Daily Cuban League Action Update (for April 16, 2012)

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Two historic home runs highlighted sparse Sunday afternoon action which also saw Industrtiales (6-0 loser to Pinar del Río) drop out of a first place tie in the west while both Las Tunas and Santiago picked up valuable ground in the tight eastern division playoff chase. Joan Carlos Pedroso provided the difference for Last Tunas with a sixth inning homer off Yander Guevara that also boosted him into sole possession of the ninth slot in Cuban League career homers with 287. In Cienfuegos José Dariel Abreu bashed round tripper number 33 of the season in a losing cause against Santiago. The two-run shot in the eighth matched Abreu’s former record total of 33 (last season) and now leaves him trailing new record holder Alfredo Despaigne by only two round trippers entering the final week of regular-season action.

At Capitán San Luis Stadium in Pinar del Río veteran hurler Yosvani Torres (now 9-12) stifled Industriales bats with a nifty complete-game three-hit whitewash; the Pinar starter faced only one batter over the minimum number of 27 thanks to a pair of rally-killing double plays. The loss prevented Industriales from grabbing sole position of first place from idle Matanzas. With their 10-4 romp over Cienfuegos Santiago moved back into fourth place out east and now nurses a slim half-game advantage over Granma. The big hits for the Wasps were solo homers by Rolando Meriño and Edilse Silva. Shortstop Maikel Castellanos also contributed heavily to the Santiago offense with three hits and a trio of RBIs.

In the head-to-head battle for second slot in the Oriente League Las Tunas gained the advantage on the strength of homers by both Pedroso and shortstop Alex Guerrero (a two-run shot in the second). Rookie hurler Carlos Juan Viera picking up the victory (his seventh) in relief of starter Ubisney Bermudez. The game-winning tally for the Leñadores came via an unearned run in the ninth frame.

Results of Sunday, April 15, 2012

(Boldface team is home club)

Las Tunas 4, Ciego de Avila 3

Santiago de Cuba 10, Cienfuegos 4

Pinar del Río 6, Industriales 0

Idle: All other teams

League Standings (April 15, 2012)

Boldface teams have clinched playoff appearance

Occidental League

Team	Games	Wins	Losses	Pct.	Margin
Matanzas	90	52	38	.578	–
Industriales	91	52	39	.571	0.5
Cienfuegos	91	51	40	.560	1.5
Sancti   Spíritus	89	46	43	.517	5.5
Pinar del   Río	94	46	48	.489	8.0
Isla de   la Juventud	90	37	53	.411	15.0
Metropolitanos	90	36	54	.400	16.0
Artemisa	90	33	57	.367	19.0
Mayabeque	90	30	60	.333	22.0

Oriental League

Team	Games	Wins	Losses	Pct.	Margin
Villa Clara	90	54	36	.600	–
Las Tunas	90	52	38	.578	2.0
Ciego de   Avila	91	52	39	.571	2.5
Santiago   de Cuba	91	51	40	.560	3.5
Granma	90	50	40	.556	4.0
Guantánamo	88	42	46	.477	11.0
Holguín	90	42	48	.467	12.0
Camagüey	93	43	50	.462	12.5

Individual Batting Leaders

Ave: José Dariel Abreu (Cienfuegos) .386

Hits: Yordan Manduley (Holguín) 123

Hits: Yordanis Samón (Granma) 123

Runs: Ramón Tamayo (Granma) 83

HR: Alfredo Despaigne (Granma) 35 (new league record)

RBI: Alfredo Despaigne (Granma) 101

Slugging: José Dariel Abreu (Cienfuegos) .814

Individual Pitching Leaders

Wins: Ismel Jiménez (Sancti Spíritus) 16

ERA: Vladimir García (Ciego de Avila) 1.78

Complete Games: Vladimir García (Ciego de Avila) 11

Saves: Danni Aguilera (Isla de la Juventud) 25

Ks: Yadier Pedroso (Artemisa) 120

Ks: Odrisamer Despaigne (Industriales) 120

Innings: Ismel Jiménez (Sancti Spíritus) 177.0