Yurisbel Gracial homered twice, while Yosmany Guerra, Rusney Castillo and Leonys Martín also went yard once apiece to lead Querétaro to a 12-9 in the opening game of their playoff series. In total the four Cubans accounted for nine of the 12 runs scored by the Conspiradores on the evening.
Odrisamer Despaigne tossed 5 ⅔ innings of three-hit, one-run ball and also fanned four during Yucatán’s 7-5 Game 1 win in their series with Oaxaca. Cuban-American Josh Fuentes also aided the cause with a a seventh inning solo-shot and scored twice for the felines. Yadir Drake also got into the act with two RBIs on the evening.
Rangel Ravelo swatted two hits and scored twice to do his part in Dos Laredos 5-4 win over Monclova. The Havana native is hitting .286 in two playoff games and the Tecolotes have a commanding 2-0 lead in the series. Monclova heads home hoping two turn the series around in game 3 of the series.
Cuban action on the day:
Michel Báez 1.0 IP, O H, O R, ERA 0.00 (Monterrey)
Yasiel Puig 2-0, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB, K, Ave .000 (Veracruz)
Yosmany Guerra 4-2, Hr,3 RBI, 2 R, BB, Ave .500 (Querétaro)
Leonys Martín 4-2, Hr, 2 RBI, 2 R, BB, K, Ave .250 (Querétaro)
Yurisbel Gracial 3-2, 2 Hr, 3 RBI, 3 R, BB, K, Ave .667 (Querétaro)
Rusney Castillo 4-2, Hr, R, K, Ave .500 (Querétaro)
Josh Fuentes 4-2, Hr, RBI, 2 R, Ave .500 (Yucatán)*
Yadir Drake 3-1, 2 RBI, R, 2 BB, K, Ave .333 (Yuactán)
Odrisamer Despaigne 5.2 IP, R, ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 4 K, ERA 1.59 (Yucatán)
Yadiel Hernández 4-1, R, K, Ave .286 (Dos Laredos)
Rangel Ravelo 3-2, 2 R, BB, K, Ave .286 (Dos Laredos)
Albert Lara 2-0, K, Ave .000 (Laguna)
Peter O’Brien 3-0,Ave .000 (Puebla)