Matanzas takes the lead in semifinal of Cuban baseball

HAVANA, Cuba, Mar 30 (acn) Matanzas beat 7-5 Pinar del Rio to take a 2-1 lead in the semifinal series of the Cuban baseball championship in its 55th edition.

The Matanzas Crocodiles scored six runs in the first inning, three of them driven in by Yasiel Santoya who hit a double with the bases loaded, and the other ones after timely homer by catcher Ariel Martinez with two runners on base, all off starting and defeated pitcher Yaifredo Dominguez.
But in the second inning Pinar del Rio´s shortstop Michael Gonzalez hit a three-run homer against Yoanni Yera, first of seven pitchers used by coach Victor Mesa on the match.
In the fourth inning, Gonzalez himself would be responsible for further shorten the difference after firing his second homer of the day, this time off Yoandry Ruiz with one runner on bases.
However, Pinar del Rio lost several opportunities to materialize the comeback by leaving 10 runners on bases all along the game, while Matanzas added another run in the ninth inning, driven in by shortstop Yordan Manduley, to put final figures on the scoreboard.
Mesa had to use his ace pitcher Freddy Asiel Alvarez who came as reliever in the eighth and he earned the win, taking thus revenge for the defeat in the first match of the semi-final play off.
On that occasion Pinar del Rio won 12-2 with the victory to the record of Yosvany Torres, while Matanzas took revenge the next day with a 10-3 win for right-hander Jonder Martínez.
With four days off, Torres could be Pinar del Rio´s starting pitcher for today´s game to try to tie this postseason series, although Erlis Casanova is also ready for pitching, while Matanzas will probably opt for right-hander Danny Betancourt.