On Sunday, at the Julio Antonio Mella Stadium, the Las Tunas Lumberjacks earned a resounding 11-1 victory in eight innings over the Isla de la Juventud Pirates. The baseball knockout sealed the first sweep of the local team in the 64th National Series, which also remains at the top of the standings, while extending their rival's agonizing streak to 10 straight losses.

Las Tunas, Cuba.- Young right-hander Leandro Cañada was the architect of the initial silence. In six innings, he allowed just one run and three hits, earning his first win of the season.

The Las Tunas hitters, meanwhile, were relentless. The game was decided in an explosive fourth inning against opposing starter Roberto Rodríguez, who suffered his third loss (0-3). With Yordanys Alarcón on second and Maikel Molina on first, youngster Jean Lucas Baldoquín hit a home run to left field, breaking the score and opening the floodgates for a five-run inning.

The Pirates' top brass tried to stem the tide by removing Rodríguez and bringing in Erick Contreras, but the home team's offensive machine was already in motion. Las Tunas added three more runs in the sixth inning, with driving singles by Roberto Baldoquín and Yosvani Alarcón. Yuniesky Larduet and Héctor Castillo were also key offensive players, maintaining constant pressure on the visiting bullpen.

From the box, after Cañada's exit, Darbys Leiva and Andier Reyes came on, keeping the game under control for the final stretch, allowing no runs. For the Pirates, the afternoon was another one of agony.

With this win, Las Tunas improves to 8-2 and strengthens its position at the top of the standings. Now, the red-and-green squad will hit the road to face the Granma Sorrels on Tuesday at the Mártires de Barbados Stadium in Bayamo. This series promises to test the mettle of this team, which is already dreaming of retaining its title.