Ciego de Avila takes the lead in Playoff

NUEVA GERONA, Cuba, Apr 9 (acn) Ciego de Avila won 4-3 over Isla de la Juventud in match held at Cristóbal Labra stadium, in this city, to take 3-2 lead in the Grand Final of Cuban baseball, at just one victory of the title.

The Tigers scored a run in the first inning off the starter Javier Vazquez, when combining a double by third baseman Yeniet Perez with an RBI hit by veteran first baseman Ariel Borrero.

However, the Pirates took the lead with two runs in the bottom of that inning, thanks to a wild pitch by the ace Ismel Jiménez and error by catcher Osvaldo Vázquez.

The squad of Ciego de Avila equalized in the second inning through an RBI hit by Jose A. Garcia with the bases loaded.

Then the pirates´ reliever Jesus Amador worked fluently during five innings, but on the seventh shortstop Yorbis Borroto hit a solo homer and the Tigers took the lead again, and added the fourth and decisive run in the ninth thanks to a sacrifice-fly by Yeniet Pérez.

Isla de la Juventud scored one in the bottom of the ninth driven in by Michel Enriquez, but reliever Alain Sánchez forced Jorge Barcelán to hit for double play, which sealed the win of Ciego de Ávila.

Ismel Jiménez was the winner by allowing eight hits and one earned run in six innings, and Sanchez earned the save, while Jesus Reynaldo Amador took the loss despite allowing only two hits and one run in six and a third innings.