Cienfuegos Pulls Away in Cuba Baseball

HAVANA TIMES, March 6 — Western Division leader Cienfuegos swept its three game weekend series from Eastern contender Guantanamo to pull seven games ahead of the second place La Habana with only 15 games left in the regular 90 game season.

Playing in Guantanamo, which had been on a hot streak, Cienfuegos won 5-4, 10-8 y 10-4.

The team is led by lefty Norberto Gonzalez who has a near perfect 12-1 record.

Ciego de Avila managed to win one of three vs. Pinar del Rio and now leads the Eastern Division by one game over Guantanamo and two over Granma, which swept its series over lowly Matanzas.

Four teams from each division will qualify for the first round of the playoffs.  Last year’s league champs, Industriales, and perennial contender Santiago de Cuba, are both in serious danger of elimination.

Play resumes with a full schedule on Tuesday.  See Schedule

STANDINGS including games of Sunday March 6.

Western Divsion	W	L	AVE	GB
Cienfuegos	50	25	.667	–
Habana	43	32	.574	7
Pinar del Rio	42	33	.560	8
Santi Spiritus	41	34	.547	9
Industriales	37	39	.487	13.5
Matanzas	31	44	.414	19
Isla de la Juventud	29	46	.387	21
Metropolitanos	25	50	.334	25
Eastern Division	W	L	AVE	GB
Ciego de Avila	46	29	.614	–
Guantanamo	45	30	.600	1
Granma	44	31	.587	2
Villa Clara	41	35	.540	5.5
Las Tunas	35	40	.467	11
Santiago de Cuba	35	40	.467	11
Camaguey	34	41	.454	12
Holguin	23	52	.307	23