Yilian Tornés

Havana, July 20 (RHC) - The Cuban women's softball team suffered its first setback in the World Cup of that sport on Thursday, falling to Puerto Rico 3-1 in a game played in Valencia, Spain.

In Thursday's game, Puerto Rican pitcher Aleshia Ocasio silenced the Cuban artillery, allowing 5 hits in 7 innings, with 8 strikeouts.

Thus, the Cubans suffered their fifth loss in a row in the last few days against the Puerto Ricans, ranked fourth in the world.

They had lost in the title match at the Centrocaribes in San Salvador and also on three occasions in a recent training tournament in Barcelona.

The World Cup awards two tickets to the next world championship.

The Cubans will close the group phase against China, who, like Puerto Rico, also defeated them in the preparatory tournament in Barcelona just a few days ago.