Industriales qualifies to Cuban baseball playoffs

HAVANA, Cuba, Dec 19 (acn) The last day of the second stage of the 57 th Cuban National Baseball Series was marked by the qualifying of Industriales to the playoffs, while Las Tunas and Matanzas remained tied on top of standings.

Las Tunas beat 4-1 Granma with to the account of lefty Yudiel Rodriguez (12-5) and the loss went to Jose Peña (1-5) while Diego Granado achieved his 12th save of the season.
1B Rafael Viñales offensively stood out when hitting 2 for 3 with 3 RBIs, while LF Jorge Yhonson also batted two hits and remains BA leader with astronomic average of .469.
On the other hand, Matanzas defeated away 7-1 Artemisa with Dachel Duquesne (11-5) pitching a complete game only allowing one run and seven hits, while Roilandy Rodriguez (1-1) took the loss.
The Crocodiles amounted 12 hits, including homers by 2B Anibal Medina and 3B Yurisbel Gracial.
Meanwhile, Industriales became the third squad getting its ticket to postseason when winning 3-2 over Pinar del Rio in extra-innings.
Reliever Alexander Rodriguez (7-1) pitched 3.2 scoreless innings, surrendering only one hit with 6 strikeouts, to earn the win, while closer Raidel Martinez (0-2) was the loser.
After these results, Las Tunas and Matanzas share the top with difference of 7.5 games over Industriales, the three of them are already qualified to postseason, and are followed by Granma (10), Pinar del Rio (15.5) and Artemisa (16).