Photo: Yuhki Ohboshi
This Wednesday the Cuban team that will participate in the upcoming Premier 12 with some reserves fell 13-1 against the NC Dinos prospects in their first preparation game on Korean soil as part of the Ulsan KBO Fall League. The Cuban national team arrived in Korea on October 18 and probably have still not overcome the jet lag, they were handcuffed offensively and the pitching was hit freely.
A total of six hits were swatted by the Cuban team, only Alfredo Despaigne was only player have multihits on the day (4-2, 2B), but also struck out in his two remaining at-bats. The rest of the hits were belonged to Yoelkis Guibert, Erisbel Arruebarrena, Lázaro Armenteros (2B) and Andrys Pérez (2B). The only run for the Cuban squad was scored by Christian Rodríguez in the eighth inning, who reached base on a beanball in his only at-bat, then advanced to second on one of Despaigne’s hits and scored thanks to a sacrifice fly by Guillermo Avilés.
Avilés who is part of the taxi-squad, he went 0-for-3 and also struck out twice. Cuba struck out a total of 12 on the day, in addition to Despaigne and Avilés, Roberto Baldoquín struck out more than once. Guibert, Arruebarruena, Lázaro Armenteros, Andrys Pérez, José Noroña and Andy Cosme also added strikeouts.
The defeat went to right-hander Yusniel Padrón, who officially allowed three earned runs in two innings of work via four hits, walked one and struck out three batters. The rest of the pitchers were also punished by the Dinos lineup, with the exception of Frank Luis Medina. Raymond Figueredo allowed one run in the third inning and another three in the fourth due to a home run by the Dinos shortstop, he did not strike out a batter and gave up a total of four hits.
Geonel Gutiérrez allowed four runs in the fifth inning. The native of Artemis, Cuba tossed 1⅔ innings, allowed five hits, including another home run, and struck out three opponents. Leodan Reyes (1.2 IP, 3H, 2ER, 2BB, K) allowed the remaining two runs in the sixth inning and Frank Luis Medina (1.1 IP, 0H, 0ER, 2K) went the rest of the way without any complications.
The victory went to Shin Yeong-Woo(0-1, 10.61 ERA and 2.57 WHIP), a 20-year-old prospect who debuted in 2024 with the NC Dinos, but did not post good numbers in four games of work with the team. Woo notched six of the 12 strikeouts that the Cubans took after five innings pitched. The Cuban team will play this Thursday at 10:00 PM (Cuba time) against Jiangsu at the Gijang Hyundai Dream Ballpark. A day later they will play against LG Twins, also at 10:00 PM, but at the Ulsan Munsu stadium.
Cuban action on the day vs the NC Dinos:
Hitting:
1.Yoelkis Guibert (CF): 4-1, BB, K
2.Roberto Baldoquín (3B): 3-0, BB, 2K
3.Erisbel Arruebarrena (SS): 2-1, BB, K
4.Alfedo Despaigne (DH): 4-2, 2B, 2K
5.Guillermo Avilés (1B): 3-0, RBI, 2K
6.Lázaro Armenteros (LF): 3-1, 2B, K
7.Yadil Mujica (2B): 3-0
8.Andrys Pérez (C): 2-1, 2B, K
9.José Noroña (RF): 4-0, K
Pinch-hitters:
Luis Mateo: 0-0
Andy Cosme: 2-0, K
Jean Walters: 1-0
Christian Rodríguez: 0-0, R, HBP
Pitching:
Yusniel Padrón: 2.0 IP, 4H, 3ER, BB, 3K
Raymond Figueredo: 1.1 IP, 4H, 4ER, HR, BB
Geonel Gutiérrez: 1.2 IP, 5H, 4ER, HR, 3K
Leodan Reyes: 1.2 IP, 3H, 2ER, 2BB, K
Frank Luis Medina: 1.1 IP, 0H, 0ER, 2K