Cepeda HR Keeps Cuba in the Fight
HAVANA TIMES — Cuba’s Mr. Clutch, Frederich Cepeda, once again earned his nickname on Tuesday when he homered in the eighth inning with Yulieski Gourriel on first to give his team a 2-1 win over a tough China Taipei.
The spectacular homer from the designated hitter came off right hander Chen Fan Meng Chen who pitched a brilliant complete game but lost with one mistake.
Ismel Jimenez (1.0 innings, one hit, no runs) picked up the win in relief of Odrisamer Despaigne (4.1 innings, six hits, one unearned run) and (Yadier Pedroso 2.2 innings, no hits, no runs, three walks).
The save went to Pablo Millán Fernandez who got the final two outs with Taipei threatening in the top of the ninth.
Cuba is now 1-2 in the Haarlem Baseball Week tournament with first round games remaining against the host Netherlands on Wednesday and Japan on Thursday.
The top four teams then face off in the semifinal contests.
As of press time Puerto Rico leads the tournament with a 3-0 record, after getting by the USA by a 3-2 score on Tuesday, the same score it defeated Cuba in game one. USA is second with a 2-1 record, the Netherlands and Japan (playing at this time) are tied for third at 1-1. Cuba is in fifth place with 1-2 and Chinese Taipei in last at 0-3.