Havana Wins Pitching Duel vs Cienfuegos

By Circles Robinson

HAVANA TIMES, March 3, — Havana Province, the defending Cuban baseball champions, won their second game of the quarter final playoffs 1-0 Tuesday on pure pitching.

Yadier Pedroso (6.0 innings) and Yonder Martinez (3.0) scattered five hits and struck out ten to give Havana a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

The game was decided in the first inning when Havana jumped on Cienfuegos starter Samuel Ruiz for a double by Michel Rodriguez and an RBI single by Ernesto Molinet.  Relievers Yasmani Fernandez and Jorge Fernandez blanked Havana for the final 7.1 innings.

For Cienfuegos, slugging first baseman Jose Abreu had two singles in four at bats.

All three games of this series have been by the minimum difference of one run.  Cienfuegos opened with a 5-4 win followed by a 2-1 victory for Havana, which plays out San Jose de las Lajas on the outskirts of the capital.

The other playoff game schedule for Tuesday between Industriales and Sancti Spiritus was postponed due to rain.  The series is tied 1-1.

Wednesday’s Playoff Games

On Wednesday all eight teams see action.  Cienfuegos visits Habana Province; Industriales hosts Sancti Spiritus; Villa Clara (2-0) visits Santiago (0-2) and Ciego de Avila (2-0) hosts Guantánamo (0-2).