The Cocodrilos de Matanzas and the Vegueros de Pinar del Río begin today, at the Victoria de Girón stadium, a five-game subseries for the leadership of the western zone in the 65th Cuban National Baseball Series.
The team managed by Alfonso Urquiola comes into the game as the division leader with a 22-7 record, followed by the home team at 19-8.
In their last game, played on Sunday, the Pinar del Río team fell 2-7 to the Huracanes de Mayabeque, with Yadian Martínez earning the win. Martínez pitched six innings, striking out three, allowing one earned run and one walk.
Mario Valle took the loss after giving up three runs in two-thirds of an inning, with one walk and three hits. Héctor Bermúdez earned the save, his third of the season.
The Cocodrilos, the reigning champions of baseball on the largest island in the Caribbean, blanked the Cazadores de Artemisa 4-0 at Victoria de Girón Stadium.
Left-hander Naykel Cruz, who previously played in the Major Leagues with the Baltimore Orioles, earned the win after seven scoreless innings against the Artemisa offense.
With just three wins separating the two teams and the top spot in the West at stake, the teams will take to the pitch of the Yumurino colossus with their sights set on qualification.
