'Korea-Cuba warm-up match is futile...' Starting 6 innings without losing a point → 6 runs in the bullpen. Cuba also lost to Dominica 1-6
Nov 13, 2024
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The Dominican Republic trailed 0-1 in the first Group B qualifying round against Cuba in Taiwan on the 13th, but the lineup exploded from the seventh inning and won a 6-1 come-from-behind victory.
Cuba vowed to win the Dominican Republic, and starter Yoenis Yera pitched well, but the bullpen collapsed and recorded its first loss.
Cuban starter Yoenis Yera is a pitcher who started the warm-up match against South Korea on the 1st and allowed two runs in three innings. I threw better on this day. He silenced the bat of the Dominican Republic with three hits, no four outs, no five strikeouts and no runs in six innings. However, the bullpen pitchers' walk to the Dominican Republic later became a source of concern and eventually suffered a come-from-behind loss.
Cuba created a chance with two outs and runners on first and second base in the bottom of the first inning with the left-handed Ana of the leader Roel Santos and the left-handed hit of No. 4 Alfredo Despaigne, but No. 5 Ariel Martinez's ground ball in front of the third base failed to make the first run.
In the bottom of the second inning, Andris Perez hit a heavy hit after two outs, but it did not lead to a score.
The Dominican Republic, which ended with three outs until the third inning, made its first on-base hit by Kelvin Gutierrez after one out in the top of the fourth inning. However, Andretti Cordero hit a ground ball in front of the shortstop and was on the verge of double play, but the second baseman's error created a second base with two outs. Unfortunately, Rainer Nunez struck out swinging.
The Dominican Republic failed to score a run until the fifth inning when Ricardo Cespedes hit to right-center after one out, but failed to steal second base, and Meeker Adolfo struck out swinging.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, lead Andris Perez walked and got on base, and Yardier Mujica's sacrifice bunt created a chance for one out and second base. However, Roel Santos was caught on a foul fly to the third baseman, and he got two outs and third base due to a wild pitch, but Yoan Moncada struck out swinging and failed to score the first point.
In the top of the sixth inning, lead Michael De León hit a left-handed hit to create a chance for the first base with no outs. However, Frank Rodriguez was caught on a fly to shortstop, and Jose Devers and Kelvin Gutierrez were grounded out in front of the shortstop in a row, throwing away the opportunity.
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Again, the pitcher is replaced by Yoeli Rodriguez.
Rodriguez's wild pitch came out of the Joelkis Gibert at-bat and scored the first run. 1-0. However, Cuba failed to score an additional point in the ensuing one-out, second- and third-base chances, but Gilbert struck out swinging, and Yadir Mujica grounded out in front of second base.
Cuba replaced starter Yoenis Yera, who was playing well, in the top of the seventh inning, when the Dominican Republic turned the tables.
After two outs, Pedro Gonzalez and Ricardo Sespedes drew back-to-back walks, creating chances for first and second bases.
At that time, pinch hitter Arismendi Alcantara hit a heavy hit to tie the score 1-1. At this time, the first baseman, who went to third base due to a center fielder's error, homered by Cespedes and succeeded in turning the game around 2-1.
The Dominican Republic drew an extra point in the top of the eighth inning, moving one step closer to victory.
After two outs, he got on base with a walk and scored. Following Gutierrez's walk, Cordero's double on the right-field line gave him a chance to second and third base, and Nunes' left-handed hit made it 3-1. With two outs and runners on the first and third bases, Gonzalez hit a ground ball in front of the third base, and there was no clear wedge.
Cuba also drew a walk after two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, but Rapeel Vinales grounded out in front of the shortstop.
The Dominican Republic ran away again in the top of the ninth inning. Alcantara's walk on lead Cespedes' heavy hit and De León's sacrifice bunt gave Rodriguez a groundout with one out and runners on second and third to make it 4-1, three-run difference. Gutierrez then hit a wedge-right-center triple to score two more runs to spread the score to 6-1.
Cuba failed to chase and lost in the bottom of the ninth inning due to a three-way exit.
In the Dominican Republic, starter Willy Peralta blocked well until the fifth inning, but allowed one run in the bottom of the sixth inning. He allowed four hits, two walks, five strikeouts and one run in five ⅓ innings. Fortunately, he turned the tables in the top of the seventh inning, and the bullpen stopped him without allowing a run to the end and got off to a good start.
indyk@sportschosun.com
