Elite League: Portuarios enters green zone for postseason

Havana, December 14 (ACN)-- The Portuarios team defeated Tabacaleros 3-2 on Tuesday and moved into the fourth place or green zone of the standings for the postseason, in the 1st Elite League of Cuban Baseball which began its sixteenth particular subseries.

As hosts at the Nelson Fernandez stadium in Mayabequense, the pupils of mentor Michael Gonzalez counted on the excellent performance of starter Yasiel Santoya and outfielder Denis Laza, who both hit 3-2 with a double per capita. Right-hander Yadian Martinez recorded his fifth win by giving up six hits in the same number of innings with only one ticket given away.

In this errorless game, right-hander Juan Xavier Peñalver earned his fourth save.

Meanwhile, at the Mártires de Barbados park in Bayamón, the host and leader Agricultores took to the bat and did not stop until scoring a whopping 19 hits to defeat Ganaderos, which fell to fifth place, 12-5.

For Agricultores, Rafael Viñales, who hit 5-4 with a pair of doubles to drive in three runs, was the standout hitter. Fourth win without defeat for the right-hander from Granma, César García, who gave six hits in 5.0 innings.

And at the Calixto García stadium in Holguín, the host Cafetaleros won 5-2 against the runner-up Centrales, with an offense of 13 hits and a highlight for starter Edilse Silva, who went 3-2 with a pair of strikeouts.

Left-hander Uberley Estevez won, despite conceding six hits and giving away four tickets in 5.1 innings of work.

Agricultores (25-15) leads Agricultores, followed by Centrales (21-20), Tabacaleros (20-20) and Portuarios (19-22), which won its fourth consecutive game. Behind them are Ganaderos (18-21) and Cafetaleros (17-22).