Yasser Julio Gonzalez

Havana, June 15 (JIT) - The confirmation of Las Tunas at the top and the home run leadership of Yasser Julio Gonzalez marked the day at the beginning of the last sub-series of the 62nd National Baseball Series.

The Leñadores became the first team with 40 hits after beating Sancti Spíritus 13x0 in seven innings and offensive overflow of Roberto Baldoquín (4-3, HR, 3CI), one of the four Tuneros with three hits in the game won by Ángel Sánchez (7.0 IP, 6H, 5K and 3BB).

After several days without playing due to the storm that affected the eastern central part of the island, Santiago de Cuba, runner-up in the championship, also won by knockout against Cienfuegos (11x1) with five runs on the account of the international Yoelquis Guibert, author of a home run among his three hits.

In an even and very rivalry game, Industriales started ahead in their match with Matanzas 5x4, a game that resulted in the twelfth rescue of Juan Xavier Peñalver and catapulted the Leones to the third place.

Tensions for the last places in the post-season increased after the Toros de Camagüey beat Mayabeque 6x2 with a complete game by José Ramón Rodríguez (9.0 IP, 2CL, 5H, 4K and 2BB) and Granma overcame Ciego de Ávila (10-5).

Villa Clara took advantage of the day to sneak into the classification zone by beating Pinar del Río 11x3, although the individual note of the match was signed by Vegueros outfielder Yasser Julio González, new leader in home runs with 16. With a 9x3 victory over Guantánamo, the Cazadores de Artemisa held on to sixth place.

The standings keep Las Tunas (40-26) in the lead, followed by Santiago de Cuba (38-27), Industriales (39-31), Sancti Spíritus (37-31), Matanzas (36-32), Artemisa (35-31) and Mayabeque and Villa Clara (both with 35-34) in the playoff positions.

Then come Ciego de Avila (30-30), Holguín (34-34), Camagüey (32-33), La Isla (31-34), Granma (32-36), Pinar del Río (31-36), Cienfuegos (25-41) and Guantánamo (22-42).