Cepeda Leads Cuba to Upset Win to Reach Finals in the Caribbean Series
HAVANA TIMES — Frederich Cepeda went 4-for-5 including two doubles and a triple and drove in five runs to lead Cuba to a come from behind 8-4 win Saturday over Venezuela in the semifinals off the Caribbean Series. Cuba faces Mexico in the finals on Sunday.
Down 4-0 after five innings, and after blowing scoring opportunities in four of the first five innings, it appeared the previously undefeated Venezuelans would breeze to victory. However the tables quickly began to turn in the top of the sixth when Cepeda hit a triple with two on board and scored on a wild throw to put the game at 4-3.
After Norge Luis Ruiz, who came on in the fourth for starter Freddy Asiel Alvarez, held the Venezuelans scoreless in the bottom of the sixth, the top of the seventh would prove the difference.
A five run rally led by a three-run double by Cepeda ended the scoring for the night at 8-4.
Ruiz was the winning pitcher going 4.1 innings allowing no runs on five hits. Hector Mendoza came on to pitch the ninth for Cuba and struck out two of the three batters he faced to end the game.