Ciego Forces Tie Breaker with Las Tunas

HAVANA TIMES — Ciego de Avila defeated Las Tunas 12-2 on Saturday night to even their best of seven series 3-3 and force a tie breaker, also in Las Tunas, on Sunday.

The game was a pitcher’s duel through six innings between Ciego’s ace Vladimir Garcia and Dael Mejias for Las Tunas with Ciego up 2-0.

However, last season’s league runners-up broke open the game in the seventh with five runs and added another five in the ninth for insurance.

Las Tunas lonely two runs came one each in the seventh and eighth innings.

Garcia picked up the win traveling eight innings, allowing two runs on eight hits while striking out three and not allowing a walk. Mejias took the loss for Las Tunas.

Yoelvis Fiss led the firepower for Ciego de Avila going two-for-four with a homerun and five RBI’s. Rusney Castillo crossed the plate three times for the winners.

Boxscore

The other three teams to make the Cuban baseball semifinal playoffs are already determined with Industriales to face Matanzas for the Western Division title and Granma waiting for its rival (Las Tunas or Ciego de Avila) in the East.