Havana, March 25 (RHC) – Cocodrilos de Matanzas made their debut today in the Americas Baseball Champions League with a 9-8 victory against the CTBC Brothers of Chinese Taipei, in a game played at the Alfredo Harp Helú Stadium.
The Matanzas team, led by Armando Ferrer, had to come from behind to secure the victory against a rival that had lost the previous day in the tournament’s opening game against the Dantos of Managua.
A single by Luis Ángel Sánchez in the bottom of the ninth inning, off a pitch from the losing pitcher Lei Hsu, left their opponents stranded on the field and gave the Matanzas team the win in a high-tension game.
The Asian team scored three runs in the very first inning, connecting for four hits off Matanzas starter Yoennis Yera, including a double and a triple by center fielder Chun-Lin Huang.
Yera left the mound in the third inning after issuing a walk and allowing three more hits that allowed the Brothers to score twice and increase their lead.
Rafael Orlando Perdomo pitched an excellent 3.1 innings in relief, striking out four, but after his departure, the Taipei team scored another run in the seventh against reliever Yosney García, who couldn’t record an out.
The Saurios, who had already scored two runs against starter Jun-You You in the first five innings, rallied in the seventh inning and put together a six-run rally to take the lead.
Yulieski Remón hit a two-run homer—his third hit of the game—while Yasiel González, Andrys Pérez, José Noroña, and pinch hitter Yariel Duque all hit RBI singles.
But when it came time to pack up, Armando Dueñas couldn’t close out the game and allowed the two runs that tied the score before the final buzzer.
Brander Guevara, who recorded three outs, two by strikeout, earned the win.
Today’s schedule features a matchup between the undefeated Dantos and the host Diablos Rojos, who debuted yesterday with a loss against the Kane County Cougars of the United States, a team that has a bye this Wednesday.
