Bad Throw Keeps Villa Clara Alive

By Circles Robinson

Ramon Lunar singled home the winning run for Villa Clara in the bottom of the tenth.
Ramon Lunar singled home the winning run for Villa Clara in the bottom of the tenth.

HAVANA TIMES, June 4 — A costly throwing error by Havana’s Ernesto Molinet in the ninth and a single to center from rookie Ramon Lunar with the bases loaded in the bottom of the tenth gave Villa Clara their first win against three losses to Havana Province in the Cuban Baseball Championship.

Havana fans following the game on their TVs and radios were ready to set off the fireworks but the home crowd in Villa Clara, said no thanks and now hosts game five of the best-of-seven series on Thursday night at 8:00 p.m.

Once again it was the pitching of southpaw Yulieski Gonzalez —who also went eight innings in game one— that appeared to give Havana its fourth win and a series sweep for its first ever championship.

Havana’s star second baseman Ernesto Molinet made a costly throwing error that allowed Villa Clara to tie the game.
Havana’s star second baseman Ernesto Molinet made a costly throwing error that allowed Villa Clara to tie the game.

However, a routine grounder to Ernesto Molinet opened the door for Villa Clara to tie the score at 3-3 in the ninth.

Yosvani Perez, who had a brief start in Tuesday’s game, came in to pitch the final out in the top of the tenth after Yolexis Ulacia ran into trouble. Then, when Villa Clara loaded the bases in the bottom of the tenth after two intentional walks, Lunar smacked his game winning hit to center of Jose A. Garcia for the 4-3 walk-off victory.

Havana blew many chances throughout the game including four bases loaded opportunities. Villa Clara finished with eight hits with two errors and Havana pounded out 12 hits but allowed three errors that led to two unearned runs.

To see the box score of Wednesday’s game click on: http://www.granma.cubaweb.cu/eventos/48serie/playoff/final/bf-4.html