Cuba Hands Nicaragua 8-1 Defeat
By Circles Robinson
HAVANA TIMES, Oct. 5 — Nicaragua held Cuba to four hits and no runs while mounting a 1-0 lead going into the seventh inning of their game in the World Cup/Pan American Games qualifying tournament.
As preoccupation reined among Cuba’s fans their team turned the tables in the seventh with Nicaraguan starter Elvin Orozco no longer on the mound.
After tying the score a fielder’s choice RBI by Michel Enriquez with the bases loaded put the Cubans ahead 2-1.
Then in the eighth the roof caved in on Nicaragua’s relievers and Cuba scored six runs to bust open the game.
Jonder Martinez picked up the win with 2.2 innings of excellent relief of starter of Freddy Asiel Alvarez, who left the game in the sixth down 1-0. Dalier Hinojosa pitched a scoreless ninth for Cuba.
Hector Olivera went 4-for-5 and drove in two runs as did Yulieski Gouriel who went 2-for-3.
For Nicaragua, Jimmy Gonzalez had two of his teams five hits and one RBI.
Cuba’s next game is against Canada on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. EST.