CUBA – Donald Duarte chugged around the bases for an easy homer as left fielder Eliecer Bonne chased the ball to the wall. There was no way the Santiago Wasps were going to catch the Pinar Tobacco Growers, either.

Pinar del Río beat Santiago de Cuba 12-3 for the first time in two seasons during preliminary round, getting five and one third strong innings from Yunieski Maya. The victory made Luis G. Casanova’s debut as their manager a success.

The Tobacco Growers reached double figures, and they did it after seven innings with a 11-3 lead. They led 4-1 after three innings — two scoring on catcher Otaño’s homer — against Norge L. Vera (0-1) and then added two runs in the third on Duarte’s homer to left-center field.

Later on the game center fielder Reinier León ’s three-run homer, made it 11-3. The victory restored Pinar’s credibility in order to fight for the Western League Championship in the 2008-2009 season.

One great new for Pinar was that its fifth batter, Donald Duarte, got on base in each of the five times he went at bat, adding two singles, a homer and two walks. Great news because the cleanup hitter, Yosvany Peraza, may have a lot of help this season if Duarte stay healthy and hitting like last night.

Pinar broke a 10-game losing streak during regular season against Santiago, while the Wasps suffered their first loss in four years in an opening game.

Santiago didn’t have much luck in the game. Alexei Bell, the 2007-2008 Cuban baseball’s HR and RBI leader with 31 and 111 respectively, was hit on the face by a pitch in the first inning of Saturday night’s game against the Pinar del Río Tobacco Growers and left to get X-rays.

Batting against Pinar’ starter Yunieski Maya in the first, Bell tried to hit a ball under a 1-1 sinker inside but had it hit his face. He lay down for several minutes near the plate before he was replaced by Eliecer Bonne.

Yunieski Maya (1-0), the Pinar’ starting pitcher, allowed three runs – one unearned -, five hits, two walks and hit two batters while striking out four in five one third innings. He was pitching with confidence and retired 10 consecutive batters after Meriño’s single to left on the first inning. His reliever, right-hander Rogelio García, Jr., pitched the rest of the game allowing not runs on five hits and striking out three.

The Tobacco Growers scored eight runs each off Vera. The Santiago’ starter was ineffective during most part of the game. Vera left with the bases loaded and two outs in the six after allowing eight hits and seven earned runs withthree strikeouts.

After this inaugural game, both teams prepared things to a long travel to the Western section of Cuba, where the Santiago de Cuba Wasps visit Latinoamericano Stadium for a three-game series that begins on December 2. Same day Pinar’s team will receive powerful Las Tunas Magicians at the Capitán San Luis Stadium.

Notes: Yosvany Peraza, the Pinar’ star and team leader in homers (25) during the 2007-2008 baseball season, was out of the lineup because of an eye infection, missing inaugural game against the Santiago de Cuba Wasps… Pinar’s victory was the first for manager Luis G. Casanova in Cuban Leagues…Pinar also broke a streak of Santiago’s three consecutive wins in inaugural games. Santiago was the winner of each of the inaugural games during the 45th National Series (Nov. 20, 2005, 10-4 over La Habana); 46th NS (Dec. 3, 2006, 6-3 over Industriales) and 47th NS (Dec 2, 2007, 6-3 over Industriales).

Photo by Francisco Hechavarría Guzmán

Ray Otero is the Chief Writer at www.baseballdecuba.com and can be reached at: elistas@baseballdecuba.com.

Tags: Cuba