Havana Times

Cuba Baseball League Opens with Thriller

Vladimir Garcia had a no-hitter going into the ninth inning.

HAVANA TIMES — The 2012-2013 Cuban Baseball League season couldn’t have started with a better game on Sunday than the 12-inning win by last year’s champions Ciego de Avila 1-0 over the runners-up Industriales.

With two outs in the bottom of the 12th Yoelvis Fiss laced a hit to left driving home pinch runner Abdel Civil for the walk off run.

Lázaro Santana picked up the win going 2.2 innings in relief allowing two hits and striking out two. The loser, Rancel Sánchez, pitched the last 1.2 innings for Industriales.

Ciego de Avila starter Vladimir Garcia had a no-hitter going until the ninth inning when he surrendered two singles but pitched his way out of a bases loaded one out jam.

For Industriales, Odrisamer Despaigne went 8.1 innings allowing only three hits, two in the bottom of the ninth, before being replaced by Yohandry Portal.

The Ciego de Avila – Industriales inaugural game will be followed by a full schedule of games on Tuesday, November 27.