Santiago forces seventh game in Cuban baseball semifinal

Santiago de Cuba, Aug 1.- The Eastern Avispas (Wasps) beat Industriales 8-1 on Monday and forced the seventh and last game in the semifinal of the baseball tournament on the Caribbean island.

Before an audience that packed the Guillermón Moncada stadium, located in the second most important city in the country, from early on, the Santiago de Cuba team decided the game in the first inning with a package of five rounds.

After two outs, bats three through ninth reached on base against opener Silvano Hechavarría (0.2 IP, 5CL, 3H, 2BB) and first saver Remberto Barreto.

Such an advantage accommodated the work of Olympian Danny Betancourt (5.0 IP, 4H, 3K and 1BB), who signed his second success in the final to match the playoff to three victories per side.

Unlike the first two matches of the semifinal held in this same city, the host team played without pressure, more hermetic in defense and very opportune with the wood.

The Leones (Lions), in addition to being handcuffed by Betancourt, could not decipher the pitches of Osvaldo Acuña (2.0 IP, 1H, 3K) or Yosiel Serrano (2.0 IP, 3H, 1K and 1BB).

At bat, Osday Silva, Erick Serrano and Orelly Ribeaux each drove in two runs, while Yoelquis Guibert and Carlos Monier also stood out with two hits.

This Tuesday both teams will play at 6:00 p.m., local time, the game that will decide the rival of Las Tunas in the grand final of the Cuban baseball championship with a possible duel between Raymond Figueredo (IND) and Alberto Bisset (SCU), announced by their respective mentors.

Santiago de Cuba is inspired after getting a couple of victories after being on the verge of losing the semifinal and also many here recall the story lived in the final of the 1999 tournament when the Avispas reached the sixth game with a 2-3 disadvantage and won both duels to leave the Lions in silver.

In favor of the Blues is the statistic that they have only been overcome six times in Cuban playoff tournaments agreed to the best in seven games that were 1-3. (Text: PL) (Photo: Taken from the Cuban National Baseball Series Facebook group)