top of page
Writer's pictureRay Otero-Alonso

LEBC 2024 Postseason | After a 12-0 victory over Las Tunas, Matanzas takes a 1-0 lead in the series

Updated: Jan 10

Yoennis Yera's work was supported by 16 hits, an overwhelming attack


Rusney Castillo hit two home runs in Game 1 of the semifinal against Las Tunas. (Photo: R. López Hevia)

Semifinals of the II Elite League of Cuban Baseball


Matanzas 12, Las Tunas 0 (7 innings)

Matanzas leads the series 1-0


On Saturday afternoon in Matanzas, the Matanzas Crocodiles beat its rival, Las Tunas easily, 12-0 by the mercy rule in seven innings, in the II Elite Cuban Baseball League semifinal.



Game 2 of the series will take place at Victoria de Girón Stadium in Matanzas this Sunday at 6:30 pm, with Matanzas leading the series 1-0.


Crocodiles' offense, combined with Yoennis Yera's great start, were decisive in the first victory of the tournament favorites.


The three-run home run by Yurisbel Gracial in the opening inning against lefty starter Dariel Góngora, provided an early indication of Las Tunas pitching's challenge on the night - and in the series. It was Gracial himself who would shine with the bat, going 4-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs scored.


The ruthless attack continued in the second inning, where Matanzas scored seven times. Six hits were hit in this inning, including a solo home run by catcher Andrys Pérez and a three-run home run by Yordanis Samón. This was also the inning in which Rusney Castillo hit his first of two solo home runs.


The fifth home run of the night came two innings later when Castillo hit the ball over the right field fences against the second Las Tunas reliever, right-hander José A Sánchez.


In Yera's five innings, he only allowed one single, struck out three, and walked one, taking revenge for his only loss on November 20, a close 2-1 decision against the right-handed Yadián Martínez.


Reliever Jesús E. Pérez recorded six more outs. Pérez, enjoying a 12-run lead, faced seven batters, allowing only one hit, a double off 47-year-old veteran Danel Castro. Castro is now only four hits away from reaching the 2500 mark in Cuban baseball.


Despite beating Matanzas three times in 2023 during the qualifying stages of the National Series and the Elite League, Góngora could not repeat his performance tonight. During the latter, Dariel won two games 11-0 and 10-0, completing 12 innings with 8 hits and 5 strikeouts. A reinforcement from Camagüey didn't last beyond the second inning this Saturday, facing only 11 men and allowing seven runs - 5 earned - without striking out. He was charged with the loss.


Right-hander Yadián Martínez, for Las Tunas, will look to even the series this Sunday, when he faces another right-hander and debutant in the Elite League, César García.




Comments


News

Premier12

WBSC Premier12 | Con un grand slam de Shugo Maki, Japón pasa 9-6 sobre Venezuela. China Taipei sigue sorprendiendo y en la tarde venció 8-2 a Team USA
Samurai Japan sigue invicto con triunfo de 9-6 sobre Venezuela, mientras Taipei dispone 8-2 de Team USA este viernes

Premier12

WBSC Premier12 | Convincente Japón, dispone 9-1 de Team USA. Venezuela también con primer triunfo al vencer 2-0 a China Taipei
BUNKYO CITY, Tokyo - Todo empieza para doce y termina para dos y este jueves, en el inicio de la Súper Ronda del torneo mundial WBSC...

Premier12

WBSC Premier12 | China Taipei blanquea a Cuba, 2-0, avanza a Tokyo como segundo por el Grupo B. Japón invicto
China Taipei blanqueó a Cuba 2-0 para avanzar con marca de 4-1 a la Súper Ronda en Tokyo. Cuba es último del Grupo B

Premier12

WBSC Premier12 | Con peleado triunfo de 7-6, Japón elimina a Cuba y clasifica para la Súper Ronda del torneo mundial
Japón aseguró el primer lugar del Grupo B del WBSC Premier12, con un peleado triunfo de 7-6 sobre Cuba.

Premier12

WBSC Premier12 | Cuba secures its first win thanks to Yadir Drake's crucial home run and strong performance from the bullpen
Yadir Drake's home run and the work of the Cuban bullpen keep Cuban hopes alive in the tournament.

Premier12

WBSC Premier12 | Cuadrangular decisivo de Yadir Drake y labor de bullpen cubano dan a Cuba su primera victoria
Cuadrangular de Yadir Drake y labor del bullpen cubano mantiene vivas esperanzas cubanas en el torneo.

Premier12

WBSC Premier12 | Cuba is aiming to secure a must win against Australia to stay alive in Group B. Darío Sarduy appointed as the starting pitcher
Cuba will go up against Australia this Saturday at 12:00 pm local time in Taiwan, aiming to secure a crucial first win.

Premier12

WBSC Premier12 | Cuba se juega todo ante Australia. Darío Sarduy la designación del mentor cubano
Cuba enfrenta a Australia este sábado desde las 12:00 pm, hora local de Taiwán, en busca de un triunfo que mantenga al elenco con vida.

Premier12

WBSC Premier12 | Con dos cuadrangulares de Kim Do-yeong en desastrosa salida de Liván Moinelo, Corea del Sur propina a Cuba su segunda derrota
Corea del Sur dispuso de Cuba 8-4 para propinarle a los antillanos su segunda derrota del torneo.

Premier12

WBSC Premier12 | Ofensiva tardía de República Dominicana y falta de producción de Cuba, deja al elenco nacional cubano con primera derrota
República Dominicana inflingió un duro revés de 6-1 a Cuba, en el inicio del Grupo B del 2024 WBSC Premier12 en ciudad Taipei

Premier12

WBSC Premier12 | South Korea handed Cuba its second loss with two home runs by Kim Do-yeong, during a disastrous performance by Liván Moinelo
South Korea defeated Cuba 8-4 to hand them their second defeat of the tournament.

Premier12

WBSC Premier12 | Cuba suffered its first defeat, 6-1, following a late comeback by the Dominican Republic
In the opening game of Group B at the 2024 WBSC Premier12 in Taipei City, the Dominican Republic handed Cuba a difficult 6-1 loss.

Premier12

III Premier12 | Se despide Cuba de gira asiática, con blanqueada de 2-0 sobre el Wei Chuan Dragons de la CPBL
Cuba logra victoria de 2-0 sobre el elenco Wei Chuan Dragons de la CPBL, para culminar etapa preparatoria con siete triunfos en 11 salidas.

Premier12

III Premier12 | Cuarta derrota de Cuba en gira preparatoria, 10-7 ante el Banco Cooperativo Taiwanés
Cuba archiva cuarta derrota en gira preparatoria para el Premier12.

Premier12

III Premier12 | Con gran octavo inning, dispone Cuba 10-5 del CTBC Brothers en segundo enfrentamiento
El equipo nacional de Cuba sipudo 10-5 del CTBC Brothers en segundo enfrentamiento

Premier12

III Premier12 | Cuba derrota 7-1 al CTBC Brothers de la CPBL. Este jueves ambos elencos volverán a enfrentarse
El elenco nacional de Cuba dispuso este miércoles del CTBC Brothers de la CPBL, 7-1. Jugarán de nuevo este jueves.

Béisbol Internacional

Camino a Premier12, México vence a una selección cubana en inauguración de Estadio Santa Teresita
México vence a Cuba 9-1, en inauguración de estadio Santa Teresita.

Premier12

Preparations are underway for the inaugural Copa América de Béisbol in 2025, which will serve as a qualifying event for major world tournaments
A Copa América Baseball tournament is on the horizon for 2025.

Premier12

III Premier12 | Cuba defeated Taiwan Life Aloong 6-5 in seventh preparation match
Cuba defeats Taiwan Life Aloong 6-5 in the seventh preparatory match.

Premier12

Una primera Copa América de Béisbol, clasificatoria para máximos eventos mundiales, se prepara para 2025
Una Copa América de Béisbol se perfila en el horizonte para el 2025
bottom of page