Cuba 5-1 over South Korea at World Cup

By Circles Robinson

HAVANA TIMES, Sept. 19 – Cuba has just defeated South Korea 5-1 to win its fifth game against one loss in the second round of the 2009 Baseball World Cup.

Playing in Rotterdam, Holland, Cuban starter Freddie A. Alvarez picked up the win going seven innings allowing seven hits and a lone run in the first inning.  Yonder Martinez had five strikeouts and allowed only one hit in two innings of near perfect relief.

Kim Hee-Girl took the loss for Korea, allowing four runs in two innings.

Cuba was led by leadoff batter Leonis Martin (CF) who had two hits,  a double, a walk, two RBIs, two stolen bases and scored three times.

Michel Enriquez who leads Cuba’s hitters in the World Cup with a .406 average had two hits on Saturday and drove in a run.

Cuba, which has already assured a slot in the upcoming quarterfinals, has one more round-two game on Sunday against the undefeated Netherlands, which had three homers in the late innings to defeat Nicaragua 8-4 on Saturday.