Ciego de Avila Closer to Repeat as National Baseball Champion

Ciego de Avila beat 2-1 Pinar del Río, achieving thus their second win of the final play off and now appears halfway of retaining the title of the Cuban baseball championship

In game played at Ciego de Avila’s José Ramón Cepero stadium, the current national champions reached the win in the 13th inning thanks to timely double by Yoelvis Fiss driving in Yorelvis Charles from first base off reliever and defeated Livan Moinelo.

The victory went to closer Yunier Cano, who pitched five innings and two thirds, where he allowed only two hits, with two strikeouts and three walks.

The Ciego de Avila Tigers opened the score in the fourth inning when Ariel Borrero singled, advanced to third base after a double by Yeniet Perez, and scored driven in by a sacrifice fly by Guillermo Aviles, all against Pinar del Rio’s staring pitcher Vladimir Baños .

Baños only allowed that run in seven innings, in addition to six hits, three strikeouts and two walks and he was replaced in the eighth by lefty Moinelo.

Meanwhile, Lazaro Blanco, the local starter, only allowed one hit in seven and a third innings, but was replaced in the eighth after allowing another hit and a walk.

Then Yunier Cano came in, and after Michael Gonzalez flied to leftfield, Dennis Laza hit a harmless ground on which second baseman Raul Gonzalez made an error, and then Leon scored the tying run on throwing error by first baseman Yorelvis Charles.

Cano and Moinelo got into a spectacular fight between relievers, although it is worth mentioning a failed attempt of stealing home plate by Ciego de Avila’s outfielder Jose A. Garcia in the 10th inning, prelude of the final definition which came in the 13th.

With the final play off 2-0 in favor of Ciego de Avila, actions will resume on Sunday at Capitan San Luis Park, in Pinar del Rio, where the local team will use its ace Yosvani Torres, while visitors will send Dachel Duquesne to the mound.