Unstoppable

As I mentioned in my column yesterday, Game 6 between Matanzas vs Las Tunas was decisive: Los Cocodrilos came back again and took the success that defined the Semifinal. Yes, Matanzas vs Artemisa will play the final in search of the title of this II Elite Cuban Baseball League.

Have a great week!

Matanzas 6, Las Tunas 4

The story of Game 6 on Saturday night was somewhat similar to that of Game 2. Lumberjacks right-hander Yadián Martínez once again dominated in his first two matchups against the Crocodiles' lineup. During the first four innings, he allowed only two singles. The first was a bounce behind the mound that escaped third baseman Yordanis Alarcón's glove. The Official Scorer of the game considered that, even if Alarcón had fielded the bounce on a first down, he would not have had time to throw out Manduley at first base. Well, we might have thought that was a mistake, but it's all about appreciation.

The other single was hit by — who else? — Yurisbel Gracial, starting the bottom of the fourth inning. And then, with two outs, luckily for the Lumberjacks, center fielder Yuniesky Larduet caught a fly ball from Erisbel Arruebarena deep in center-right. That brilliant fielding by Larduet ensured that the Lumberjacks held a 4-0 lead through the first four innings of Game 6.

The Lumberjacks' attack began with a three-run rally in the third inning. Denis Peña opened with a solo home run to deep center field against right-hander César García. Then García hit Osvaldo Abreu with a pitch. The speedy Héctor Castillo sacrificed himself with a bunt for third, and third baseman Yurisbel Gracial made an error in a throw to first. The consequences were costly: Abreu scored the Lumberjacks' second run and Castillo reached third. Next, a single to center by Juan Carlos Arencibia completed the three-run rally.