Cuba opened up its pool play yesterday in the WBC with a 3-1 victory of the Panamanian National Team yesterday afternoon at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The largest of the Antilles now sports a 3-0 record against the canal country in the World Baseball Classic.
After a scoreless first inning the Cubans opened up the scoring with a Yoelkis Guibert solo-shot to right field off starter Logan Allen. Yoán Moncada added to Cuba’s lead with a two-run bomb off Allen as well in the top of the third inning.
Liván Moinelo took the mound for Cuba to start the game and was impeccable on the hill tossing 3⅔ innings of scoreless ball in which he allowed only two hits and fanned four batters. Yariel Rodríguez followed him with 2 ⅓ scoreless innings in which he struck out three of seven batters he faced.
Panamá got its only run off Emmanuel Chapman via a Johan Camargo hit in the Bottom of the seventh inning. Darién Núñez, Yoán López and Raidel Martínez, who notched a save combined to toss the last 2⅓ innings to close the game.
Liván Moinelo was the victor for Cuba and Logan Allen took the loss for Panamá. Cuba will now face off with Colombia on Sunday at noon, while the Panamanians will face Canada today at noon as well.
