On Friday, South Korea defeated Cuba 2-0 in the initial of two friendly matches before the Premier12 World Cup commences later this month in Guadalajara, Mexico, and Taipei City, Taiwan. The game was held at the crowded Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, with 15,783 spectators in attendance at the 16,000-seat stadium. During the first inning, South Korea gained the lead as Kim Do-yeong hit a high fly ball towards shallow right field with runners on first and third. Despite second baseman Yadil Mujica's attempt to catch the ball, he missed, allowing Hong Chang-ki to score from third base. In the second inning, South Korea extended their lead when Lee Ju-hyoung hit an RBI single. Song Sung-mun had walked with one out against pitcher Yoennis Yera, then stole second base to put himself in a position to score. Lee, who plays with Song on the Kiwoom Heroes in the Korea Baseball Organization, drove him in. South Korean pitcher Gwak Been started the game and delivered two scoreless innings, striking out two batters and conceding only one hit. Additionally, seven relievers each pitched an inning without allowing any runs, giving up just two hits, and collectively recording six strikeouts. Cuba had two opportunities to score. In the second inning, they had two runners on base with no outs, but Gwak prevented them from scoring by retiring the following two batters, which included a double play on Roberto Baldoquin's groundball to third base. Later in the fifth inning, Lázaro Armenteros singled, advanced to second on a groundball, and stole third base. Nevertheless, the threat came to an end as Andrys Pérez and Yadil Mujica both struck out. Both nations are part of Group B, which also includes Japan, Australia, the Dominican Republic, and Chinese Taipei, the host nation for the initial stage taking place from Nov. 13 to 18. Teams that finish in the top two positions in Groups A and B will progress to the Super Round, scheduled to take place in Tokyo from November 21 to 24. South Korea won the inaugural Premier12 tournament in 2015, while finishing as runners-up to Japan in 2019. Cuba placed sixth in the 2015 tournament and dropped to 10th position in 2019. Nov 1, 2024 R H E CUBA 0 3 0 COREA DEL SUR 2 8 0 W : Gwak Been L : Yoennis Yera Cuba will face South Korea again in Seoul this Saturday at 2:00 pm (local time), 1:00 am (Cuba and Eastern US time) and left-hander Darío Sarduy has been announced to work for Cuba. Yoelquis Guibert, CF: 0-for-4 Yoán Moncada, 3B: 0-for-3 Erisbel Arruebarruena, SS: 0-for-3 Alfredo Despaigne, BD: 0-for-3 Rafael Viñales, RF: 1-for-3 Lázaro Armenteros, LF: 1-for-2 Roberto Baldoquín, 1B: 0-for-2 Andrys Pérez, C: 0-for-3 Yadil Mujica, 2B: 1-for-2 Christian Rodríguez, 3B-SS: 0-for-1 Guillermo Avilés, 1B: 0-for-1 Jean Harvi Walters, 2B: 0-for-1 Luis Vicente Mateo, 3B: 0-for-1

On Wednesday evening, the Dodgers secured their second World Series title in five years by rallying from a five-run deficit to beat the New York Yankees 7-6 in the best-of-seven series, winning four games to one. Box score The Dodgers were losing 5-0 until they scored five runs in the fifth inning, all of which were a result of three fielding errors by the Yankees in one of the most terrible defensive games in World Series history for the team. Although the Yankees regained the lead in the sixth inning, two sacrifice flies by Los Angeles in the eighth inning secured a lasting lead for the visitors. Freddie Freeman was named the MVP of the Series after knocking in 12 runs, matching Bobby Richardson's record from the Yankees' defeat to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1960, and becoming the first player to hit home runs in all four opening games of a Series. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Dodgers' comeback from a five-run deficit in their World Series-clinching win set a new record, surpassing the previous mark of four runs by the Pirates in their 9-7 triumph over the Washington Senators in Game 7 of the 1925 Series. In the fifth inning, the Dodgers loaded the bases by starting off with a single from Kike Hernandez, followed by errors from Aaron Judge in center fielder, and Anthony Volpe, the shortstop, on hits by Tommy Edman and Will Smith. Gerrit Cole managed to strike out Gavin Lux and Shohei Ohtani, but the Dodgers extended the inning due to Cole's failure to cover first base on a ground ball hit by Mookie Betts. As a result, Betts was credited with a single, and Kiké Hernández scored the Dodgers' first run of the game. Freeman hit a single to bring in Edman and Smith. The Dodgers leveled the score at 5-5 as Teoscar Hernández doubled to bring in Betts and Freeman. In the sixth inning, the Yankees took the lead back after Giancarlo Stanton's sacrifice fly scored Juan Soto. Soto began with a walk, advanced to second on a walk to Judge, and then reached third as Jazz Chisholm Jr. grounded into a force out. In the eighth inning, Lux and Betts drove-in the tying and go-ahead runs with sacrifice flies. Blake Treinen secured the victory for the Dodgers as the seventh pitcher to take the mound. He delivered 2 1/3 innings without allowing any runs, conceding just one hit, and striking out three batters. Walker Buehler closed out the game with a flawless ninth inning, securing the save by striking out Austin Wells and Alex Verdugo. Tommy Kahnle the third New York pitcher out of five, was credited with the loss after giving up two runs on two hits and a walk without retiring a single batter. In the first inning, the Yankees secured a 3-0 advantage with consecutive home runs from Judge and Chisholm. Their lead extended in the second as Volpe started with a double, advanced to third on Austin Wells' ground out, and then crossed the plate on Verdugo's single. Verdugo's base hit led Dodger manager Dave Roberts to substitute starting pitcher Jack Flaherty with Anthony Banda. Banda proceeded to strike out Gleyber Torres for the second out but then walked Soto and Judge consecutively, loading the bases. Banda caused Chisholm to ground out, resulting in the end of the inning. Upon entering the game in the bottom of the third inning, Ryan Brasier gave up a home run to Giancarlo Stanton on his very first pitch, extending New York's advantage to 5-0. However, in the end, it was insignificant. Despite the Yankees outperforming in terms of hits during the World Series, they did not exhibit the best baseball performance, and overall, the Dodgers proved to be the best and more confident team. With the win, the Dodgers have clinched two World Series victories within the past five years, including their triumph in the shortened 2020 season due to the pandemic. Prior to that, Los Angeles had not secured a title during a full season since 1988. A number of players from the current Dodgers roster were part of the 2020 World Series team, such as Mookie Betts, Max Muncy, Kiké Hernández, and Walker Buehler. Freeman clinched a championship with the Atlanta Braves in 2021. Mookie Betts secured his third World Series title, having previously won with the Dodgers in 2020 and the Red Sox in 2018. He currently holds the highest number of titles among all active players. Manager Dave Roberts has also clinched his third championship, having previously led the Dodgers to victory in 2020 and also securing a win as a player in 2004 with the Boston Red Sox. In his rookie year, Cuban outfielder Andy Pagés secured his first World Series title. He was not involved in any of the World Series games, but belongs to a group of young players who appear to represent the team's future. Meanwhile, both World Series participant teams had two players, Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge, who followed a similar path during the regular season and postseason. However, only one of them was able to win the title. Ohtani, widely anticipated to be the NL MVP, clinched his first World Series title subsequent to inking a monumental 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers. On the other hand, Aaron Judge, the clear favorite for the AL MVP title, demonstrated impressive performance in the regular season with 58 home runs and 144 RBIs. Nevertheless, he encountered difficulties in the postseason, recording only a .184 batting average with three home runs in 14 games. The Yankees secured his services with a lucrative 9-year, $360 million contract in their quest to win a championship for New York. As of 2025, it will have been 16 years since the Yankees last clinched a title. World Series Dodgers won the series 3-1 Friday 10/25 - 8:08 pm (ET) - Game 1 : LAD 6, NYY 3 (10 INN) Saturday 10/26/ - 8:08 pm (ET) - Game 2: LAD 4, NYY 2 Monday 10/28/ - 8:08 pm (ET) - Game 3 : LAD 4, NYY 2 Tuesday 10/29/ - 8:08 pm (ET) - Game 4: NYY 11, LAD 4 Wednesday 10/30/ - 8:08 pm (ET) - Game 5:  LAD 7, NYY 6

The New York Yankees prevented a sweep in the World Series by defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers 11-4 in Game 4 on Tuesday to remain in contention. The Dodgers maintain a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series, however, the Yankees' offense is now showing some spark following a sluggish start in the Fall Classic. In the first three games, New York managed to score just seven runs altogether, but on Tuesday they exploded for 11 runs. Shortstop Anthony Volpe's grand slam in the third inning put the Yankees ahead 5-2, a lead they maintained until the end. Second baseman Gleyber Torres also contributed with a three-run home run during a five-run eighth inning. Los Angeles first baseman Freddie Freeman kicked off the game following a familiar pattern by hitting a two-run homer in the opening inning, putting the Dodgers ahead 2-0. On Tuesday night, he set two new World Series records by hitting a home run. Freeman has homered in every game of this series and has also managed to hit a home run in each of his last six World Series games dating back to 2021. George Springer hit home runs in five straight World Series games for the Astros between 2017 and 2019. He is the second player, after Freeman, to achieve this feat by hitting home runs in four consecutive games during a single World Series. Springer accomplished this by hitting home runs in Games 4 through 7 in 2017 against the Dodgers and then hitting another home run in the 2019 World Series opener against Washington. Yankees outfielder Hank Bauer (1958) and Giants slugger Barry Bonds (2002) are the only other players to hit a home run in each of the first three games of a World Series. Starting for the Yankees, Luis Gil pitched four innings and allowed four runs. He wasn't terrible, but he also wasn't outstanding. The Yankees utilized five relievers, all of whom performed exceptionally well, shutting down the Dodgers for five consecutive scoreless innings. On Tuesday, the Dodgers opted for a bullpen game and surprisingly used fewer pitchers than New York. Daniel Hudson, who gave up the grand slam to Volpe, was charged with the defeat. Wednesday in the Bronx will host Game 5, with Gerrit Cole expected to be the starting pitcher for the Yankees, while the Dodgers are set to rely on Jack Flaherty. Out of the 24 teams that have trailed 3-0 in a World Series, 21 proceeded to lose Game 4, indicating that the Yankees displayed more resilience compared to past teams. They are the first team to secure a victory in such a Game 4 since 1970. Throughout MLB history, no team has ever managed to overcome a 0-3 deficit in the World Series. World Series Dodgers lead 3-1 Friday 10/25 - 8:08 pm (ET) - Game 1 : LAD 6, NYY 3 (10 INN) Saturday 10/26/ - 8:08 pm (ET) - Game 2: LAD 4, NYY 2 Monday 10/28/ - 8:08 pm (ET) - Game 3 : LAD 4, NYY 2 Tuesday 10/29/ - 8:08 pm (ET) - Game 4: NYY 11, LAD 4 Wednesday 10/30/ - 8:08 pm (ET) - Game 5:  8:08 pm (ET) - LAD at NYY Friday 11/01/ - 8:08 pm (ET) - Game 6:  8:08 pm (ET) - NYY at LAD (*) Saturday 11/02/ - 8:08 pm (ET) - Game 7:  8:08 pm (ET) - NYY at LAD (*)  (*) If necessary

The Cuban national team concluded their last game this Tuesday in the Usan-KBO Fall League 2024 with a 14-3 win over the Goyang Heroes, a second division team affiliated with the Kiwoom Heroes. This victory is part of the Cuban team's preparation for the upcoming III Premier12 world tournament scheduled to start in November. Cuba secured its third straight win upon reaching Asian territory. The team amassed 18 hits and scored 14 runs, while their pitching also showcased the majority of their arms. Pavel Hernandez started the game for Cuba and pitched for two innings before being replaced by the bullpen. Yusniel Padron also pitched for two innings, while Andy Vargas, Raymond Figueredo, Geonel Gutierrez, Frank L. Medina, and Frank A. Alvarez each pitched for one inning. Leodan Reyes only faced one batter during the game. Pavel Hernandez, Padron, and Vargas allowed one run each, according to the Cuban sports weekly Jit. For this match, the Cubans lined up was as follows: Jean Harvin Walters, RF: 0-for-2 Yoelquis Guibert, CF: 2-for-5 Erisbel Arruebarrena, SS: 1-for-3 (RBI) Alfredo Despaigne, BD: 1-for-3 (RBI) Roberto Baldoquín, 1B: 2-for-5 (RBI) Lázaro Armenteros, LF: 1-for-2 Rafael Viñales, C: 2-for-2 (RBI) Yadil Mujica, 2B: 2-for-4 (2 RBI) Christian Rodríguez, 3B: 0-for-2 (RBI) José A. Noroña, RF: 0-for-2 Taylon Sánchez, SS: 2-for-3 (RBI) Guillermo Avilés, 1B: 2-for-2 Andy Cosme, C: 2-for-4 (RBI) Luis V. Mateo, SS: 1-for-2 (2 RBI) Oct 29, 2024 R H E GOYANG HEROES 3 8 1 CUBA 14 18 1 After the game, pitcher Frank A. Alvarez spoke briefly about the passing of Pedro L. Lazo's mother, dedicating the game to his family and their coach Pedro Luis Lazo. Alvarez expressed solidarity with Lazo, who had recently lost his mother but continued to stand by the team and fight with them. Furthermore, Armando Johnson, the Cuban team's manager, provided the following commentary on the island team's performance and preparation. Cuba is scheduled to play against the South Korean national team on November 1 and 2 at the Seoul Gochon Skydome. This is the same team that will be competing in Group B of the World Cup tournament and whom Cuba will face again on November 14. Additionally, three additional warm-up games have been scheduled in Chinese Taipei on November 5, 6, and 7. Among these, two matches against CTBC Brothers will take place on the 6th and 7th as part of the Taichung Shopping Festival. The matches are set to start at 6:35 pm local time.

Once more, the Los Angeles Dodgers easily defeated the New York Yankees 4-2 on Monday night at Yankee Stadium, in front of a quiet crowd. They have the opportunity to complete a four-game sweep by winning on Tuesday night. Box score The Dodgers currently lead the World Series 3-0, a deficit from which no team has ever successfully recovered. In the history of the World Series, when a team has held a 3-0 lead, it has resulted in a sweep 21 out of 24 times, with the remaining three instances ending in a 4-1 series. Throughout postseason history, only one baseball team, the 2004 Boston Red Sox, has managed to overcome a 3-0 deficit, achieving this remarkable feat against the Yankees in the American League Championship Series. Tonight, Freddie Freeman hit a two-run home run - bringing home Shohei Ohtani, who started the evening with a leadoff walk - for the third consecutive game, matching a World Series record of hitting a home run in five straight games dating back to the 2021 World Series. His homer put the Dodgers ahead 2-0 in the first inning, quieting the crowd and shifting the momentum away from the Yankees. Currently, Freeman stands out as the obvious choice for the World Series MVP. He is hitting .333 (4-for-12) with three home runs and seven RBIs in the initial three games of the series. Then it was starter Walker Buehler, who threw five scoreless innings, striking out five, walking two, and allowing two hits to clinch his first victory and extend his remarkable performance in the 2024 postseason. He has pitched a combined 12 scoreless innings against both the Mets and the Yankees in this postseason. Historically speaking, in two World Series appearances for the Dodgers, Buehler has thrown 18 innings, allowing seven hits, three walks, recording 22 strikeouts, and maintaining an ERA of 0.50. In the third inning, the Dodgers increased their lead when Mookie Betts delivered an RBI single, bringing Tommy Edman home. Edman had walked and advanced to second base following an Ohtani ground ball. In the sixth inning, Kiké Hernández scored Gavin Lux with a soft single to right field. Lux advanced to second base after being hit by a pitch and then successfully stealing a base. Honestly, they didn't require any additional runs. Despite leading the race for the American League MVP award, Aaron Judge is currently having difficulties performing well at the plate. After going hitless in three at-bats on Monday, Judge's batting average against Los Angeles fell to .083, having only managed one hit in 12 at-bats. The Yankees' starting rotation has failed to effectively contain the Dodgers' offense. In tonight's game, Clarke Schmidt struggled and could not make it past the third inning. He pitched 2 2/3 innings, threw 68 pitches, gave up three runs, walked four batters, and allowed two hits, one of which was Freeman's home run. Alex Verdugo prevented the shutout by hitting a two-run home run in the ninth inning off closer Michael Kopech, although the outcome had already been determined. Game 4 is scheduled for Tuesday, and the Yankees must see an improvement in their batting performance to prevent a sweep and possibly prolong the series to a fifth game. In order to achieve this, the Yankees will have RHP rookie Luis Gil as their starting pitcher, while the Dodgers are anticipated to rely on a bullpen game. World Series Dodgers lead 3-0 Friday 10/25 - 8:08 pm (ET) - Game 1 : LAD 6, NYY 3 (10 INN) Saturday 10/26/ - 8:08 pm (ET) - Game 2: LAD 4, NYY 2 Monday 10/28/ - 8:08 pm (ET) - Game 3 : LAD 4, NYY 2 Tuesday 10/29/ - 8:08 pm (ET) - Game 4: 8:08 pm (ET) - LAD at NYY Wednesday 10/30/ - 8:08 pm (ET) - Game 5:  8:08 pm (ET) - LAD at NYY (*) Friday 11/01/ - 8:08 pm (ET) - Game 6:  8:08 pm (ET) - NYY at LAD (*) Saturday 11/02/ - 8:08 pm (ET) - Game 7:  8:08 pm (ET) - NYY at LAD (*)  (*) If necessary

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. Box score 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)

Nkosi Diddier limited Cuba to just four hits in 4 2/3 innings, while Kevin Josefina drove in two decisive runs with a double in the third inning, as Curacao secured a close 2-1 victory over Cuba in the last game of the qualifying stage of the VI Caribbean Cup held at the Andre Rodgers Stadium in Nassau, eliminating them from any possibility of defending their 2023 title and advancing to the tournament final on Monday. Box score With its ticket to the final, Curacao will seek to claim its second title in these editions of the Caribbean Cup, after having triumphed in 2021, during the third version of the event. The US Virgin Islands triumphed over St. Maarten with a score of 10-5 on the same day, resulting in them finishing with a record of 3-2, equal to Cuba's. Despite this, they secured a spot in the final by beating Cuba 6-5 last Friday. Cuba is set to compete for the bronze medal this Monday at 3:00 pm local time, against an unknow opponent, as the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic will face off at 7:00 pm in the final Round Robin stage match. Cuba's starting pitcher, José Ignacio Bermúdez, limited the Curacao team to just three hits during his 5 2/3 innings on the mound. However, he was unable to prevent two crucial hits in the third inning, along with his lone walk of the game, which ultimately led to their defeat. Kevin Josefina came through with a well-timed double, contributing with two runs that ended up being the determining factor in Curacao's win. Facing right-handed starter Joharvi Martinus in the bottom of the third inning, Cuba reduced the deficit in half when Carlos de la Tejera hit an RBI single to bring Darian Palma home. However, this marked the end of Cuba's RBI efforts, as reliever Diddier kept them from scoring for the remaining 4 2/3 innings of the game. In his tournament debut, Diddier recorded three strikeouts and did not allow any walks. Bermúdez recorded four strikeouts and allowed only one walk for Cuba. He was replaced by Randy Martínez in the sixth inning, who then pitched flawlessly for the remaining 1 1/3 innings, including one strikeout.

Team USA orchestrated a remarkable turnaround against the Dominican Republic on Saturday in the U-12 Pre-World Cup final at the Andy Alonso Stadium in Panama City. The match had to be relocated from the Rod Carew Stadium. Team USA emerged victorious with a score of 14-7, clinching the tournament title and securing one of the three qualifying spots for the world event next year. The Americans have won their second straight title in these qualifying events, setting them up to defend their world champions status in the category at the 2025 World Cup in Tainan, Taiwan, following their wins in the 2023 and 2021 editions. It was a tough battle for the Americans to overcome a strong and formidable Dominican team. They managed to turn the game around after trailing 7-4 in the fourth inning, ultimately securing the win with a 10-run surge in the final three innings. It is important to note that the game was interrupted by rain, disrupting the Dominicans' momentum and requiring the match to be relocated to the Andy Alonso stadium to finish. Upon resuming play there, Team USA appeared reenergized and convincingly secured their place as the top team in the tournament by scoring crucial runs against a struggling Dominican pitching staff and an offense that failed to produce hits in the final three innings. The triumph enabled the United States to clinch the gold in the tournament and secure a spot in the WBSC U-12 World Cup 2025, making them one of the three teams to achieve this feat. Similarly, the Dominican Republic and Cuba, the third-place finisher, also advanced, with Panama securing its position as the host nation of this event. Towards the conclusion of the tournament, the individual accolades and the All-Star team were revealed. Carlo Rivero, the American pitcher, was honored with the Most Valuable Player title and recognized as the top pitcher of the tournament. In the individual awards category, Cuba excelled in home runs with Alex Batista (2) - shared - and also shared the lead in saves with Humberto Alfonso (1). In the tournament's All-Star team, Daibel Barrero was chosen as the top third baseman, and Humberto Alfonso was awarded the title of best shortstop. CUBA TEAM INDIVIDUAL AWARDS More HRs : Al Batista (2) - shared with 7 other hitters More SVs : Humberto Alfonso (1) - shared with 7 other pitchers WBSC U12 Pre-World Cup 2024 - All-Star Team P: Carlo Rivero (USA) DH: Sebastián Gil (Venezuela) C: Carlos Gutiérrez (Venezuela) 1B: Jack Mattingly (USA) 2B: Brandon Báez (República Dominicana) 3B: Daibel Barrero (Cuba) SS: Humberto Alfonso (Cuba) LF: Joshua Park (USA) CF: José Reyes (México) RF: Adolfo Alcoser (Nicaragua) WBSC U12 Pre-World Cup 2024 - Final Standings USA República Dominicana CUBA Panamá México Puerto Rico Venezuela Nicaragua Brasil Colombia Ecuador Argentina

In Friday's Game 1 of the World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers secured a 6-3 victory with a walk-off grand slam by Freddie Freeman in the 10th inning, marking the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history. In the 10th inning, the Yankees went ahead 3-2 when Anthony Volpe's fielder's choice brought Jazz Chisholm home. However, in the bottom half of the inning, Gavin Lux walked, Tommy Edman singled to the infield, and Mookie Betts received an intentional walk, paving the way for Freeman's decisive moment. Cuban lefty Néstor Cortés, who had been sidelined with an elbow injury since Sept. 18, surrendered the grand slam and was charged with the defeat for New York. In a decision that sparked controversy, Yankees manager Aaron Boone stood by his choice to bring in Cortés in a crucial moment, after first intentionally walking Mookie Betts to load the bases. Boone explained after the game that he chose the matchup based on his confidence in the pitcher's recent performance and the difficulty of doubling up Ohtani with Tim Hill on the mound. Having Mookie behind him made Boone comfortable with Néstor in that situation. Following four innings without any runs scored in a matchup between pitchers Gerrit Cole and Jack Flaherty, the Dodgers took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning thanks to a triple from Kiké Hernández and a sacrifice fly by Will Smith. Flaherty pitched 5 1/3 innings for the Dodgers, recording six strikeouts and allowing two runs. Gerrit Cole pitched beyond the fifth inning but was removed before recording an out. He finished with four strikeouts and yielded only one run. In the sixth, the Yankees took a 2-1 lead, when Giancarlo Stanton hit a towering two-run home run to left field.  In the eighth inning, Betts hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game 2-2, which lasted until the 10th inning, when Freeman secured the Dodgers' victory with a clutch home run. Game 2 will take place on Saturday night in Los Angeles at 8:08 p.m. ET. The Yankees are set to pitch left-hander Carlos Rodón, while the Dodgers will have rookie right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the mound. World Series Dodgers lead 1-0 Friday 10/25 - 8:08 pm (ET) - Game 1 : LAD 6, NYY 3 (10 INN) Saturday 10/26/ - 8:08 pm (ET) - Game 2: 8:08 pm (ET) - NYY at LAD Monday 10/28/ - 8:08 pm (ET) - Game 3 : 8:08 pm (ET) - LAD at NYY Tuesday 10/29/ - 8:08 pm (ET) - Game 4: 8:08 pm (ET) - LAD at NYY Wednesday 10/30/ - 8:08 pm (ET) - Game 5:  8:08 pm (ET) - LAD at NYY (*) Friday 11/01/ - 8:08 pm (ET) - Game 6:  8:08 pm (ET) - NYY at LAD (*) Saturday 11/02/ - 8:08 pm (ET) - Game 7:  8:08 pm (ET) - NYY at LAD (*)  (*) If necessary

Yoshinobu Yamamoto limited the New York Yankees to just one hit in 6 1/3 innings, while Freddie Freeman hit a home run for the second consecutive game as Los Angeles secured a 4-2 victory on Saturday, taking a 2-0 lead in the 2024 World Series. Box score The night following Freeman's historic walk-off grand slam that changed a 3-2 deficit into a 6-3 victory with two outs in the 10th inning, Edman gave the Dodgers the lead with a solo home run in the second inning. Teoscar Hernández also hit a home run against starting pitcher Carlos Rodón. Rodón equaled a Yankees World Series record by giving up three home runs. He left the game after pitching 3 1/3 innings and throwing 63 pitches, as he was credited with four earned runs on six hits. He only induced one swing and miss with his fastball. In the third inning, the Yankees tied the game after Yamamoto allowed Juan Soto's fourth postseason home run. This was the sole run given up by Yamamoto in his two starts and 13 1/3 innings pitched against the Yankees this year. Following Soto's homer, Yamamoto proceeded to retire the final 11 batters he faced. In this remarkable performance, he tallied four strikeouts and two walks, effectively controlling the strike zone. Notably, two of the strikeouts were against the highly favored American League MVP candidate, Aaron Judge, who has been struggling in the series. After this performance, he improved his postseason record to 2-0 in four starts. This success came after he signed a lucrative $325 million contract with the Dodgers, a move that involved rejecting an offer from the Yankees. Yamamoto and the bullpen limited New York to just one hit until the ninth inning, when the Yankees narrowed the gap to 4-2 thanks to Giancarlo Stanton's RBI single off Blake Treinen. Anthony Volpe struck out with the bases loaded, and Alex Vesia was called upon to secure his first postseason save by getting pinch-hitter Jose Trevino out on a first-pitch flyout. In bottom of the seventh inning, superstar Shohei Ohtani sustained an injury while sliding into second base during an attempted steal. He is scheduled to undergo an MRI, and his availability for the World Series will be determined on Sunday or Monday. Game 3 will take place at Yankee Stadium on Monday night, with Yankees' RHP Clarke Schmidt and Dodgers' RHP Walker Buehler set to start. Out of 56 teams that have held a 2-0 lead in the World Series, 45 have ultimately won the championship. In best-of-7 series, when teams win the first 2 games at home, they have a success rate of 50 out of 61. In the World Series, this success rate is 32 out of 39. World Series Dodgers lead 2-0 Friday 10/25 - 8:08 pm (ET) - Game 1 : LAD 6, NYY 3 (10 INN) Saturday 10/26/ - 8:08 pm (ET) - Game 2: LAD 4, NYY 2 Monday 10/28/ - 8:08 pm (ET) - Game 3 : 8:08 pm (ET) - LAD at NYY Tuesday 10/29/ - 8:08 pm (ET) - Game 4: 8:08 pm (ET) - LAD at NYY Wednesday 10/30/ - 8:08 pm (ET) - Game 5:  8:08 pm (ET) - LAD at NYY (*) Friday 11/01/ - 8:08 pm (ET) - Game 6:  8:08 pm (ET) - NYY at LAD (*) Saturday 11/02/ - 8:08 pm (ET) - Game 7:  8:08 pm (ET) - NYY at LAD (*)  (*) If necessary

Cuba secured a 5-1 victory over Panama at the Rod Carew Stadium in Panama City, clinching the bronze medal in the U-12 Pre-World Cup. Daibel Barrero, the right-handed starter, delivered a solid performance, while Cuba's offense scored four crucial runs in the second inning. The tournament will conclude this Saturday with the United States facing the Dominican Republic in the gold medal match. Box score Securing the win is a significant milestone for the Cuban team in this category. They not only secure a place in the 2025 World Cup WBSC but do so after only losing against the top two teams in the tournament, the Dominican Republic and the United States. Additionally, this victory marks their first advancement to a world tournament in this category in five years. The standout performer of the day was unquestionably Cuban pitcher Daibel Barrero, who delivered a solid six-inning performance against the strong Panamanian team, conceding just one run on four hits, two walks, and two strikeouts, throwing a total of 76 pitches. Daibel successfully prevented runners from advancing in every inning except the third, effectively containing the Panamanian offense. Despite Panama only managing to get two players on base with a single and a walk in the first three innings, the situation became more challenging for the Cuban pitcher in the fourth inning. In that inning Panamá loaded the bases with no outs, after consecutive singles by the third and fourth batters, along with an error by the Cuban defense. Despite Panama appearing to be in a position for a comeback while trailing 5-0, Daibel stayed calm. He successfully dealt with line drives from the sixth and third batters, stopping the runners from progressing. Daibel then conceded only one run on a ground ball to third base hit by Andy Ortega, allowing the runner from third to cross the plate. He finished the inning by getting Anthony Rodríguez out, preserving Cuba's 5-1 lead, which was maintained for the rest of the game. Following that moment, only two additional Panamá batters managed to reach base. One drew a walk in the fifth inning, while Pineda singled in the sixth, when Cuba just one out away from clinching the win. The Cubans took an aggressive approach against right-handed starter Diego Daniel Camargo, as doubles from Alan Jonathan López and the impressive offensive newcomer from the island, Alex Batista, helped them secure an early 1-0 lead. In the very next inning, the outcome of the game was determined. Camargo struggled to hold off a strong Cuban offensive, resulting in him conceding five runs – four of which were earned – in a mere 1 1/3 innings. The inning began with a single by Yuceider Torres, followed by an error from the Panamanian second baseman and a walk to Frank L. Cañizares, loading the bases. Alfredo Despaigne Jr. struck out to record the first out, while Alan Jonathan stepped up and delivered a double to the right side, bringing in two runs and forcing the Panamanian starting pitcher out of the game. Facing the new reliever, right-handed pitcher Amell Abid Fernández, Humberto Alfonso delivered a single to right field, bringing Cañizares and López home and extending Cuba's lead to 5-0, a lead they maintained for the rest of the game. During the second game of the day, the Dominican Republic and the United States were in contention for the title when the rain interrupted the game. After three innings, the Dominican Republic was leading 7-4. The eighth edition of the WBSC U-12 World Cup is scheduled to take place in Tainan, Taiwan in 2025. During the World Cup Qualifier event, the teams from the United States, Dominican Republic, and Cuba, along with the host country, qualified as representatives from the continent. The qualification process for the World Cup began with the European U-12 Championship in July. The winners, Germany (world No. 17) and the runners-up, world No. 7 Netherlands, will represent Europe at the World Cup. Eight teams will participate in the XI BFA U-12 Asia Championship from November 23-29 in Matsuyama and Imabari, Japan and the three teams that make it to the podium will also advance to the World Cup. WBSC Africa and WBSC Oceania will qualify one team each and, in addition, the WBSC executive committee will award a wild card for a 12th participant.

The Cuban national team, getting ready for the third edition of the Premier12 world tournament, secured its first win on Friday in South Korea. They defeated the Jiangsu Huge Horses from the Chinese Baseball League (CBL) with a score of 7-2 during their preparatory tour as a guest team in the Ulsan KBO Fall League. On Friday, at the Gijang Hyundai Dream Ballpark, the Cuban team's left-handed pitcher Yoennis Yera started and secured a win by holding the Chinese players scoreless for three innings with 5 strikeouts. Four other Cuban pitchers saw action in the game, specifically Andy Vargas, Yankiel Mauri, Frank Herrera, and Frank A. Álvarez. Cuba managed to score a run in the first inning, but Ye Zijie controlled the game until the fifth inning. At that point, with the score still 1-0, a significant five-run surge completely shifted the momentum in favor of the Cuban team. Jiangsu scored their only two runs in the seventh inning with a two-run home run against reliever Yankiel Mauri. In the bottom of the same inning, Cuba added their final run. Roberto Baldoquín and Rafael Viñales provided crucial offensive backing for the Cuban pitching staff, each delivering three runs to play a decisive role in securing the victory. Oct 25, 2024 R H E JIANGSU 2 3 0 L : Ye Zijie CUBA 7 12 0 W : Yoennis Yera The Cubans suffered a defeat in their debut game against the KBO team, the NC Dinos, losing 13-1 last Wednesday. This Saturday, at 10:00 pm in Cuba and the Eastern US, they will face off against the LG Twins in Ulsan. The match will be available for viewing on the KBO YouTube channel. ( https://www.youtube.com/@KBO1982 ). (Photos: Yuhki Ohboshi)   Cuba's Team Performance against the Jingsu Huge Horses, Oct 25, 2024