CUBAN NATIONAL SERIES BASEBALL
NOVEMBER 5 TO NOVEMBER 20, 2018
Cuba’s 2018 National Baseball Series is entering its final month. As of November 20th, Las Tunas continues to dominate the second phase of the season, with great offense all season, and great selections during the supplementation phase. Las Tunas played for the Cuban league championship last year and lost to Granma after a championship series that went to seven games. Las Tunas went on a seven-game winning streak in early November which ended on November 12th in a game against Sancti Spiritus, which has consistently been improving its record since the start of the second phase. The Sancti Spiritus victory came at the hands of one of their supplement players, Camaguey’s pitcher Yariel Rodriguez, and Las Tunas lost the next day to Sancti Spiritus because of two errors that led to scores.
Las Tunas leads the second phase with a 22 win and 12 loss record. Following just two games behind and with an improving average is Sancti Spiritus. Next are Villa Clara and Ciego de Avila, both four games behind. Havana is seven games behind and Holguin is trailing in last place thirteen games behind Las Tunas.
Two of the top players on offense thus far have been from Las Tunas, Jorge Jhonson with 47 RBI and Jorge Aloma with 51 RBI and 13 homeruns. On the mound Las Tunas has relied on solid work by Yadian Martinez all season and a respectable 8 and 1 record to date. Sancti Spiritus’ Alberto Bisset has a 10 win and 2 loss record, and Holguin’s Yoanni Yera has an 8 and 2 record as of November 20th, 2018.
On November 19th Las Tunas swept Holguin in an eleven to one game and it is highly unlikely that Holguin will make it to the playoffs. Havana’s Industriales would have to significantly improve their record to be able to continue to play in January.
By Frank Gonzalez & KMOA