Cuba Wins Caribbean Series with 3-2 over Mexico

HAVANA TIMES — Yulieski Gourriel hit a solo homer in the top of the eighth for the run that gave Cuba a surprise victory in the Caribbean Series over Mexico.

After going 1-3 in the qualifying round the Cubans turned the tables in the semifinals 8-4 over Venezuela and then tonight’s big win against Mexico.

Boxscore

Yosvani Torres pitched 6 innings of one-run, two-hit ball to pick up the win with excellent relief performances from 19-year-old reliever Loivan Monielo and 21-year-old closer Hector Mendoza, who got the last four outs.

Frederich Cepeda, the hero of the game against Venezuela, drove in a run for Cuba in the first inning, his sixth RBI in two days. The other Cuban run came on a hit by Luis Yander La O in the second.

Mexico got its first run in the bottom of the seventh and another in the bottom of the eighth.

Mexico starter Antonio Vásquez was the losing pitcher allowing two runs over five innings.

Cuba out hit Mexico 11-4 and both teams committed one error.

Cepeda was voted the series Most Valuable Player.