• Submitted by: manso
• Sports
• 10 / 24 / 2010

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HAVANA, Cuba, Oct 23 (acn) The Cuban national baseball team hammered handed the Czech Republic a stunning super KO 18-0 in its inaugural game at the Intercontinental Baseball Cup underway in Chinese Taipei.

The game’s outcome was decided in the very first inning when the Cubans scored five times against the weak Czech pitching staff that couldn’t have a shutout inning in the six they played.

Cuba had 19 hits led by slugger Alfredo Despaigne with two homers, both times with one aboard. Second baseman Hector Olivera, who led the hit department at the recently concluded Las Americas tournament in Puerto Rico, followed Despaigne with three hits, two runs and two RBIs.

At the third inning Cuba had managed to have a KO scoreboard, which allowed the technical management to introduce some changes, like using Alexander Malleta, Yosvani Alarcón, Rudy Reyes and Yoennis Céspedes as pinch hitters.

Malleta and Reyes scored thanks to a doble hit by Cespedes with bases loaded to mark the super KO and the end of the game.

Cuban starter right-handed Freddy Asiel Álvarez pitched for five eventless innings and was relieved in the sixth by left-handed Robelio Carillo.

Among both hurlers controlled the Czech batters allowing just three hits.

Now Cuba will take a day off to later face South Korea as part of the Group A calendar, a game where Yuliesky Gonzalez will be the starter, according to Cuban manger Eduardo Martin.
 
Source. ACN