Matanzas Ties Series, Game 5 on Sunday
HAVANA TIMES — Matanzas managed a slow but sure comeback on Saturday to defeat Pinar del Rio in 10 innings by a score of 4-3. Taking into account they were down 3-0 in the seventh, and having had their first 19 batters retired in order, it was quite a feat, reported Baseballdecuba.com.
Yosvani Torres finally lost his perfect game when Ariel Sanchez managed a one out single, followed by two more hits that loaded the bases. Yadiel Hernandez hit a liner to right that drove in the first Matanzas run before Torres got out of the jam still ahead 3-1.
In the eighth two hits and an error on a groundball by Dainer Moreira allowed the second run and a tiring Torres got the hook, substituted by reliever Julio A. Martinez, who ended the inning striking out Sanchez.
A two out hit to the left side by Raul Gonzalez, off Martinez, drove in the tying run in the top of the ninth.
In the tenth pinch hitter Yasiel Santoya laced a hit to center, moved to second on a sacrifice. He then surprised Pinar by stealing third and came around to score on a wild pitch by Martinez to Guillermo Heredia.
Felix Fuentes, who came in to pitch to one batter in the ninth and pitched a perfect tenth to pick up the win, while Julio Martinez was the loser.
NOTE: Game five is today in Pinar del Rio. At the time of this publication Pinar del Rio is ahead 4-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning. The game can be watched live at the site of Cubavision Internacional.