Matanzas takes lead in semifinals of Cuban baseball

HAVANA, Cuba, Jan 12 (acn) Matanzas beat away 13-3 Granma for the second day in a row, and thus command 3-2 their postseason playoff in the 56 th Cuban National Baseball Series.

Now they just have to reach one win at home where they have had a favorable balance of 40 wins and eight losses all along the contest.
Yoalkis Cruz took the loss after allowing four runs in just a third of an inning, including a homer by leadoff hitter Stayler Hernandez, while reliever Fank Luis Medina earned the win after surrendering four hits and two runs in five innings of work.
There was offensive highlight to second baseman Juan Torriente who batted 3 for 4 with four RBIs and two runs for the winners, while Granma´s cleanup hitter, Alfredo Despaigne, blasted a two-run homer for the losing side.
In addition to the poor pitching and offensive performances, Granma´s defense also collapsed when making seven errors, setting thus a record for postseason, despite being the best squad in that stat in the qualifying stage.
The sixth game of this series will be on Saturday at four o'clock at Victoria of Giron stadium and the starting pitchers will be the right-handers Jonder Martinez (Matanzas) and Noelvis Entenza (Granma).

Mártires de Barbados Park

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
MTZ 4 0 0 0 3 0 2 2 2 13 12 3
GRA 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 3 7 7

W: FRANK LUIS MEDINA (2-1)
L: YOALKIS CRUZ (10-9)