The number six played a crucial role in Game 5 of the Final between the Vegueros de Pinar del Río and the Leñadores de Las Tunas.
In the initial three innings, the Vegueros failed to capitalize, leaving six runners on base. Despite a remarkable 7-for-14 batting performance against the Leñadores’ starter, 19-year-old rookie Yadier Zamora, they were unable to convert it into runs. Las Tunas managed to take a 1-0 lead with just two singles in the second inning.
Héctor Castillo drove in that first run of the game with two outs, however, despite Branlis Rodríguez retiring his next seven opponents in a row, Pinar del Río failed to support him. The Leñadores had only two hits by the bottom of the fifth inning and left the bases loaded. Nevertheless, in the top of the fifth inning, Pinar del Río managed to equalize the score with a double from Alexei Ramírez, but subsequent batters William Saavedra, Yasser Julio González, and Tailon Sánchez were neutralized by reliever Rodolfo Díaz.
The Vegueros missed out on a significant opportunity that was not repeated. They failed to capitalize, leaving 11 runners stranded: two on first, six on second, and three on third. Nevertheless, the timely relief performances by Jenier Álvarez, a right-hander who effectively handled Jeans Lucas Baldoquín to end the sixth inning with a runner on second, and Raudel Lazo, a left-hander, prevented the Leñadores from taking the lead in the 1-1 tie.
Lazo entered this Final with a strikeout of Yuniesky Larduet. Despite walking Roberto Súlivan Baldoquín, he managed to end the seventh inning by striking out Yosvany Alarcón with runners on first and second base.
After seven innings, the Vegueros managed to produce 11 hits but only mustered a single run. Their offensive struggles, which showed some promise in Game 4, intensified the pressure on the relievers as they faced a lineup of hitters ready to capitalize. As anticipated, history repeated itself. The Vegueros failed to score in the eighth inning, paving the way for the Leñadores to make their move towards victory.
In the eighth inning, Rafael Viñales kicked things off with a ground ball single that deflected off third base and rolled into left field. Denis Peña, who had been struggling with a 13-game hitless streak, then hit a ground ball to shortstop. Tailon Sánchez swiftly fielded the ball and attempted to initiate a double play by throwing to second base, but the second baseman, Rolando Martínez, was unable to handle the ball.
Martínez's minor mistake provided Peña with an opportunity, which was followed by Yordanis Alarcón's solid single to right field that advanced Peña to third base. As runners stood on first and third, a pivotal moment in the game unfolded.
Lazo aimed for the outside corner with a high fastball, but Jeans Lucas Baldoquín didn't swing. With a 1-0 count, Lazo readied his curveball, but this time his control faltered, leaving the pitch vulnerable. The ball drifted towards the center of the strike zone. In contrast to Alarcón and Larduet, Jean Lucas hit the ball beyond reach for a home run that electrified the Lumberjacks fans.
The ball appeared as if it would not drop, and initially, I struggled to see where it had landed. The home run flew into the structures beyond left field at the Julio Antonio Mella stadium.
The score stood at 4-1, seemingly a small three-run margin that the Vegueros were used to overcoming during the regular season. However, the significance of the home run made any hopes of a comeback futile for a team trailing 3-1 in the Final. The game's outcome was effectively determined. Frankly, following a lot of back and forth and a 1-1 tie after seven innings, what remained was for one of the teams to deliver a decisive blow.
The Vegueros lineup managed to collect 11 hits but only scored one run.
In the annals of the Cuban baseball playoffs, a solitary team stands out for achieving a 1-0 victory despite recording 11 hits. This remarkable feat was accomplished by the Ciego de Ávila Tigers when they faced off against Villa Clara in Game 7 of the Quarterfinals series in 2011. On that memorable afternoon, Vladimir García secured his first playoff game victory over Freddy Asiel Álvarez.
The Vegueros de Pinar del Río attempted a comeback after the Leñadores de Las Tunas scored two more runs in the eighth inning with a single by Yuniesky Larduet. However, Jeans Lucas Baldoquín's home run had already sealed the fate of the Vegueros. Despite their efforts, the Vegueros ultimately fell short, losing with their top reliever of the postseason.
Prior to the start of the bottom of the eighth inning when he gave up Baldoquín's home run, Lazo had excelled in six nearly flawless relief outings. He emerged victorious in a match against Industriales and recorded three saves. During this time, he pitched nine scoreless innings, striking out seven batters, issuing just one walk, and conceding five hits, all of which were singles.
Rodolfo Díaz's relief pitching performance for the Leñadores was another standout aspect, although it may have been somewhat overlooked due to the strong offensive display towards the end of the game. Díaz conceded just one earned run over five innings without issuing any walks. (*)
(*) If left fielder Denis Peña had reacted faster when retrieving Alexei Ramírez's double to left field, Juan Carlos Arencibia might not have scored from first base.
During the year, Díaz was at the forefront of the Leñadores' pitching staff, making 38 relief appearances, securing 14 saves, and pitching for a total of 99 ⅓ innings, which also included the postseason. He ended the season with a 4-5 record and a 3.08 ERA in a league known for its strong offense. In the playoffs, Díaz averaged 3 ⅓ innings per relief appearance and achieved a 1.91 ERA. His pitching prowess played a crucial role in sharing the bullpen duties with the main closer, Alberto Pablo Civil, who had a flawless record in the postseason with one win, three saves, and no earned runs allowed.
Eliander Bravo started Game 1 and Alejandro Meneses took the mound in Game 3, providing stability to prevent the bullpen from becoming overwhelmed. Once again, the team's offense proved to be its main strength. Denis Peña emerged as the hero of Game 1, contributing with a home run and three RBIs, despite later going through a 0-for-14 slump. Yosvany Alarcón delivered a crucial double with the bases loaded in the 10th inning of Game 2. Yunieski Larduet scored three of the team's five runs in Game 3, while Roberto Súlivan Baldoquín went 4-for-5 with a double and an RBI. In the decisive Game 5, Hector Castillo had been the standout player for the Leñadores, going 3-for-3 with a double, run scored, RBI, and a stolen base, until Jean Lucas Baldoquin took his turn at bat and smashed Raudel Lazo's curveball on a 1-0 count.
Prior to the start of Game 5 of the Final on Sunday afternoon, the Leñadores de Las Tunas had achieved 38 victories in 59 postseason matches since 2019. During this period, they maintained the highest winning percentage among all teams (64%), although they secured both their championship titles (2019 against Villa Clara and 2023 against Industriales) on the road.
The narrative took a turn during the national title discussion against the Vegueros de Pinar del Río. The Leñadores clinched victories in Games 1 and 2, marking their third consecutive Final win. Notably, this year's initial triumphs were achieved on the road, fueling the team's determination to secure the championship and rejoice in front of their devoted fans at home. Following a five-game Semifinal victory over the Alazanes de Granma, the Leñadores successfully defended their title by defeating the Vegueros de Pinar del Río, who had dominated the regular season.
The Alazanes de Granma were the most recent team to win two consecutive seasons, achieving victory in the 60th and 61st National Series. However, the Leñadores de Las Tunas have emerged as the new dominant force in Cuban baseball, clinching three out of the last six seasons: 2019, 2023, and 2024.
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