They lost 7×10 to Banco Cooperativo, from the semi-professional league of Chinese Taipei. This Monday they close their preparation against Wei Chuan Dragons, from the local professional circuit.
Cuba did not find the formula for the definitive comeback and lost 7×10 on Sunday to Banco Cooperativo, from the semi-professional league of Chinese Taipei, in the tenth and penultimate game of their preparatory tour for the Premier 12 baseball tournament.
At Tianmu Stadium, star left-hander Liván Moinelo did his job in the opening inning, with a hit and two strikeouts, but Pavel Hernández allowed six runs in the second and two more in the next, in a seven-hit outing, including a pair of doubles.
The other home runs came in the fifth, when Yusniel Padrón tolerated a double and a triple, and although Geonel Gutiérrez, Leodán Reyes, Frank Abel Álvarez and Raidel Martínez later stopped the runs, their teammates’ attack was insufficient to avoid the setback.
«I have prepared well since Havana, I have been assigned the responsibility of starting against left-handers and I’m working hard on that task,» said Geonel, who struck out two during the inning he took over.
«I’ve managed to stay focused, improving my breaking pitches and mixing them with the straight, as well as keeping an eye on the situation of the game, and the purpose is to keep working hard to continue to achieve good performances,» he explained.
In total there were 15 hits for the home side, to nine for the Antillean, who had two in the second act, three in the seventh and another two in the ninth, and had in Yoelquis Guibert their offensive leader, with three runs and the same number of RBIs.
Yadir Drake had two hits, and Andrys Pérez, Alfredo Despaigne and substitutes Roberto Baldoquín and Rafael Viñales each had one run apiece.
It is now six wins and four losses for Cuba during the tour that began in South Korea and is scheduled to conclude on Monday with a clash against Wei Chuan Dragons of the local professional circuit.
ANDRYS PÉREZ WITH NO PROBLEMS
Cuba’s starting catcher, Andrys Perez, progressed without setbacks after being hit by one of the segments of a bat that broke off when he made contact with the pitcher’s delivery.
The impact was on the face shield, and according to Dr. Francisco Montesino, the team’s chief medical officer, left no consequences beyond the initial slight traumatic concussion from which he recovered at the scene of the incident.
«He never lost consciousness, he always reported feeling well and conscious of where he was, without any neurological disorder,» said the specialist, who said that a small break in the skin, in the area of the jaw, did not cause any alarm.
«We decided not to continue with the game in order to treat him, and now we have assigned him the corresponding follow-up, but the physical examination he underwent showed no problems whatsoever,» Montesino said.
CUBA AT BAT
Roel Santos (LF) 5-0
Yoan Moncada (3B) 4-0
Erisbel Arruebarruena (SS) 1-0
Alfredo Despaigne (BD) 4-1
Ariel Martínez (1B) 5-0
Yadir Drake (RF) 4-2
Yoelquis Guibert (CF) 4-3 (3 doubles, 3 RBIs)
Andrys Perez (C) 2-1 (1 RBI)
Jean Harvi Walters (2B) 2-0
Christian Rodriguez (SS-2B) 2-0
Roberto Baldoquin (SS) 2-1
Rafael Viñales (R) 2-1 (1 RBI)
HIS PITCHERS
Liván Moinelo 1 INN/2K/1H
Pavel Hernandez 1,1 INN/8C/7H/1K/1BB
Yusniel Padrón 2,2 NMI/2C/5H/1K
Geonel Gutiérrez 1 INN/2K
Leodán Reyes 1 NMI
Frank Abel Álvarez 1 SNB/1H
Raidel Martínez 1 NSB
