Holguin hot-streak takes it to qualifying zone in Cuban baseball

HAVANA, Cuba, Oct 15 (acn) After seven straight wins, Holguín appears sixth in the standings of the Cuban baseball championship, strongly competing for one of the qualifying ticket to the next phase.

The starting pitcher Carlos Santisteban defeated Isla de la Juventud by narrow margin of 2-1 when allowing seven hits and no runs in eight innings to reach his fourth win of the season while Yusmel Velázquez earned the save and Yordan Manduley and Yeison Pacheco both homered to achieve Holguin's 20th victory of the season, against 15 defeats.
Also, the leader Ciego de Avila totaled 15 hits, including homers by Jose Adolis Garcia (2) and Luis Robert Moirán, to beat 10-1 Artemisa, with the fifth win of the campaign for the undefeated Vladimir Garcia.
Stayler Hernández and Frank Camilo Morejón both homered, and Yulieski Gourriel went 4 for 5 with two doubles and three RBIs, in Industriales´ suffered win 10-8 over Mayabeque in 11 innings.
William Saavedra hit 2 for 4 with two RBIs to lead Pinar del Rio to win 5-2 over Matanzas, while Granma achieved its third straight defeat after losing 7-0 to Camagüey, with offensive highlight to outfielder Dayron Blanco, author of two homers, a triple and four RBIs.
Still excluded from the qualifying area, Villa Clara kept its hopes after overcoming 5-3 Guantanamo with homers of Yeniet Perez and Turiño Leandro for the cause of the winning side, while Julio Pablo Martinez also homered for the losers.
Las Tunas took revenge by beating 7-6 Cienfuegos with two RBIs by veteran Danel Castro and the fourth win of Ubisney Bermudez, and Santiago de Cuba defeated 4-3 Sancti Spiritus, with offensive highlight to Edilse Silva, author of two homers in the match.