Holguin near qualifying zone in Cuban baseball

HAVANA, Cuba, Sep 25 (acn) Holguin woke up today at just half-game of the called area of qualification for the second phase of the Cuban baseball championship, with balance of 10 wins and as many defeats, after beating 4-3 Cienfuegos.

The starting pitcher Ernesto Hernandez allowed seven hits with two earned runs and six strike outs in seven innings to get the victory, supported by save of Carlos Santiesteban, while DH Michel Gorguet hit 2 for 3 with two RBIs as the most prominent offensively.
Pinar del Rio defeated 3-2 the current runner up Isla de la Juventud with the win to the account of lefty Livan Moinelo and offensive highlight by third baseman Ismel Galvez, author of a homer and two RBIs.
In evening hours the leader and current monarch Ciego de Avila met a two-game program with its escort Granma in day marked by the second win of Villa Clara over Industriales in one of the traditional domestic big game par excellence.
The Ciego de Avila Tigers first won 4-2, with Osmar Carrero on the mound and offensive highlight of Osvaldo Vazquez and Yorelvis Charles, who both homered.
Later Granma took revenge 4-3, led by shortstop Adrian Moreno, outfielder Guillermo Aviles and catcher Alexander Guerra, with a homer per capita.
Industriales achieved its fourth loss in a row when losing 2-3 to Villa Clara with the win to the reliever Yanny Delgado, who allowed just two hits in four innings and two thirds.
In another outcome of interest, Sancti Spiritus beat Guantanamo 6-0 with Yamichel Perez as winner and the outfielder Jorge Ruiz hitting a triple and three RBIs.
Likewise, Ulfrido García only allowed two hits in seven innings and two thirds to lead Santiago de Cuba to win 3-0 over Artemisa, while Mayabeque defeated 6-2 Camagüey with homers by Alexander Pozo, Raiko Romero and Orlando Lavandera.
Now the standings show Ciego de Avila as leader with 16 wins and 4 losses in the first seat, followed by Granma (14-5), Industriales (13-7), Pinar del Rio (12-7), Sancti Spiritus and Villa Clara (12-8), Las Tunas (10-8), Guantanamo (10-9), Holguin (10-10), Matanzas (9-10), Isla de la Juventud, Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba (9-11), Artemisa (5-15), Mayabeque (4-16) and Camagüey (3-17).