Tight race for Cuban baseball leadership

HAVANA, Cuba, Sep 30 (acn) Ciego de Avila won 10-3 over Santiago de Cuba to stay on top of the standings of the Cuban baseball championship despite the relentless siege of Industriales, which completed the sweep over Holguin.

The Tigers guaranteed its victory thanks to a 16 hit offensive, highlighting the outfielder Yoelvis Fiss –who hit 3 for 4 with two RBIs- and DH Abdel Civil -2 for 4 and three RBIs-.
The reliever Yadir Rabi reached his fifth win of the season without a loss when allowing only two hits and one earned run in five innings while lefty Ulfrido Garcia took the loss.
This victory allowed the existing national monarchs to remain one game ahead of Industriales, winner over Holguin for the third straight day, this time with score of 7-1.
Frank Monthiet allowed six hits and one earned run in seven innings to achieve his third win of the campaign, supported by offensive of Lourdes Y. Gourriel, who hit 3 for 4 including a double and three RBIs.
Earlier, Pinar del Rio defeated Mayabeque 6-5 with two RBIs to the account of DH Dayron Hernandez and victory for the reliever Isbel Hernandez.
In the second game of the double program, Pinar del Rio won again this time 7-3 with offensive highlight to outfielder Yasser Julio Gonzalez, who hit two homers and a double with four RBI s.
In the other matches of the day, Granma won 2-0 over Isla de la Juventud, Villa Clara beat 3-0 Las Tunas, Matanzas defeated 3-2 Sancti Spiritus to complete the sweep in the subseries, and Guantánamo beat 8-4 Camagüey while the game Artemisa-Cienfuegos was suspended by rain.
After these results, Ciego de Avila leads the standings with balance of 18 wins and six losses, followed by Industriales (17-7), Granma (16-7), Pinar del Rio (14-8), Las Tunas (13-9), Sancti Spiritus, Villa Clara (13-11), Matanzas and Guantanamo (12-11), Isla de la Juventud (12-12), Cienfuegos (10-11), Holguin and Santiago de Cuba (10-14), Artemisa (6-15), Camagüey (5-19) and Mayabeque (4-19).