CUBA – Hector Olivera and Maikel Castellanos homered and the Santiago de Cuba Wasps routed the Las Tunas Magicians 13-6 Wednesday to clinch the final playoff berth in the Cuban League.

Santiago (48-41), which beat Las Tunas 6-5 a day earlier in the first of two make-up games, scored early and often to put the do-or-die regular season finale out of reach quickly.

The Wasps roughed up Las Tunas starter Yudiel Rodriguez for a quartet of scores in the opening frame to grab a 4-0 lead. Then, two innings later, the perennial title contender erupted for six runs to stretch the score to 10-1.

Santiago starter Danny Betancourt struggled to locate the strike zone but still managed to fan nine batters in five plus innings to garner the crucial win. Relievers Osmani Tamayo and Osmel Cintra (pictured) came out of the bullpen to seal the fate of the Magicians.

Las Tunas (47-42, which got a pair of home runs from Yosvani Alarcon, were eliminated from playoff contention after suffering back-to-back losses in their backyard.

2009-2010 CUBAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS:

WEST DIVISION
#1 Sancti Spíritus Roosters (63-27) vs #4 Industriales Lions (47-43)
#2 Cienfuegos Elephants (51-39) vs #3 La Habana Cowboys (49-40)

EAST DIVISION
#1 Villa Clara Orangemen (56-32) vs #4 Santiago de Cuba (48-41)
#2 Guantánamo Indians (52-37) vs #3 Ciego de Ávila Tigers (49-40)

Photo courtesy of BaseballdeCuba

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Tags: Cuba