2024-02-18 03:39:42
Text: Raúl del Pino
Photos: RL Hevia
The most hated or the most loved… either way, Industriales often emerges as a protagonist in Cuban baseball. However, this time his role was relegated to that of a supporting actor and all the applause went to a plethoric Artemis who will play in the first final in his history.
The Cazadores could not do better justice to their name by taking over the Latinoamericano to star in the feat that led them to the title discussion of the second edition of the Elite League. The mission was not easy, since they needed to win two of three challenges in the emblematic Havana stadium, but they say that when a team is inspired, everything usually turns out well.
This Friday night was a resounding 4-0 victory that showcased the true potential of the team led by former pitcher Yuliesky González. A three-handed shutout that was completed by the stellar Liván Moinelo, who after shining in the demanding Japanese ball, put on the red and blue suit as a reinforcement and has made a difference, as expected.
Artemisa left no room for improvisation and throughout the series depended on his best weapon to disarm the Industriales: pitching. This is evidenced by the 13 runs that he allowed during the five games of the series. Even in only one match did more than four concede, precisely the only one that the blue team won to shake off the sweep.
And it is not necessary to be an expert to know that what they can do in the final against Matanzas or Las Tunas will largely depend on the arms of their pitchers, two teams with recognized power at bat and that between today and tomorrow will define n the winner of that lawsuit.
When it seemed that the Crocodiles would win easily after being abusive in their fiefdom and winning the first two games by sovereign beatings, the Lumberjacks revived in their Mella headquarters and managed to even the playoffs, although later Armando Ferrer’s They tipped the balance again in their favor 3 successes to 2.
This Saturday the Victoria de Girón Yumurino will host the sixth game of that duel that has already become a classic of Cuban baseball (both teams have faced each other 5 times in the last 4 years), and whatever the winner, we will have an unprecedented final with the presence of Cazadores who will fight for the first trophy in their almost 13 years of history.