Cuba Loses 9-3 to Mexico in its Caribbean Series Opener
HAVANA TIMES — Catcher Sebastian Valle drove in five runs today and Mexico, represented by the Mazatlan Venados, defeated Cuba’s Ciego de Avila Tigers 9-3 to score its second victory in the Caribbean Baseball Series, being played in the Dominican Republic, reported dpa news. Cuba, which had the day off on Monday, is now 0-1.
Valle hit a double with the bases loaded in the second inning off Cuban starter Vladimir García, to make it 3-0. Later, in the seventh inning, he drove in two more runs with another double to center.
Garcia has repeatedly struggled at international competitions despite being extremely dominate in the Cuban league.
The Mexicans made it 4-0 with a run in the third inning, on a solo homer Cyle Hankerd, and added another in the fourth. Meanwhile, right-hander Eddie Gamboa silenced the Cuban bats through five innings.
With two out in the sixth, Ariel Borrero drove in a run with a single and, with the bases loaded, Lourdes Gourriel drove in two more with a hit to put Cuba back in the game and chase Gamboa.
However, Mexico returned on the attack in the bottom of the sixth with Jeremiah Pineda driving a run with a bases loaded walk off reliever Miguel Lahera.
Mexico widened the lead with three more runs in the bottom of the seventh, one driven by a double by Yuniesky Betancourt (a Cuban playing for Mazatlan) and two from the second double of the night by Valle.
The victory went to the Mexican starter Gamboa, who went 5.2 innings allowing three runs and eight hits with four strikeouts. Vladimir Garcia took the loss for Cuba, allowing three runs on two hits in 1.1 innings.
Cuba had 11 hits to 9 for Mexico, which had four for extra bases to one from Cuba, a double by Yuliesky Gourriel.
Mazatlan opened the tournament with a 3-2 victory over the host Dominican team Monday, while Cuba had the day off.
Calendar and Results :
February 1
Puerto Rico 1 Venezuela 2
México 4 Dominican Republic 3
February 2
Cuba 3 México 9
Dominican Republic 7 vs. Venezuela 8
Rest: Puerto Rico
February 3
Venezuela vs. México 3:50 PM
Puerto Rico vs. Cuba 7:50 PM
Rest: Dominican Republic
February 4
Venezuela vs. Cuba 3:50 PM
Dominican Republic vs. Puerto Rico 7:50 PM
Rest: México
February 5
México vs. Puerto Rico 3:50 PM
Cuba vs. Dominican Republic 7:50 PM
Rest: Venezuela
February 6
SEMIFINAL 1 3:50 PM
SEMIFINAL 2 7:50 PM
February 7
FINALS 3:50 PM
| s | Team | G | W | L | PCT | GB | CF | CC | DC | H-H | TQB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Venados de Mazatlán |
2 | 2 | 0 | 1.000 | – | 12 | 5 | +7 | 0 | |
| 2 |  Tigres de Aragua |
2 | 2 | 0 | 1.000 | – | 10 | 8 | +2 | 0 | |
| 3 |  Cangrejeros de Santurce |
1 | 0 | 1 | .000 | 1.5 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 | |
| 4 |  Tigres de Ciego de Ávila |
1 | 0 | 1 | .000 | 1.5 | 3 | 9 | -6 | 0 | |
| 5 |  Leones del Escogido |