Disposed 7×2 of Jiangsu Huge Horses. Good opening by Yera and three RBIs per capita by Viñales and Baldoquín.

A good start by left-handed pitcher Yoennis Yera and three RBIs apiece by Rafael Viñales and Roberto Baldoquín coloured the first victory of the Cuban team preparing in Ulsan for the Premier 12 baseball tournament.

In its second outing at the Sajik Stadium in this South Korean city, the Antillean team disposed 7×2 of Jiangsu Huge Horses, champions of the Chinese Baseball Association Championship, two days after losing 1×13 to the NC Dinos of the local circuit.

Yera allowed no runs over three innings in which he struck out five, had two hits and gave up one walk. «I went out to do my job and I achieved my goal, which was to get the result,» said the matancero.

«I combined all the pitches I know, trying to place them intelligently to avoid the effects of their swings, which are fast, and the important thing was to contribute to the team’s success,» he added.

The Caribbean team took control of the game from the opening chapter, when Viñales, who opened as a defender of the initial and then moved to right field, hit the first of the three jits with which he played a leading role.

«I faced this opportunity with the same determination I’ve always had to play, and I didn’t do anything out of this world, but what I have to do and the team knows that I can contribute,» said Viñales, satisfied with the better collective performance shown by his team.

A pair of hits came from the bartender Jean Harvi Walters, the torpedo Erisbel Arruebarruena and the leadoff man Baldoquín, who in the fifth act made two runs to the plate to contribute to the five runs that increased the advantage.

«The important thing is that it was a good game for everyone, a demonstration, with a good pitching routine, that we are adapting to the time change,» said the boy from Las Tunas, who also played first base and drove in the last run of his side in the seventh inning.

The Chinese were only able to celebrate in that very segment, thanks to a two-run home run by starter Cao Jie against Yankiel Mauri, the second reliever used by Cuba. He was preceded by Andy Vargas, followed by Frank Herrera and Frank Abel Álvarez.

Yera took the credit and fellow starter Ye Zijie took the loss after three episodes of work.

This Saturday, as part of the Ulsan-KBO 2024 Autumn League, the Cuban team will face LG Twins, last year’s home professional champions, whom they were unable to face on Tuesday due to rain. Dario Sarduy will be the opener.

FINAL

CHN 2 3 0

CUB 7 12 0

Won: Y. Yera

Lost: Y. Zijie

HOW DID THE CUBANS BAT?

Jean Harvi Walters (2B): 3-2 (1 double).

Yoelquis Guibert (CF) 3-0 (2 BB).

Erisbel Arruebarruena (SS) 3-2, 1BI.

Alfredo Despaigne (BD): 3-1.

Rafael Viñales (1B-RF): 4-3, 3Imp.

Lázaro Armenteros (LF): 4-0.

Roberto Baldoquin (3B-1B): 4-2, 3 Imp.

Andrys Pérez (R): 3-1.

José Amaury Noroña (RF): 2-1.

Vicente Mateo (2B): 1-0

Christian Rodríguez (SS): 1-0.

Andy Cosme(R): 1-0.

Yadil Mujica (3B): 2-0.