Pinar Batters Ciego, Leads Cuba Finals 2-1
by Circles Robinson
HAVANA TIMES, April 28 — Pinar del Rio embarrassed Ciego de Avila with a 14-4 mercy rule victory on Wednesday to take a 2-1 lead in their best of seven Cuba baseball championship series.
The game was virtually over in the first inning when Pinar scored five times, but if there were any doubters, a six-run second put the score board at 11-0.
The Pinar charge was led by William Saavedra who went 3-for-5 with a homer and 3 RBIs. Donal Duarte, Mijain Rivera, Raidel Alvarez, Luis Alberto Valdes and Pedro Luis Rodriguez also homered for the winners.
In all Pinar del Rio pounded out 17 hits including 9 for extra bases.
Ciego de Avila had eight hits and managed a three-run rally in the sixth. Yorelvis Charles drove in two runs for the Eastern Division team.
Yosvani Torres pitched seven innings to get the win for Pinar, his fifth in the 2011 postseason.
The only bright spot on the mound for Ciego de Avila came from its fifth pitcher, Victor Baro, who went the final 5.1 innings allowing six hits and two runs.
Game four is on Thursday in Pinar del Rio. Likewise for Game five on Friday.