Matanzas seeks to remain undefeated in the start of Cuban baseball season

Matanzas, January 26 (RHC/Prensa Latina)-- The reigning runners-up Matanzas will take the field this Wednesday against Cienfuegos to keep their unbeaten record at the start of the 61st edition of the National Series, Cuba's main baseball show.

Technical director Armando Ferrer will depend for this third challenge on left-hander Dariel Góngora in order to maintain the winning pace and secure against Cienfuegos the first sub-series of the campaign, after beating them yesterday 20 runs by five.

The Matanzas crocodiles have two wins at the start of the baseball classic, after last Sunday's 4-3 victory over the Granma champions.

This Wednesday, Pinar del Río will defend the initial success against Isla de la Juventud, Industriales will try to take revenge against Artemisa, Villa Clara will do the same against Mayabeque, as well as Camagüey against Sancti Spíritus, Las Tunas against Ciego de Avila, Holguín against Santiago de Cuba and Guantánamo versus Granma.

Yesterday, in the beginning of the first sub-series, the leading exponent of Granma came from behind at home against Mártires de Barbados to beat Guantánamo 6-2, supported by Guillermo Áviles and Iván Prieto's home runs.

Joel Mojena worked at a rate of two runs, nine hits, five strikeouts and only one ticket in seven chapters, to give the first success in the contest to the "Alazanes" with the help of relievers Kelvis Rodriguez and Carlos Santana.

Pinar del Río got off to a good start with a 4-1 win over Isla de la Juventud, Artemisa beat Industriales 8-7 in eleven innings, Mayabeque beat Villa Clara 6-5 at home and Sancti Spíritus defeated Camagüey 9-2.

Tuesday's baseball program was completed with Santiago de Cuba's 14-2 win over Holguin and Ciego de Avila's 4-0 blanqueada over Las Tunas.

The current version of the National Baseball Series began its regular schedule last Sunday and its qualifying stage includes 75 games until mid-May.