Cuba in U-23 Baseball World Cup
Havana, September 27 (RHC)-- Cuba will seek its third triumph in the U-23 baseball World Cup in Mexico on Monday when it faces the Czech Republic, after achieving its second success 10-3 against the weak German team in group A on Sunday.
The Cuban team, coached by Eriel Sanchez, only hit six hits in the seven innings of the game (regulation) against Germany, held at the Yaquis de Obregon Park, but took advantage of the 11 tickets given up by the opposing pitchers and the four errors committed by the defense.
The best offensive player was Rangel Ramos, 3-2 with a homer, a pair of runs scored and a run batted in.
However, the most productive players were Miguel Antonio González (2-1) and Loidel Chapellí (4-1), with three and two runs batted in, respectively.
From the box, Marlon Vega had a very good opening five innings, in which he tolerated one hit and one run, gave away two tickets and struck out eight.
His first reliever was Kelbis Rodríguez León, who in 1.1 innings received three hits and allowed two runs. To seal the challenge, Frank Abel Álvarez took the mound, impeccable in a two-thirds performance. On the German side, the best were the two hits by their leading man, Alexander Schmidt.
The second Cuban victory occurred after three other players left the roster in the last hours, totaling six in all since the arrival in Aztec territory.
"The annulment of the agreement between the @CubanaBeisbol and the @MLB prevents the realization of dreams through the natural way, enabled for the rest of the countries, and stimulates the trafficking of athletes in defense of political interests, alien to the welfare and tranquility of the Cuban family," denounced the Cuban Baseball Federation in its Twitter account.
The Sports Institute (Inder) had stated that "each abandonment from the ranks of #BeisbolCubano confirms the cynicism with which the Trump administration annulled the agreement between the @CubanaBeisbol and the @MLB" and added that this "cruel disadvantage prevents the natural flow to the circuits of that organization."
The Federation pointed out that the recent leaks in Mexico are "concrete expressions" of the annulment of the agreement and said that the other three players who left the group on Sunday "joined those who renounce the commitment made".
These new departures are added to the three previous ones of pitchers Luis Dany Morales and Ubert Luis Mejías and catcher Loidel Rodríguez.
The island's squad now has only 18 players for the remaining games of the tournament, although manager Eriel Sánchez made it clear that despite the inconveniences they will continue to fight for victory.
"There is no problem, there is a team here, a management group and a delegation, that we will continue in search of results and to fulfill our duty which is to play baseball and bring victory to Cuba," Eriel said in statements to Radio Rebelde.
After Monday's match against the Czech Republic, Cuba must face the Dominican Republic to make up for the game that was not played last Thursday due to rain.
