Credit goes to Green Screen for this information
wish I was there
SANTIAGO DE CUBA.— Playing before a frenzied home crowd, Santiago de Cuba took advantage of 11 walks by 5 Industriales pitchers to win 8-2 on Wednesday and take the Cuban Baseball Championship series four games to two.
The spectacular 7.2 inning relief job by Alberto Bicet and the bat of Jose Julio Ruiz lifted Santiago to their much savored victory.
The Guillermon Moncada Stadium couldn’t have fit another fan, even in its jammed-packed aisles. Santiago manager Antonio Pacheco had the mission to finish off Industriales after taking a 3-2 series lead on Monday in Havana. It was a tense game with Industriales jumping off to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning.
Industriales got on the scoreboard early thanks to control problems from left-handed Santiago starter Albert Carrion who gave up two walks and a hit to the first three batters. He only lasted 11 pitches before Alberto Bicet was brought in with the bases loaded, nobody out and dangerous cleanup hitter Alexander Mayeta at the plate. Bicet did pretty well to only give up two runs, one on a sacrifice fly to Mayeta and another off a hit by Rudy Reyes.
Santiago didn’t wait long to respond off right hander Deinys Suarez who used a fastball, slider, forkball and curve. The first run came in the second inning off a couple walks, a pop up that fell in short right as Mayeta and Rudy Reyes nearly collided and then an infield hit by Ronnier Mustelier to make the score 2-1. In the third, Jose Julio Ruiz blasted a Suarez pitch over the right field wall to bring the score even at two runs each. It was the fifth homer for Ruiz during the playoffs.
However, it was in the fifth inning when the deciding runs would be scored to the delight of fans, many of whom had showed up several hours before game time to get a seat to enjoy the festivities livened throughout by the San Agustin conga drummers. Before leaving with 91 pitches (52 strikes) Suarez gave up two walks to Jose Julio and Rolando Merino and a wild pitch.
Anglada brought in his ace Yadel Marti, who retired Pedro Poll and Luis Navas, intentionally walked Bell but allowed Reutilio Hurtado to bat his tenth double of the playoffs, a record.
The following inning Santiago added another to take a three-run lead. Mustelier had an infield hit to short, Olivera sacrificed and Rey Anglada had Marti intentionally walk the dangerous Jose Julio Ruiz. But Marti walked Merino to load the bases and Poll knocked in Mustelier with a liner to left. Odrisamer Despaigne was then brought in for Industriales.
In the eighth, the entire stadium stood to congratulate Alberto Bicet when he was pulled after reaching the 100-pitch limit. In all, the winning pitcher went 7.2 innings allowing six hits, no runs and walking two batters. He had also won game two of the series on 4.2 innings of one-run relief.
Santiago put the game out of reach in the bottom of the eighth with a double by Jose Julio knocking in the first of a three-run rally. "The Lion (Industriales) has died," shouted the fans, "Santiago is the new champion."
As soon as the game ended, a spectacular fireworks show began while the players of both teams congratulated each other. The delirious fans and the national TV audience —all playoff games were televised— bid farewell to an exciting season.
Misael Enamorado, first secretary of the Communist Party for Santiago de Cuba, and Christian Jimenez, president of the Cuban National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (INDER) presented the new champions with their awards. Prizes were also made to Industriales and Villa Clara, the second and third place finishers.
WOW! The internet stream to the external audience beyond Cuba's shores failed at a critical time. I had that sinking feeling that it never would be restored - and it wasn't. I hated being right. Thanks a bunch for this post.
and from Prensa Latina:
Cuba Bids Farwell to Baseball Season, Santiago Wins
Circles Robinson
The Hornets from Santiago behaved more like Lions on Wednesday as they roared their way to an 8-2 win over Industriales to obtain Cuba's coveted baseball championship before a home town stadium bursting at the seams.
The 2006-7 Cuban baseball season came to a stinging close with the Santiago Hornets, managed by Antonio Pacheco, winning the best of seven championship series four games to two. It was the flip side of last year's finals when Industriales won by the same margin.
The rivalry between Santiago and Industriales goes beyond baseball. Industriales plays out of the nation's capital and has the best stadium, the Latinoamericano. Havana is the center of the country's political and economic life and is considered the land of opportunities.
The team from Santiago de Cuba, known for it musicians and rebellious past, is traditionally supported by Eastern emigrants in the capital and most of the island outside Havana.
During the final series the rivalry consumed the interest of the nation. Juventud Rebelde newspaper ran a full-page display of painted faces and other creative fan expressions on Wednesday. One cartoon poster shown in the daily had the Industriales lion fumigating a hive of Santiago hornets, a takeoff on the country's anti-mosquito campaigns.
Since seating is first come first served and prices are only a few cents, many fans were lined up at the stadium as early as 3:00 p.m. when the gates opened for the 8:00 o'clock game. Thousands were turned away and had to settle for watching the game on TV.
Conga drums, trumpets and cow bells played throughout the game, with the musicians turning up the volume each time that their team needed a strikeout, big play or clutch hit. Since both squads had their bands, there was never a calm moment and many fans spontaneously moved their hips. Often, virtually the entire stadium was standing to both dance and cheer on their team.
All playoff games, including the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals were broadcast on Cuba's no-advertising TV. Between some innings there were calls to attend the upcoming May Day International Worker's Day March and protests against the United States decision to free terrorist Luis Posada Carriles on bond.
Circus performers and dancers entertained mid-way through the game and a magnificent fireworks display began immediately after the final out.
A RERUN THAT RERAN
The game six match-up was a rerun from game two, started by a couple of young right-handers, Deinys Suarez (Industriales) and Albert Carrion (Santiago). However, in that game neither got passed the fourth inning, nor had anything to do with the final score (8-6 in favor of Santiago).
In the rematch, once again Suarez was knocked out at the beginning of the fifth and Carrion lasted only three batters leaving with the bases loaded and nobody out in the first. Yadel Marti came on for Suarez but was unable to prevent Santiago from tying and then taking the lead. Alberto Bicet relieved Carrion and left in the eighth after reaching the pitching maximum of 100 throws, but with the writing already on the wall.
Industriales had erased a 2-0 deficit at home to tie the series at 2-2 before losing Monday. Down 3-2, the series went back to Santiago with the team managed by Rey Anglada on the brink of defeat. The tense and hard fought final game lasted four hours.
PITCHING vs. HITTING
The series had been billed as a battle between the Industriales pitching and Santiago hitting. With pitching considered 70 percent of the game by most experts, the series was considered a toss up.
Industriales' left handed pitchers Arleys Sanchez and Maicel Diaz lived up to the staff's reputation, shutting out Santiago, the leagues top hitting team, in games three (5-0) and four (3-0). However, right-handed starters Frank Montieth and Deinys Suarez, as well as World Baseball Classic ace Yadel Marti who pitched in three games as a reliever, faltered in the four Industriales losses 19-6, 8-6, 6-4 and 8-2 in games 1, 2, 5 and 6.
The series pitching standouts for Santiago included Alberto Bicet who won twice (games 2 and 6), going a total of 13.1 innings in two long and one short relief job. He allowed a total of only three runs. Bicet was aided Wednesday by his infield which turned three double plays in the final game.
Norge Luis Vera wasn't as effective, but won his two starts in games one and five while giving up six earned runs in twelve innings. Santiago's brilliant closer Felix Rivera pitched five innings of scoreless relief in three appearances.
Both teams made more than their average amount of errors, possibly due to the high tension reigning both on the field and in the stands. Industriales had a total of seven mishaps and Santiago eleven. There were several other plays recorded as hits which could have been errors.
Industriales best hitter during the series was clean up man Alexander Mayeta. The first baseman hit three homers and drove in seven runs. Besides making several important catches, centerfielder Carlos Tabares hit two homers, scored five and drove in five. Left fielder Yoandry Urgelles went 7-for-18 with four RBIs.
Santiago took advantage of Industriales Achilles heel in pitching -control-, receiving a total of 37 walks during the six game series. Industriales also received 26 walks.
When they weren't trotting to first, the big sticks for Santiago were carried by first baseman Jose Julio Ruiz, who scored five times and had two doubles and two homers, including a solo shot to tie the score at 2-2 on Wednesday. Both right fielder Alexander Bell (six RBIs and eight runs scored) and third baseman Ronnier Mustelier had two homers each during the series. Center fielder Reutilio Hurtado had seven RBIs and a record-breaking ten doubles in the combined playoffs against Camaguey, Villa Clara and Industriales.
The season has ended but that doesn't mean there won't be more baseball. The Cuban national team will be playing in the upcoming ALBA games in Venezuela, one of several planned tune-ups for the Rio de Janeiro Pan American Games in July.
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Circles Robinson is a US journalist living in Havana. His reports and commentaries can be read at: www.circlesonline.blogspot.com<BR><BR>
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