GRANMA.- (ACN) Against all odds, Granma became champions of the 56th Cuban National Baseball Series when beating 3-2 Ciego de Avila, previous monarchs.
The squad from Cuban east region won 4-0 the final playoff and rose the trophy at home, in Martires de Barbados Park, thus surpassing their best performance in this competition, a third seat in 1988-89 season.
The visitors went ahead when scoring twice on top of the fourth inning, but the local side managed to score one run on bottom of that same inning thanks to a walk to second baseman Carlos Benitez with the bases loaded.
The new champions tied the score in the seventh when 1B Guillermo Aviles scored drtven in by hit to right-field by outfielder Yoelkis Cespedes.
Aviles himself became man of the match when driving in the decisive run in the eighth by hitting a sacrifice fly with bases loaded off reliever and loser Jose Angel Garcia.
The also reliever Cesar Garcia took the win while closer Miguel Lahera learned his 11th save of the season.
During the postseason, Avilés, with three homers and 13 RBIs, Benítez (11RBIs) and DH Alfredo Despaigne, who despite receiving 20 walks, batted six hits, including three homers, and drove in 9 runners, offensively highlighted for the winners.
Thus, Granma will represent Cuba in the coming Caribbean Series, to be held from February 1 to 7, in Culiacan, Mexico.