Western Division 2012: Matanzas ... well worth a championship
Western Division 2012: Game 6- Ind 6, 11 Mtz
Player of the game : First baseman Yasiel Santoya has been instrumental in the triumphs of Matanzas in the Games # 2 and #6 of the Western Division Championships. Yasiel drove in four runs and his first inning three run homer put Matanzas back in the playoff picture.
The Crocodiles, the boys of Victor Mesa, or the best team in the Cuban season 2011-2012, whatever you want to call it, has drawn strength from which many thought was no longer present, on Wednesday tied the series of the Western Division Postseason 2012 at three games apiece, with their 11-6 victory in their home stadium at Victoria de Giron Stadium against the Industriales thus sending the best of seven series to a 7th game this Thursday at 8:30 pm.
Neither left-hander Ian Rendon for the Industriales nor fellow southpaw Yoanni Year for Matanzas, could pass the very first inning.
Irait Chirino opened the game with a single to center and after forcing out of Torriente Chirino at second, Rudy Reyes homered to put the match quickly 2-0. Another single by Serguei Perez, with two outs, Victor Mesa did not wait any longer - as usual - and brought the righty Maikel Martínez who managed to calm the waters despite a walk given to Yasmani Thomas.
But Matanzas had been willing to leave everything on the ground and did not shrink before the opponent's advantage, scoring a cluster of four runs at the bottom of that initial inning. With one out Ariel Sanchez and Manuel Benavidez - born in La Maya, Santiago de Cuba on November 2, 1964 and at the ripe old age of 47 received walks, leaving the scene ready for Santoya Yasiel's 3-run homer in front of an overflowing crowd at the stadium. It was madness in the stands to see the change of the face of the encounter with a 3-2 in favor of the Crocodiles. Matanzas was in the fight but would extend it's lead against Rondon with another homer by Hernandez Yadiel to left, which gave a 4-2 lead to the Crocodiles. Manager Vargas could not take more and this time looked not as calm as before, removing Rendon and replacing him with another lefty, Pavel Pino, in a decision that did not ring happy with the Industriales.
But both relievers seemed to calm the storms offensive for two innings, three for Martinez. In the 4th the Blue's response would come to Maikel Martínez. Yasmani Thomas led off with a single to left, Tabares did the same to the right and both men were anchored at third and second, respectively, by the well-executed sacrifice by catcher Frank Camilo Morejon. Raiko Olivares produced the third single to right by sending Thomas to the plate and Tabares moving to third. Victor Mesa was disturbed and made way for Maikel Delvis Borges - Borges was a man who threw only 11.1 innings in all 51 National Series PCL exhibiting 11.12 ERA - but nevertheless pulled out an important at bat against Irait Chirino. His ground out equalized the score at 4. Borges then retired Joel Suarez to take in the reins of shock for the good of his team.
The tie went to the bottom of the 5th inning when the Matanzas exploded offensively to stop once and for all the game. With one out, Guillermo Heredia singled to right. With Manuel Benavidez at the plate, some believers thought the inning was over, but again they were wrong, Benavidez doubled to left that brought Heredia to the plate. That put Matanzas ahead again and forever in the game.
Matanzas Yadiel blasted his second homer of the game - which would put the game at 8-4.
Industriales tried to rally in the sixth when Tabares - that veteran - doubled, moved to third on a single by new receiver Lisbán Correa. Tabares scored on a sacrifice fly by Irait Chirino.
But with the score 8-5, Matanzas wanted to silence once and for all the roar of the Lion and in the process and scored another cluster of 3 runs in the sixth.
In that inning Joseph M. Fernandez reached on single to center - the righty Novato Churches replaced Ernesto Mena - Medina struck out before the new pitcher, but Heredia negotiated a walk and Ariel Sanchez homered to left pushing the score to 11-5. The Industriales would add another run but would not be enough. Final Matanzas 11 Industriales 6.
