Industriales Strikes First in Serie Nacional Against Matanzas

HAVANA, Cuba, Jan 14 (acn) Industriales defeated 6-2 Matanzas in an attractive match, reaching thus its 30th win in the Cuban baseball championship.

The squad from Havana hit 14 hits to support the excellent pitching performance by veteran Frank Monthiet, who was the winner of the match by allowing four hits and one earned run in six innings, while Jonder Martínez took the loss.

Rudy Reyes and Felix Carbonell shone offensively for the winners with a homer per capita, along with the stellar third baseman Yulieski Gourriel, who hit 4 for 5 including a double and 2 runs.

After six defeats in a row as visitor, Isla de la Juventud beat Ciego de Avila 6-4 for its first win in the second phase of the championship, with outstanding pitching performance by Darien Núñez and offensive highlight of the outfielder Rodmy Proenza.

Granma was consolidated in second place in the standings when winning 13-5 over Artemisa thanks to overwhelming attack of 17 hits, including homes by Alfredo Despaigne, Yulexis la Rosa and Yordanis Alarcón, while Dariel Góngora scored his fourth win of the season.

In the other match, Holguín defeated 10-9 Pinar del Río, with offensive highlight for winning side of first baseman Yeison Pacheco, 3 for 5 with four RBIs, seconded by shortstop Yordan Manduley, who homered and drove in three runs.

Matanzas now leads with 36 wins and 16 losses, ahead of Granma (32-20), Industriales (30-22), Pinar del Río (29-23), Artemisa (28-24), Ciego de Ávila (28-24), Isla de la Juventud (28-24) and Holguin (25-27).