Havana, August 2 (RHC) – The Cuban baseball team continues its strong performance at the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games. This Saturday they defeated Puerto Rico 4-0, and today they face the Dominican Republic.
If manager Germán Mesa continues the line of thinking he shared with us in his first training session here, before the tournament began, the Cuban team would rely on right-hander Randy Cueto from Villa Clara to lead the way against the hosts.
Although the competition format for this tournament isn’t the most demanding in terms of the group stage, what happens there could be decisive.
Three out of four teams qualify for the super round, so the results obtained in the initial round count. In other words, if the Cuban team wins this Sunday, they will advance with two wins and no losses, regardless of the two teams that join them in the next stage.
Hence the importance of taking the field with the mindset of going undefeated, even if they have already qualified.
This Saturday, the squad managed by Mesa once again showed consistency across all aspects of their game. The pitching staff held Puerto Rico to just three hits and no runs, thanks to a strong performance from starter Raymond Figueredo, who pitched four complete innings, allowing two hits, striking out three, and walking two. The relievers were also very effective.
Frank Herrera worked one inning, giving up one hit and striking out two, resolving the biggest threat of the game when Puerto Rico loaded the bases with one out in the fifth. Yankiel Mauris and Armando Dueñas then came in for one inning each. Mauris struck out two, and the game ended.
At the plate, Vicente Mateo went 2-for-4; Yasiel González hit a home run at Quisqueya Juan Marishal Stadium, the first Cuban home run hit here; and Yoel Yanqui went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs, bringing his total to four. He is the team’s leading RBI leader.
Germán Mesa told JIT that he is very pleased with how his players have approached the tournament. “When there is discipline and unity, baseball is played well. That’s the key to the pitchers’ excellent form and the timely hitting.”
A phone call interrupted this report; however, it was to complete these lines. Germán Mesa responded to our request, even though, as is his custom, he doesn’t like to announce the starting pitcher.
