Industriales and Villa Clara Baseball Leaders

HAVANA TIMES, Dec. 11.- At the half way point in the second full week of the 90-game Cuban Baseball Season, Havana’s Industriales leads the Western Division by two games with a 6-1 record while undefeated Villa Clara 8-0 leads in the East by one game.

Last season’s runner up Pinar del Rio is in second place behind Industriales with a 5-4 record, with Sancti Spiritus (4-4) and La Habana (3-3) are tied for third 2.5 games back. Close behind Villa Clara in the East are Ciego de Avila and Holguin both 7-1.

Last year’s champions, Santiago de Cuba, got off to an inconsistent start but their hard hitting lineup looked pretty good on Wednesday with a 12-0 victory over the Isla de la Juventud, called on the mercy rule in 7 innings. Reinier Roibal picked up his second win allowing only one hit. Santiago is now 4-4, four games behind Villa Clara.

Industriales won 10-2 over Camaguey on Wednesday with Arley Sanchez picking up his first victory and Alexander Malleta connecting his first homer of the season. Meanwhile, Donal Duarte blasted his third homer of the season and reached 11 RBIs helping Pinar del Rio hang on to a 4-3 win over Guantanamo.