Cuba’s Bats Send China Taipei Packing
14-0 rout and Cuba stays alive in World Baseball Classic III
HAVANA TIMES — Cuba took full advantage of 12 hits to defeat China Taipei 14-0 on Saturday and remain alive in World Baseball Classic III.
On Thursday, the Cubans were left on the brink of disaster when they lost 6-2 to Holland. Ironically they also had 12 hits in the Holland game.
What made the difference: airtight pitching from Danny Betancourt (6 innings, 3 hits) and two final inning relievers, and four homeruns (Frederich Cepeda, Yosmani Tomas, Jose Dariel Abreu and Alfredo Despaigne), three with one or more runners on base.
The lopsided game ended on the mercy rule after 7 innings. It appeared that Taipei, now eliminated, just ran out of gas after having been one pitch away from defeating Japan in their extra-inn 4-3 loss in their opening game of round two of the WBC.
Havana Times will have a full report on the Taipei game and a preview of the challenge ahead on Sunday after the Japan-Holland match that will determine Cuba’s rival on Monday at 6:00 a.m. Cuban time.