Cuba secured the bronze medal at the VI Caribbean Baseball Cup after defeating St. Marteen 2-1 in a match held this afternoon at the Andre Rodgers stadium in Nassau, Bahamas.
Despite being unable to defend their title from the 2023 edition, Cuba secured third place in the tournament with a 4-2 record after the win.
Cuba secured the victory with a crucial two-run RBI single from left fielder Francisco Martínez in the third inning against right-handed pitcher Daniel Vos, bringing home Leonardo Alarcón and Darián Palma.
Vos pitched for 3 1/3 innings, giving up two earned runs in the third inning. He allowed five hits, two walks, and did not record any strikeouts. As a result, he ended up with the loss.
In the meantime, Yosiel Serrano, a right-handed from Cuba, began the game and pitched 4 1/3 innings, holding the opposing team to three hits. The only run scored against him was a stolen home plate by Víctor Daijer in the fifth inning, narrowly avoiding a shutout. Serrano recorded four strikeouts and did not allow any walks.
After Serrano exited the game in the fifth inning, Sammy Benitez stepped up, delivering two scoreless innings with two hits and one strikeout. In the seventh, Rafael Perdomo was brought in to halt a potential rally by St. Marteen, as they had two runners on base with only one out. The right-hander induced a crucial double play to secure the Cuban win, earning himself the save in the process.
The victory was the first bronze that Cuba won in the editions of these tournaments that began in 2018 and in which Cuba began to participate in 2021. At the same time, it is also the first podium position for the debuting Cuban mentor in senior competitions, Alexander Urquiola.
CUBAN PLACES IN CARIBBEAN CUPS
I CC 2018 - Did not participate
II CC 2019 - Did not participate
III CC 2021 - 2nd Place (Lost 4-3 to Curacao in the final)
IV CC 2022 - 2nd Place (Lost 9-4 to Puerto Rico in the final)
V CC 2023 - 1st Place (Won 3-1 against Curacao in the final)
VI CC 2024 - 3rd Place (Won 2-1 over St. Marteen for bronze)
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