Cuba pulls away for crucial Classic victory
TAICHUNG, Taiwan — Cuba knew what it needed to do hours earlier than its matchup towards Panama in Pool A of the World Baseball Classic.
“We’re motivated to win today,” supervisor Armando Johnson mentioned. “Everybody is physically and mentally ready.”
After a creeping, back-and-forth affair for 5 innings, Cuba pulled away and knocked off Panama, 13-4, for an important WBC victory.
Cuba scored first, taking an early 2-0 lead with runs in each the primary and second innings. Doubles by Alfredo Despaigne and Yadil Mujica off Panama’s starter Andy Otero obtained issues going.
But then, within the backside of the second, Panama scored 4.
Veteran chief Rubén Tejada, who’s had an amazing week each on the offensive and defensive facet of the ball, kicked issues off with an extended two-run house run to left-center area.
After loading the bases on two walks and a single, Panama was threatening once more minutes later. Allen Córdoba, who performed within the Reds’ system final yr, lined a scorching single to proper area.
Momentum, suddenly, appeared to shift in Panama’s favor. But then, within the sixth and seventh innings, Cuba’s bats wakened.
Armando Johnson’s squad loaded the bases with no one out within the high of the sixth. Yadir Drake singled to get inside one and Mujica knocked within the tying run with a sacrifice fly to heart.
And then, after days of getting questions why they weren’t hitting, Cuba’s Major Leaguers got here by means of on the proper time.
Yoán Moncada knocked within the go-ahead run with a single to proper and Luis Robert Jr. gave the Cubans some cushion with one other base hit to the precise facet.
Not pondering two runs was a large enough lead, Cuba got here again within the high of the seventh to place up 5 extra. Mujica added two extra RBIs on a knock to proper (he had two hits and 4 RBIs on the day) and Moncada tacked on to his already huge efficiency with a two-run single. He completed with three hits and 4 runs batted in.
Robert added an RBI groundout later within the body and Drake, 4-for-4 within the sport, had an RBI single within the eighth.
The victory provides Cuba (1-2) its first win of Pool A and an opportunity, if it wins its final sport, to nonetheless advance to Round 2 in Tokyo. Panama (1-2) should additionally win its closing contest to have any hope. Both groups need assistance from the opposite groups of their bracket.
Cuba’s subsequent matchup is towards Chinese Taipei (0-1) right here on Sunday (11 p.m. ET Saturday, FS2), whereas Panama takes on Italy (1-0) on Saturday (11 p.m. ET Friday, FS1). The Netherlands (2-0) can also be in Pool A. Each workforce faces the opposite 4 in round-robin play, with the pool’s winner and runner-up advancing to the quarterfinals in Tokyo towards the highest groups from Pool B.
