Photo: Ricardo López Hevia.

By Orlando González Cruz

Artemisa, January 19 (RHC) -- The Cocodrilos de Matanzas defeated the Cazadores (8-4) today and took the lead in the final play off of the II Elite League of Cuban baseball.

The success meant taking the lead in the series, two to one, in addition to ensuring the return to their home ground of the Victoria de Girón.

With the triumph went the starter Yadián Martínez. The Mayabeque native recovered from a bad moment in the second chapter, where the Artemiseños scored three runs. From that moment on, only a home run of the first lumber Yoan Moreno constituted the balance of scores of those of the Goddess of the hunt.

On offense for the winners, Eduardo Blanco (4-3) with a home run and two runs batted in, Yurisbel Gracial with two hits and three runs batted in and Bárbaro Arruebarruena with a home run and a complete-game hit that was decisive.

Tomorrow both teams will face each other again at 26 de Julio Stadium in this city for the fourth game of the final. Erlis Casanova for Artemisa and César García for Matanzas have been announced as starters.