In a decisive match at the Soberanía National Stadium, the Las Tunas Woodcutters, representing Cuba, faced a crushing 15-2 defeat by knockout in seven innings at the hands of the Curaçao Goats. This encounter took place during the third day of the inaugural Americas Baseball Series in Managua, Nicaragua.
The Cuban team demonstrated weaknesses across all facets of the game: their offense was restricted to a mere three hits, their pitching staff was overrun, conceding 16 hits, and their defense faltered with two errors, as reported by the state-run site JIT. These vulnerabilities were exploited by the Curaçao team, who scored eight runs in the third inning and added another seven in the fourth, sealing their victory.
Cuba's left-handed pitcher, Dariel Góngora, was hit hard, surrendering seven hits that resulted in Curaçao's initial eight runs. Relievers Kenier Ferraz, Eliander Bravo, Rodolfo Díaz, and Alejandro Meneses attempted to stem the offensive tide but were unsuccessful.
On the other side, Curaçao's right-hander, Juan Carlos Sulbarán, effectively stifled the Cuban lineup, allowing just two singles and the only two runs in the fourth inning, driven in by captain Yunieski Larduet.
With this result, Curaçao leads the tournament with a perfect 3-0 record, trailed by Nicaragua and Panama's Águilas Metropolitanas at 2-1. Cuba and Argentina's Club Daom are tied for fourth place with a 1-2 record, while Colombia's Caimanes de Barranquilla sit at the bottom with three straight losses.
The Woodcutters will aim to bounce back on Monday when they face the Caimanes de Barranquilla, with Santiago native Danny Betancourt starting as pitcher. In their debut last Friday, the Cuban team fell to Nicaragua, who took advantage of their home-field edge. They later secured their only win so far against Panama’s Águilas Metropolitanas in a close-fought match, leveraging an offense of 13 hits.
With a 1-2 record, Cuba finds itself in a precarious position, needing to win their remaining games to stay in contention.
Key Insights into Cuba's Performance in the Americas Baseball Series
What were the main weaknesses of the Cuban team in their game against Curaçao?
The Cuban team struggled with limited offense, poor pitching, and ineffective defense, allowing Curaçao to dominate the game.
How did Curaçao manage to secure such a decisive victory?
Curaçao capitalized on Cuba's defensive errors and weak pitching to score eight runs in the third inning and seven in the fourth, ensuring their win.
What is Cuba's current standing in the tournament?
Cuba is currently tied for fourth place with Argentina's Club Daom, holding a 1-2 record in the tournament.