Cuban Playoff Update - Roosters on the Brink of Elimination
The Roosters had the best record during regular season play, but as a reward for that they got to face a team that has one of the better rotations in the league. The Sancti Spirutus Roosters can not blame the Industriales Lions strong pitching rotation for most of their problems, since they have been scoring enough runs to win ball games. But their pitching staff has been giving. Yesterday, the Lions ripped Yoen Socarras for seven runs in five innings, after the best pitcher in the league, Angel Pena was lifted by manager Lourdes Gourriel after facing just two hitters. Leadoff hitter Irait Chirino took him deep and Stayler Hernandez got a single and Pena was gone. As stated before, Cuban managers have a penchant for taking out a starter early when they feel they don’t have their best stuff and save them for another day.
Alexander Malleta led the offense for the Lions, having a perfect 4 for 4 day with a homerun and three RBIs. Raiko Oliveras also had three hits that drove in three runs. Odrisamer Despaigne went six plus innings, giving up just one run to get the victory. The Lions are now up on the Roosters three games to one.
In other playoff action, the Santiago Wasps delayed their elimination by finally taming the Villa Clara Orangemen bats. Norge Vera slowed the Orangeman bats and allowed only three runners to cross the plate in a complete game 5-3 Wasps win. Reutilio Hurtado had a triple and homerun to drive in three runs to lead the Santiago offense. Villa Clara still leads the series three games to one.
The defending champs La Habana Cowboys advanced to the next round with a 5-3 win over the Cienfuegos Elephants. It was their fourth straight win after the Elephants had taken the opener. Michel Rodriguez got three hits to drive in two and Michael Gonzalez hit a solo homerun to lead the offense. Jonder Martinez, who had pitched a perfect three innings of relief in his last outing, was called upon to start and pitched all nine innings, giving up three runs on six hits. Norberto Gonzalez took the loss for the Elephants, dropping his overall record to 12-5.
The Ciego de Avila Tigers completed their sweep over the Guantanamo Indians 3-1. The Indians started the season so well staying atop the division for most of the season, faltered at the end to lose first place to the Villa Clara Orangemen, then could only score four runs in the playoffs. Yander Guevara got the win for the Tigers, going seven innings and only giving up the one run. Jose Barroso pitched a perfect two innings to get the save. Yoelvis Fiss got three hits, including a solo homerun to lead the offense.
You can check out all the boxscores at http://www.beisbolcubano.cu/statistic/boxscore.asp?idGame=1005