero and Yander Guevara, and opportune batting of Tigers, lead by veteran Isaac Martinez and talented Rusney Castillo gave victory to the team of the Cuban central province and put Blue Lions literally against the walls as they are forced to win 4 of the remaining 5 games to conquer the title.

Tigers fought fiercely, because they had to revert the score in the 3rd when they were losing 1×0, thanks to homer by Rusney Castillo with one mate on base, and then they managed to keep ahead even when Lions tried hard to fight back in the 5th.

Roger Machado, Ciego de Avila’s manager, said the outcome is far beyond his expectations and gives them a leverage as they are facing a tough team. He confirmed Tigers’ ace, Vladimir Garcia, to open Friday’s game, this time in their own headquarters.

On the other hand, Lazaro Vargas, Lions’ manager, was firm in maintaining his pitching rotation and announced Frank Montieth for the first game in Ciego de Avila, and his ace, Odrisamer Despaigne for Saturday game.

Taken from Cubadebate/Translated by Escambray