A depleted Cuba has been the surprise of their group handed Colombia a 7-4 loss in the first round of the Wotld Baseball Classic, bringing their record to 2-0 in their tournament pool. The team’s offense has been surprisingly potent for the Antilleans.
After starter Denny Larrondo gave up a run in the top of the first inning Cuba stormed back with a four spot in the bottom half of the stanza with a three-run shot by Ariel Martínez and a solo-homerun by shortstop Erisbel Arruebarrena.
The Colombians discounted a run in the top of the sixth via a Tito Polo sacrifice fly making it 4-2 after right-hander Pedro Santos gave up a hit and walked three. Cuba added three runs in the bottom of the inning on an error by Polo and a Yiddi Cappé two-run triple making it 7-2.
Colombia got two runs back in the top of the sixth off flamethrowing Emmanuel Chapman after a single by Donovan Solano and a Tito Polo hit by a pitch. After that Miguel Romero, Yoán López and Raidel Martínez combined to close the game by only allowing two hits over the last 2⅓ innings of the game.
Denny Larrondo got the victory and Raidel Martínez notched his second save of the tournament, while Luis Patiño took the loss. Cuba will face off with Puerto Rico tonight at 7PM with Julio Robaina taking the hill for Cuba. For Puerto Rico it will be Yankees’ prospect Elmer Rodríguez on the hill.
Boxscore:
1️⃣ Roel Santos (CF): 3-0, R, BB, K
2️⃣ Yoan Moncada (3B): 3-0, R, K
3️⃣ Ariel Martínez (1B): 3-1, R, HR, 3RBI
4️⃣ Alfredo Despaigne (DH): 3-1
🔀 Yoel Yanqui: 0-0, R, BB, CS
5️⃣ Erisbel Arruebarrena (SS): 3-1, R, HR, RBI, K,
6️⃣ Omar Hernández (C): 4-1, K
7️⃣ Yoelkis Guibert (RF): 3-2, R, BB
8️⃣ Leonel Moas (LF): 4-1, R, 2B, SB
9️⃣ Yiddi Cappe (2B): 4-1, 3B, 2RBI, 2K
Pitching:
Denny Larrondo: 2.0 IP, H, R, 0ER, 4BB, K, W (1-0), 41 Pitches
Yariel Rodríguez: 2.0 IP, H, 0ER, 3K, Hold (2), 30 Pitches
Pedro Santos: 1.0 IP, H, ER, 3BB, K, Hold (1), 26 Pitches
Darien Núñez: 1.0 IP, H, 0ER, K, Hold (2), 11 Pitches
Emmanuel Chapman: 0.2 IP, 2H, 2ER, 2BB, K, 25 Pitches
Luis Miguel Romero: 0.1 IP, 0H, 0ER, Hold (1), 3 Pitches
🔹Yoan López: 1.0 IP, 2H, 0ER, Hold (2), 13 Pitcheos
Raidel Martínez: 1.0 IP, 0H, 0ER, BB, 2K, Sv (2), 14 Pitches