Matanzas, Ciego de Avila Leaders of National Baseball Championship

Matanzas beat 6-3 Las Tunas to achieve its fifth win in a row and tied on top of the standings of Cuban baseball championship with Ciego de Avila, which lost to Granma.

The lefty Yoanni Yera allowed seven hits and two earned runs in five innings to reach his fourth win of the season, backed up by catcher Onel Vega, who hit 2 for 4, including a double, and four RBIs.

In turn, Granma defeated 3-2 Ciego de Avila with José Armando Peña´s third win of the campaign, while veteran Ciro Silvino Licea earned his sixth save -leader.

Now Crocodiles and Tigers share the top of the standings with 12 wins and 6 losses, closely followed by Industriales and Artemisa (11-7 ), which both won their matches.

Veteran Yulieski Gonzalez allowed only three hits in six innings to lead the Artemisa Hunters to a comfortable 7-1 win over Holguin, supported by Yuniesky Garcia’s fourth save and Dariel Crespo and Alay Rafael Lago with two RBIs per capita.

Likewise, Industriales knocked out 11-1 Guantanamo with an attack of 13 hits, including homers by Yunieski Gourriel, Yohandri Urgellés and Lourdes Y. Gourriel, while Jesus Balaguer took the win in relief role.

On Tuesday’s other results, Sancti Spiritus beat 8-2 Pinar del Rio, the current monarch, Isla de la Juventud defeated 5-0 Villa Clara, Santiago de Cuba won 4-2 over Cienfuegos and Mayabeque shut out 4-0 Camagüey.