Industriales Stuns Havana Province

By Circles Robinson

HAVANA TIMES, March 12 — Industriales won their sixth straight playoff game on Thursday to take a 2-0 lead over Havana Province in the Western Division finals.  A grand slam by Alexander Mayeta in the fifth off reliever Jonder Martinez stunned fans at San Jose de las Lajas, accustomed winning games on pure pitching.

Starter Ian Rendon went five strong innings for Industriales to get the win with a superb relief performance from Frank Menendez who allowed only one hit in the final four innings.

The series now shifts to the Latinoamericano Stadium,home of Industriales,  in Havana for games three, four and five if necessary.

Industriales-Havana Province Box Score

In the Eastern Division, Villa Clara managed only three hits but its two runs in the bottom of the seventh were enough to defeat Ciego de Avila in game one of their best-of-seven series by a score of 2-1.

Freddy Asiel Alvarez went the route to get the win allowing five singles and a solo homer by Yorelvis Fiss that gave Ciego an early 1-0 lead.

Vladimir Garcia, the loser, allowed only two hits but he got into trouble in the seventh and Maikel Folch, usually a starter, was unable to put out the fire allowing a run to score on a walk and an unsuccessful fielder’s choice in a close play at second permitted the game winning run to score.

Game two takes place on Friday in Villa Clara.

Villa Clara-Ciego de Avila Box Score