Photo: Yuichi Terawaki
The Cuban team suffered its second defeat of the Premier 12 today after falling with its ace, Liván Moinelo on the monday, against the Korean team by the score of 8-4 in a clash held at the Tianmu Stadium located in the Shilin district of Taipei City. The Koreans started fast in the second inning against Moinelo, who after two outs allowed six runs that ultimately cost him the game.
Successively he allowed a double from the eighth hitter (Bogyeong Moon), a single from Seonghan Park and an another hit from Wonjun Choi. Then he loaded the bases after walking the leadoff hitter (Changki Hong) and Korea scored the second run courtesy of a hit by Minjae Shin. With the bases loaded 20-year-old Korean phenom, Do-yeong Kim, cranked a high fastball off Liván Moinelo into the left field seats and South Korea took commanding 6-0 lead.
Kim is coming off a season of 38 HR and 40 SB in the KBO became the youngest player in the history of that circuit with 30/30. He also set a new record for runs scored (143). Moinelo retired four via the strikeout and in addition to the four hits he allowed, he also issued a couple of walks and a hit a batter. He was replaced after 50 pitches and may be able to start one of the last two games of the Cuban team in this regular phase (Japan or Chinese Taipei)
Yusniel Padrón-Artiles replaced Moinelo and did a good job after dominating the third, fourth and fifth innings. They let him open by pitching the sixth and left a runner in circulation by walk (Seungyeup Na), who would end up becoming the seventh run for the Koreans after stealing second base and taking advantage of a hit by Wonjun Choi against the new pitcher (Pavel Hernández).
Cuba threatened in the fourth and fifth innings, but ultimately they did not end up scoring runs. In the fourth Alfredo Despaigne walked and Ariel Martínez laced a hit before Yadir Drake hit into a double play. An inning later Erisbel Arruebarrena found the bases loaded (Yoelkis Guibert BB, Andrys Pérez BB and Yoan Moncada HBP) and lined out to left. The Cubans’ first run came in the seventh without getting the ball out of the infield. Yadil Mujica opened the inning with an infield hit to third and then Jean Walters and Roel Santos reached base due to fielding errors by the catcher and the first baseman respectively.
With the bases loaded and no outs, Roberto Baldoquín and Erisbel Arruebarrena struck out before an Alfredo Despaigne infield hit by the pitcher to drove in a run. Young Do-yeong Kim hit his second home run of the day and drove in his fifth run in the seventh inning off Pavel Hernández to make the game 8-1. Right-hander Andy Vargas, then retired the two remaining batters of that inning, one of them via strikes.
Opening the eighth, Yadir Drake singled to left off reliever Taekyeon Kim and Yoelkis Guibert launched a ball into right field stands to bring his team closer on the scoreboard (8-3). Rafael Viñales, who had entered the game as a pinch-hitter, followed in Guibert with his own homer to left to add another run and cut Korea’s lead to 8-4. Vargas finished without allowing a hit and three strikeouts at the end of the eighth. Cuban pitchers struck out a total of 11 on the night.
Cuba had eight hits, one less than its rivals, but made a couple of costly errors on defense. Yoelkis Guibert was the only player multihits on the night and reached base three times in total. (3-2, 3-2, R, 2RBI, HR, BB, K). Erisbel Arruebarrena by hos own right is now hitting .050 (20 AB; 1 H) in Premier 12 tournaments and has nine strikeouts. Cuba’s next game will be this Friday against Australia at 11:00 PM (Cuba time).
Cuban action on the night:
Lineup:
1.Roel Santos (LF): 5-1, K
2.Yoan Moncada (3B): 2-0, K, HBP
3.Erisbel Arruebarrena (SS): 5-0, 2K
4.Alfredo Despaigne (DH): 4-1, RBI, BB, K
5.Ariel Martínez (1B): 4-1, BB, K
6.Yadir Drake (RF): 5-1, R, 2K
7.Yoelkis Guibert (CF): 3-2, R, 2RBI, HR, BB, K
8.Andrys Pérez (C): 1-0, BB, K
Yadil Mujica: 1-1, R
Rafael Viñales: 1-1, R, HR, RBI
9.Jean Walters (2B): 3-0, K
Pitching:
Liván Moinelo: 2.0 IP, 4H, 6ER, 2BB, 4K, L (0-1)
Yusniel Padrón-Artiles: 3.0 IP, 3H, ER, BB, 2K
Pavel Hernández: 1.1, 2H, ER, BB, K
Andy Vargas: 1.2 IP, 0H, 0ER, 4K