Havana, February 12 (RHC) – Supported by the pitching work of left-hander Yoennis Yera and an offense of 13 hits, Matanzas beat Las Tunas 8-3 today in the start of the final of the 64th National Series of Cuban baseball.
At Estadio Latinoamericano in Havana, Yera, included on the reserve pitching roster for the World Baseball Classic, delivered a quality start, pitching five scoreless innings to reach 13 postseason wins and become the left-hander with the most victories in this phase.
Offensively, catcher Andrys Pérez, a member of the Cuban World Baseball Classic team and an All-Star in the tournament, once again stood out, going 3-for-4 with three hits.
Second baseman Aníbal Medina hit a home run, and third baseman Luis Ángel Sánchez also singled in four at-bats, driving in two runs.
The Cuban team, managed by Armando Ferrer, scored three runs in the second inning and five in the third. Meanwhile, the defending champions threatened in the ninth against relievers Roilán Averohff and Silvio Iturralde, but ultimately only managed to score three runs.
The loss fell to starting pitcher Eliander Bravo, who couldn’t go beyond two and a third innings, allowing seven runs on eight hits and three walks.
Today, both teams will return to action at the Coloso del Cerro stadium in a best-of-seven final series.
