The Cuban National Series All-Star Game (ASG) returned on Sunday afternoon after skipping the 2021 pandemic year, and the West picked up the win at Victoria de Girón Stadium in Matanzas.
The West won 12-11 in extra innings (10), their 16th victory in the Cuban classic against the East, dating back to 1963 when the rivalry started.
It was the 35th edition of the All-Star Game, and now the East and West are tied with 16 wins, while two games were celebrated under different teams' names, and the 2015 ASG was started but cancelled after 4 1/2 innings due to rain.
On Sunday, Carlos de la Tejeda picked up the first ASG walk-off hit of his career, a tenth-inning single to leftfield off reliever Carlos J. Viera, to give the West the win.
For the West, reliever Kendry Hernández pitched 1 2/3 perfect innings with one strikeout to pick up his first ASG win.
Here are some other memorable moments of the 2022 Cuban National Series All-Star Game:
Dayán García's (West-Artemisa) hit a Grand Slam in the bottom of the fourth inning. It was only the second time in ASG history that a Grand Slam is recorded. Previous one? Lisbán Correa (West-Industriales) during the 2020 ASG
RHP Carlos J. Viera (East-Las Tunas) tied retired RHP Carlos Yánes (West-Isla de la Juventud) all-time record of 3 ASG decisions
Eliseo Rojas (West-Isla de la Juventud) scored three times in the game tying an all-time record
Pedro P. Revilla (East-Guantánamo) set a new record with four strikeouts in the game (Golden sombrero), he had an horrible afternoon going 0-for-5
Frederich Cepeda (East-Sancti Spíritus) tied retired catcher Eriel Sánchez (East-Sancti Spíritus) for the most All-Star appearances with 11. Cepeda went 3-for-3 with 2 RBIs and an intentional walk in the game
Dayán García's (West-Artemisa) Grand Slam was the 45th homer in All-Star Games history
The East had five extra-bases in the game to tie an all-time record
It was the 4th game that went to extra-innings after the 1967, 2003, and 2011 editions (all of them decided in 10th innings)
It was the second ASG with the most runs scored in history (23) after the 2011 ASG when a total of 28 runs were scored (East 15, West 13)
Michael González (West-Mayabeque) became the 5th manager in history to win a ASG in both roles, as a player and manager. Lázaro Pérez (East-Azucareros), Pedro Jova (East-Villa Clara), Roger Machado (East-Ciego de Ávila), and Víctor Mesa (East-Villa Clara) did it before
2022 Home Run Derby
Before the All-Star Game, the 2022 Home Run Derby was held, and Las Tunas' catcher, Rafael Viñales, won the competition with 11 home runs.
It was Viñales' second Home Run Derby crown. He also won the 2016 Home Run Derby, coincidentally, in the same Victoria de Girón Stadium in Matanzas.
The 2022 Home Run Derby was held between four players, who qualified from Saturday's Home Run Derby qualifying rounds.
2022 Home Run Derby, Sunday's results:
Rafael Viñales (East-Las Tunas) - 11 HRs
Pedro P. Revilla (East-Guantánamo) - 10
Yasser Julio González (West-Pinar del Río) - 8 (2020 champion)
Alfredo Fadraga (East- Ciego de Ávila) - 7
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