Cuba vs Korea

Havana, Nov 14 (RHC) - The Cuban baseball team fell 8-4 to South Korea and suffered its second defeat in Group B of the Premier 12 in Chinese Taipei.

The Koreans, who had fallen in the opening day against the host team, took a wide lead by scoring 6 runs in the second inning against the stellar left-hander Livan Moinelo, which practically defined the course of the game.

Given the wide difference, the management of team Cuba decided to replace Moinelo, this year's best starter and Gold Glove in his league in Japan, in the third inning, but unexpectedly punished today.

A grand slam by third baseman Do Yeon Kim was the key to the six-run rally. Kim turned out to be the most important player of the game, as he hit another home run and played wonderfully at third base.

Cuba scored its first run in the top of the sixth, combining two hits in the sixth and two errors by the Korean defense, and scored three more in the eighth, with home runs by Yoelquis Guibert and pintch hitter Rafael Viñales.

For the Cubans, it was their second loss in a row, after losing 6-1 to the Dominican Republic on the opening day.

This second setback puts the Cuban team in a very difficult situation to advance to the super round. Their next match will be on Friday against Australia.