Ciego de Avila in free fall in Cuban baseball

HAVANA, Cuba, Feb 26 (acn) After leading the Cuban baseball championship for most of the season, Ciego de Avila accentuated its decline when losing 9-7 to Las Tunas to score thus its eighth defeat in the last 10 outings.

Andres Quiala, Orlando Acebey and Vismay Santos led Las Tunas´ offensive with two RBIs per capita, in match marked by solid relieve by rookie Lixander Cruz, who allowed three hits and one earned run in four innings, although the win went to Yosbel Alarcon.
With only five games left for the end of the regular season, not counting the pending matches, Ciego de Avila is going through its most bitter trance in the contest and now appears third in the standings with 49 wins and 31 losses, surpassed by Pinar del Río (50-28) and Matanzas (49-29).
Pinar del Rio remained as leader of the domestic baseball classic by beating 4-3 Isla de la Juventud, with Yosvany Torres as winner by allowing eight hits and two earned runs in eight innings, supported by Livan Moinelo´s 14th save of the season.
Yusniel Ibanez led the offensive of Pinar del Rio with a homer and two RBIs, supported by first baseman William Saavedra, 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI.
In turn, the Matanzas Crocodiles defeated 2-1 Industriales to achieve its eighth win in its last 10 games and maintains its siege on the top of the standings.
Yoandry Ruiz took the win after two solid relieve of two and two thirds innings, while Yoandry Blanco and Yurisbel Gracial drove in a run each for the cause of the winners.
Finally , Holguin didn't take advantage of Industriales´ loss and suffered a shattering blow to its limited options to access the postseason when losing 11-7 to Granma.
Guillermo Aviles hit 3 for 3 including a double , home run and four RBIs to lead the offensive of Granma, seconded by Dayron Blanco and Luis Ferrales with two RBIs per capita, while Michel Gorguet and Geidis Soler bo th homered for the defeated team.
Holguin now has balance of 44-37 and is four games behind Industriales (48-33), which appears fourth in the standings and is the last team with the right to qualify to the decisive stage of the championship.