Yadir Drake hits a home run in a warm-up game.
Photo: ACN.
Havana, January 30 (RHC)-- The Cuban team that will attend the V World Baseball Classic beat this Sunday 10-4 the Agricultores team, with a ticket for the Gran Caracas 2023 Caribbean Series, in the first of two preparatory games held at the Latin American stadium and played in seven innings.
The students currently under the command of Pinero mentor Armando Jhonson paid hard to the Granmenses César García and the left-handed Leandro Martínez, starter and first reliever, respectively, to achieve decisive four-run runs in both the first and second chapters.
Among the main connections were a three-run home run by starter Yadir Drake, who has just arrived in Cuba after his notorious participation in the Mexican league with the Yaquis de Obregón, and another home run by middle infielder Dayán García.
The palms for the Cuba-Classic went to Santiago right fielder Yoelkis Guibert, who went 4-3 with two homers and three RBIs.
Both Jhonson and manager Carlos Martí, in charge of the Agricultores, fulfilled their objectives of using as many of their disciples as possible in the duel and analyzing possible line-ups for the upcoming events.
The team that will attend the Caribbean Series is currently in a better sporting shape, since they recently finished their participation -and with title included- in the First Cuban Elite Baseball League.
Marti and his team will debut next Thursday against Curacao, at the Jorge Luis Garcia Carneiro Stadium in La Guaira, and evidently they need to improve the performance of their pitchers to be able to advance in a tournament under the competitive system of all against all, in order to reach the medal dispute.
In the meantime, Jhonson has a little more time to condition his current men for the preparatory stops scheduled in Japan, and then wait for the major league players who are unable to join the group now.
The Cuban squad to the Classic will debut on March 9 against the Netherlands, in Group A based in Taipei, China, which also includes Panama, Italy and the host team.
The second and last practice game between the two teams will be played today, also at the Coloso del Cerro.
