Costly loss to Colombia in Baseball World Cup

Havana, October 1 (RHC/JIT)-- Little batting and six runs scored to the starting pitcher decided Cuba's defeat against Colombia in the super round of the III Baseball U-23 World Cup, held in Hermosillo, Mexico.

Forced to win to keep their chances of reaching the final of the event, Eriel Sanchez's team produced only six hits and one run, while their opponents struck six times with 10 hits.

Jhonatan Carbó stepped into the box with the mission of silencing the coffee growers, which he achieved in only two innings.  He got three runs in the third, two more in the fourth and one in the fifth to send him to the showers.  Marlos Vega came to his rescue and in 2.2 innings he did not allow any runs.

Gustavo Campero (2-1, HR, 2 CI), Leandro Emiliani (3-2), Jesús Adalberto Marriaga (4-2) and Rafael Romero (4-2) were the most outstanding at bat for the Colombians, in a game that also saw Juan Zabala hit a home run. For the Cuban offense, the most outstanding were the three hits by Miguel Antonio González (3-3).

Luis Gabriel Moreno pitched five innings with zeroes; he gave way to Carlos Ignacio de Ávila, who tolerated the lone Cuban run; and later it was time for the closer Yeison José Batista, who closed the game with three strikeouts.

To advance to the bronze medal, Cuba no longer depends on beating Panama this Friday, but also needs Chinese Taipei to beat the Venezuelans today.