The Cuban national team defeated its Curaçao counterpart 4-0 in a seven-inning clash in this edition of the Copa del Caribe held in Puerto Rico. Cuba who’s participating for the third time in this tournament, in the previous two editions they lost the Final against Curacao and Puerto Rico respectively.
The Cuban offense got started early in the scoring two in the opening inning. Roberto Baldoquín hit a solo home run to put his team ahead (1-0). Yasniel González preceded his at-bat with a walk and advanced to second on a single by Erisbel Arruebarruena, only to be driven in on a Dayan García RBI single to right field to make the game 2-0. In the fourth they got on the board again on back-to-back doubles by Dayan García and Andrys Pérez (RBI).
🏆 V Copa del Caribe de Béisbol 🌎.
🏟 Estadio: "Concepción Pérez, PUR🇵🇷"
📆 Fecha: 2
🤞Etapa: Round Robin
1⃣2⃣3⃣4⃣5⃣6⃣7️⃣
🇨🇺 CUB 2 0 0 1 0 1 0
🇨🇼 CUR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0C H E
🇨🇺 CUB 4 8 0
🇨🇼 CUR 0 2 0 pic.twitter.com/LaTjFd7Sdb— Círculo de Espera (@CirculodEspera) October 6, 2023
Two innings later the Pérez-García combination produced once again after with a pair of doubles. José Ramón Rodríguez notched the victory in the game after pitching four scoreless innings, allowing only a hit to Darren Seferina (3-2) and striking out three over that span. Yankiel Mauris (1.1 IP), Geonel Gutiérrez (1.0 IP, H, K) and Yeudis Reyes (0.2 IP, K) took charge of closing the show for Cuba the rest of the way. Between the four of them they only allowed two hits by Curaçao’s, both from Seferina. Jordan Lucas (3.1 IP, 5H, 3ER, BB) took the loss on the day.
The Antillean offense was led by Dayan García (4-3, 2R, 2 2B, RBI) and Andrys Pérez (3-2, 2 2B, 2RBI). Cuba will return to action tomorrow against the Puerto Rico to close the qualifying phase. Initially the tournament was scheduled for two rounds, but due to inclement weather it was reduced to only one. The two top teams will play for the gold on Sunday, while third and fourth will fight for bronze.
Cuban Boxscore
Lineup:
1. Roel Santos (CF): 3-1
Luis González: 0-0, BB
2. Roberto Baldoquín (3B): 3-1, R, HR, RBI, BB
3. Yurisbel Gracial (LF): 3-0, BB, SB
4. Yasniel González (1B): 3-0, R, BB, K
5. Erisbel Arruebarruena (SS): 4-1
Luis Vicente Mateo: Jugó a la defensa
6. Dayan García (DH): 4-3, 2R, 2 2B, RBI
Luis Mateo: 1-0
7. Carlos Monier (RF): 3-0
8. Andrys Pérez (C): 3-2, 2 2B, 2RBI
9. Yadil Mujica (2B): 3-0, K
Pitching:
-José Ramón Rodríguez: 4.0 IP, H, 0BB, 3K, W (1-0)
-Yankiel Mauris: 1.1 IP, 0H, 0BB
-Geonel Gutiérrez: 1.0 IP, H, K
-Yeudis Reyes: 0.2 IP, K