Havana, Jun 28 (ACN) The Matanzas Crocodiles, visiting the Mártires de Barbados stadium, made their debut today in the postseason of the LXIII National Baseball Series with a 7-1 victory over the Alazanes de Granma.
Located in seventh place in the regular phase, Armando Ferrer’s Yumurina troop defeated rivals who, in addition to finishing second in that ranking, have been their executioners in playoff duels by defeating them on the four occasions they have met.
The hosts scored a run in the second inning when they mixed a pair of singles with a steal and a sacrifice fly by Hubert Sanchez, but that was all they could do to starter Yoannis Yera.
The left-hander, who is contracted in the Mexican Summer League by the Olmecas de Tabasco, walked a six-inning route with five hits allowed and the same number of strikeouts prescribed to score the victory.
Meanwhile, the Saurians tied the game in the third inning thanks to an RBI double by Yadil Mujica and scored two in the fifth to take a lead that they did not lose for the rest of the match.
A package of three scores in the so-called lucky entry was a hammer blow to the hopes of the eastern horses, who will have to battle tomorrow to tie a series agreed to the best of seven challenges.
In that section, Ariel Sánchez hit a rocket that brought two teammates home and Eduardo Blanco imitated him to boost another, both connections against deliveries from reliever Miguel Paralelo.
Thirsty for revenge, the Matanzas players did not calm down and in the ninth inning they again stepped on the rubber on home plate due to an undisputed RBI by Andrys Pérez with rescuer Yansiel Rivero on the mound.
Starter César García took on the setback after a six-inning effort where he hit three batters, walked one and endured six hits with four earned runs.
Noelvis Entenza earned the save by getting the last nine outs, three of them via strikeout.
The second playoff challenge between Pinar del Río and Sancti Spiritus could not be carried out today due to the impact of the rain and will be played tomorrow at 10:00 am
At night (6:30 pm) Santiago de Cuba and Industriales will play their second match at the Guillermón Moncada and Las Tunas and Ciego de Ávila will make their debut at the Julio Antonio Mella.
