Cuban baseball season openers

SANTA CLARA.— Cuba’s National Baseball Series opened its 53rd season November 3, this time breaking with the tradition of beginning with one inaugural game between the previous year’s champions and runner-up. This year the cry of "Play ball!" was heard in seven ballparks simultaneously, with all of the league’s teams on the field, with the exception of Pinar del Río and Isla de la Juventud. Their game was canceled due to rain. Baseball fever reigned across the country.
In Villa Clara, the simple, traditional inauguration event took place, with Vice President of the Council of State and Ministers Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez presiding.
Villa Clara and Matanzas - last year’s champions and number two team respectively – played a pitchers’ duel with the stellar Freddy Asiel Álvarez facing left-hander Yoanni Year. The former came out on top, though without imposing his usual dominance and not getting much help from his defense in the first few innings.