2024-02-17 07:55:04
Text: Cuba News Editorial
Photos: RL Hevia
The Crocodiles of Matanzas exhibited the best of their arsenal and beat the Cazadores de Artemisa 6-5 in the opening round of the very final of the II Elite Cuban Baseball League, to the delight of the thousands of fans who packed the Victoria de Girón and they enjoyed one of the best games the contest has ever left.
Once again Armando Ferrer’s pupils clung to the weapon that they have used best throughout the championship and that has allowed them to make a difference with respect to the rest of the teams: power hitting. Two home runs by Yurisbel Gracial and José Amaury Noroña, first to tie and then to give the final advantage, were the key to the Yumurina victory.
In fact, the left fielder and seventh hitter of the Matanzas round, emerged as the most outstanding of the clash by producing 3 for 4, including the decisive solo from four corners in the bottom of the eighth.
However, other defensive actions were also fundamental for the outcome of the clash, such as the masterful play of double play between waiter Yordan Manduley and shortstop Erisbel Arruebarruena that prevented Artemisa’s comeback at the beginning of that same chapter.
Likewise, the experienced Frederich Cepeda, who had previously dispatched a couple of hits, including a RBI double from two teammates, failed in the last turn of the game, in which he could have tipped the balance in favor of the Hunters.
Starters Yoanni Yera and Geonel Gutiérrez walked five and six innings, respectively, until the duel was tied at four runs per side. The victory went to reliever Armando Dueñas from Matanzas, while young José Ignacio Bermúdez suffered the setback by scoring the two scores late in the game that defined the match.
For the second skirmish this Wednesday, former pitcher Yuliesky González announced Havana reinforcement Raymond Figueredo, who will debut with the Artemisa jacket, after having fallen to that team in the semifinals.
Meanwhile, Ferrer will also use another foreigner, in this case Yoel Mogena from Granma, one who has been with the Matanzas team since the beginning of the League. The right-hander already has a loss in the playoffs against Las Tunas, but in the regular phase he scored five hits.