Pirates Closet o Qualify to Playoffs in Cuban Baseball

HAVANA, Cuba, Mar 16 (acn) Isla de la Juventud shutout 5-0 Holguín to complete the sweep and climb to fourth seat of Cuban baseball championship at the expense of Industriales, which was beaten for the third consecutive day by Granma, second in the standings.

Yoalkis Cruz allowed six hits in seven innings and won the match, offensively supported by veteran first baseman Luis Felipe Rivera, who hit 3 for 3 with two runs scored, and third baseman Jorge Luis Barcelán, author of a double and two RBIs.
Industriales jeopardized its chances of accessing to the postseason after losing 9-2 against Granma, in match marked by a homer by outfielder Urmani Guerra, who was confirmed as championship leader in the stats of home runs (21) and RBIs (75).
Now Isla de la Juventud and Industriales are matched in the fight for the fourth ticket to the playoffs with the same balance of 46 wins and 38 losses, but their particular series favors 4-2 the first of them.
Both teams will face each other from next Tuesday at Latinoamericano Stadium in Havana, subseries that could define the last team to the semifinals, although the monarch Pinar del Río (45-39) still retains remote hopes, after defeating 5- 2 Ciego de Avila on Sunday.
To gain access to the playoffs, the current national champions should sweep Artemisa, and expect Isla de la Juventud to win two matches against Industriales, because any other outcome would lead to the elimination of those coached by Alfonso Urquiola.
On Sunday's other match, Matanzas ratified itself at the top of the standings by beating Artemisa 9-2 with the 12th win of the season for lefty Yoanni Yera and offensive highlight by Luis Yander La O, 3 for 3 with a homer and four RBIs.