Granma scored 24 runs in nine innings against Isla de la Juventud, in a double program agreed to last seven innings, but in which neither of the two games went beyond fifth. On the day, the Alazanes hit 18 hits, half of them extra-base hits, with five doubles and four home runs, an offense that led
that team to be the second to reach 40 victories in the season.
Yesterday, the cavalry welcomed its most powerful horse. Alfredo Despaigne returned to the lineup after May 25, and did so with three hits in six at-bats, three runs scored, the same number of RBIs, and his 18th home run, which confirms him as the leader.
Although, mathematically, they do not wake up as classified, the horses are galloping at full gallop, because a victory tomorrow and a defeat from Guantanamo, against the leader from Pinar del Río, would make them the second classified, along with the Vegueros. By the way, those from Guaso beat those from Vueltabajo comfortably, in a game in which those from La Vega did not have Juan Carlos Arencibia, Alexei Ramírez and William Saavedra, because they have earned the rest that allows them to be the first team in the playoffs and, by far, the best of the season.
Although Santiago de Cuba, without playing, dropped Industriales from fifth, falling for the second consecutive day against Las Las Tunas; The Avilanians achieved an important victory against the weak Cienfuegos, which places them in sixth place, and Matanzas looks more stable in seventh place, after its categorical victory over Holguín; The area surrounding the play off border is on fire.
Between Artemisa, in the sentinel position of the classification zone, eighth, and Mayabeque, in 13th, there is only a difference of 2.5, and four other squads are enrolled in the struggle (Guantánamo, Sancti Spíritus, Villa Clara and Camagüey).
For that reason, the Mayabequens’ victory yesterday, in their duel with the Villa Clara residents, was so important; and that of the people from Sancti Spiritus, for the second consecutive day, against the people of Camagüey. They are direct rivals, in addition to winning the particular match of five, could define, in case of a tie, the presence in the postseason.
Of course, the Crocodiles are not so far from that group, which is why they should not slip further against the Cubs, as happened to them on Tuesday, among other things, because their final pits them against two of those who are fighting: first with Camagüey, and ends with Mayabeque.
The most committed is Artemisa, forced to seek to come out ahead of the subseries with Santiago de Cuba, because five clashes with Granma and three with the Vegueros, to culminate, seems like a trip to the gallows.
For one reason or another, at least six patients want to enter room eight. With that title, the film Coma, by Michael Crichton, based on the novel of the same name by Robin Cook, was known in Cuba. Only, in the ball, that room allows you to stay alive in the series, that is, it is the one that saves.
Also very close, but on an individual level, is the fight for leadership of the hitters, among the only ones with an offensive average above 400. William Saavedra from Pinar del Río leads Yosvani Alarcón from Las Tunas, 417 to 414. The fight for the title of effectiveness on the mound is equally fierce, since Avila native Ediel Ponce is the first with 2.55 earned runs per nine-inning game, and Camagüey star José Ramón Rodríguez follows him, with 2.57. Only they average below 2.60.
