The home team continues to hold serve with the 4-2 Granma win over Las Tunas on Wednesday night at Mártires de Barbados Stadium, to even the Cuban Finals series at two games apiece.
Granma rallied for three runs in the bottom of the eighth off Las Tunas closer Jose A. García to erase a 2-1 deficit.
Roel Santos got the inning started with his third hit of the night to lead off the inning, advancing to second on an error. García came on to relieve starter Luis A. Gómez. Yordan Manduley singled to drive in Santos, advancing to second on an error.
After a strikeout, Alfredo Despaigne was walked intentionally. Carlos Benitez made them pay lining a single to right field, with a third error in the inning allowing two runs to score, giving Granma a 4-2 lead.
Lázaro Blanco worked two outs into the seventh inning for Granma, scattering nine hits.
Lázaro Blanco SP / Granma (2018 Cuban Finals, Game 4)
IP: 6.2 H: 9 R: 2 ER: 2 SO: 6 BB: 1 WP: 1
He gave up three hits to leadoff hitter Yuniesky Larduet. Both leadoff hitters Larduet and Roel Santos went 3 for 3 to lead their offenses.
Larduet hit the first of his two doubles in the top of the third and scored on a Jorge Yhonson single to give Las Tunas a 1-0 lead. Granma battled back in the bottom of the third after a Roel Santos leadoff triple. He scored on a Yordan Manduley ground out.
Rafael Viñales gave Las Tunas a brief lead in the seventh with his leadoff single. He advanced to third on a sacrifice and ground out and scored on a wild pitch to give Las Tunas a 2-1 lead.
That lasted until the eighth when Granma took advantage of three Las Tunas errors to score three runs.
With the go ahead run at the plate in the top of the ninth Raidel Martinez came on in relief and got a punch out to end the game and even the series. The next game will be the last in Granma. After this game the teams go to Las Tunas for the final two games.
2018 Cuban Finals
Game 4: Granma Stallions 11, Las Tunas Woodcutters 5
Game 5: Thursday, January 25, 7:15 pm at Mártires de Barbados
Serie is tied 2-2
Source: (Photos: Rafael Martínez Arias)
