The team of Las Tunas defeated its similar of Matanzas 5×3, left in six its losing streak in playoff games in this city and was placed to a triumph of the final of the 62nd National Series of Baseball.
The Leñadores got off to an impetuous start in the first inning with a run-scoring double by Danel Castro and a home run by Yosvani Alarcón, which sentenced international left-hander Naykel Cruz from the mound.
The game, delayed due to power failures in the area where the Victoria de Girón park is located, went with the advantage of the Tuneros until the sixth episode, when the Cocodrilos scored three times and took the lead on the scoreboard.
The current runners-up took advantage of two tickets, a balk and a couple of hits to revive their pretensions of tying the semifinal series, but the ace of the Tunera rotation, Alberto Pablo Civil, controlled the rebellion.
Civil (3.2 IP, 2H, 4K) signed his 17th save of the season and secured the first success for the Tuneros in Matanzas in four post-season series.
The victory went to starter Yasel Labrada (5.0 IP, 2CL, 4H, 1K and 1BB), with which his team got close to its third final in the history of Cuban baseball tournaments.
This Wednesday both teams will meet again with a possible duel between Alejandro Meneses (LTU) and Renner Rivero (MTZ), as confirmed by the mentors at the end of the game.
Also this Wednesday, the match between Industriales and Santiago de Cuba will resume at the emblematic Latin American Stadium in Havana, in a series that is 2-0 in favor of Industriales.
