Havana, February 21 – The Cuban and Nicaraguan national baseball teams tied 2-2 in the first game of the friendly series last night as part of both teams’ preparation for the VI World Baseball Classic.

In front of a packed Roberto Clemente stadium in the city of Masaya, the legendary Ken Griffey Jr., considered one of the most complete players in the history of the Major Leagues, threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the start of the game.

The game, the first in a four-game exhibition series leading up to the World Baseball Classic, started favorably for the Cuban team, who punished veteran right-hander Erasmo Ramírez in the first inning with four hits and two runs.

Roel Santos led off the offense with a ground ball between first and second, followed by a single to left field by Yoelkis Guibert. A ground ball by Ariel Martínez brought in the first run, while Alfredo Despaigne drove in the second with a single to right.

However, after that early on, the Nicaraguan pitching adjusted and managed to dominate the Cuban offense, racking up 11 strikeouts in the game.

The home team responded with a solo home run by Omar Mendoza in the second inning and an RBI single by Juan Diego Montes in the fourth to tie the game.

From that point on, the Cuban team’s management, led by Germán Mesa, effectively rotated their bullpen, using relievers such as Yunieski García, Geonel Gutiérrez, Frank Herrera, and Brander Guevara, who maintained the tie until the end.

“I thought it was a good game. The players fulfilled their assigned roles, and the game ended in a tie,” Mesa told the press.

However, he pointed to the number of runners left on base as his main concern. “We prepared tactically to bring in those runs, but we couldn’t,” emphasized the manager, who announced left-hander Darío Sarduy from Villa Clara as the starting pitcher for the second game.

According to official statistics, Cuba had nine hits and struck out 11 times, while Nicaragua had five hits, three walks, and struck out five times.

Omar Mendoza was the game’s best hitter, going 2-for-3 with a home run, the only extra-base hit of the game. For Cuba, Roel Santos went 2-for-4, while Cheslor Cuthbert went 1-for-2 and scored a run.

According to the schedule, the second game will be played on Sunday at Rigoberto López Pérez Stadium in León, the third will be held at Yamil Ríos Ugarte Stadium in Rivas on February 25, and the series will conclude on the 27th at Soberanía Stadium.