When the Leñadores begin the semifinals against Granma next Thursday, starting at 2:00 pm at the Mártires de Barbados Stadium in Bayamo, the province will once again be immersed in the emotions of the postseason. Before opening the way to the green-red future, it is worth analyzing the individual performances in a more complicated quarterfinal than expected, especially due to the resistance shown by the Ciego de Ávila Tigers.
Las Tunas, Cuba.- Paradoxically, those who earned their nickname by dint of hitting or "wood," to say it in tune with baseball slang, suffered from unproductivity in most of the challenges. The team from Las Tunas connected 57 hits in 213 at-bats for a collective average of 268, figures below the usual standards.
However, the biggest concern was the lack of timely connections, that is, with runners in bases.
Amid this instability, Yosvani Alarcón fulfilled his responsibility as the leader of the line-up from the opening game when he tied the game in the second third, and then decided the first matchup in the history of the national pastime, through the Schiller Rule during the playoffs.
The catcher recorded 14 hits, the only one with double digits in that section, in 29 official visits to home plate, for a formidable average of .483. Meanwhile, his offensive line is completed by an on-base percentage (OBP) of .500, which translates into reaching the bases once for every two opportunities, and a slugging of .759. The Las Tunas 11 produced eight runs for his team, with five RBIs, and four extra-base hits – among them, a pair of home runs. This performance is worthy of the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the match against the felines, in the opinion of the 26 sports editors.
Although the man from Jobabo took center stage, other pieces within the machinery of Abeysi Pantoja also stood out; especially in the area of the pitchers, who once again fulfilled the task, despite being the target of doubts and concerns. Eliánder Bravo and Yadier Zamora put aside the pressure of the current competitive stage to provide work of notable relevance, Keniel Ferraz resumed the idyllic efficiency of the previous Series and Alberto Pablo Civil, despite the years pass, continues as a life insurance in the final innings.
Eliánder responded to the ace status within the rotation, with two quality outings in the same number of appearances. The left-hander worked for twelve innings, allowing only one run with an ERA of 0.75 and an opponents' average of .231, as he admitted nine hits in 48 at-bats.
Zamora, only 19 years old and making his debut in the Series, has used his abilities to make the mound a place free from complaints. The youngster worked in 11.1 innings at a rate of 13 strikeouts and without issuing walks, he allowed three earned runs and an opponents' batting average of .233. In addition, according to his service record, he has a WHIP: of 0.91 and allows a little more than two earned runs per nine acts (2.45).
With three decisions from the bullpen, Keniel adds another calendar as a key piece as setter and/or early support, with a record of one success, one save, and one loss. Ferraz meant the helping hand for Civil in the closings as they both have paved the way for triumphs on more than one occasion. The closer from Puerto Padre silenced the comments about his performance in the final of the qualifying stage, with a victory and a rescue throughout his hermetic transit on the so-called hill of sighs, where he gave back the breath to a few on the first day when in extra innings he retired the core of the Ciego de Ávila artillery by strikeout.
Mentor Pantoja and his management team are urged to review and amend the weaknesses of the current champions in a few days because the fight with the Alazanes (Granma Sorrels) entrails greater demands in the different sections.
