Cuba Takes Third Loss in Holland
by Circles Robinson
HAVANA TIMES, July 1 — Team Cuba took its third loss at the Rotterdam World Port Baseball Tournament on Thursday, 4-1 against Taiwan, which also beat them 3-1 earlier in the competition.
With the loss, the Cubans (3-3), with two games left to play, need wins over both Holland and Germany for a chance to play in the finals to take place on Sunday between the top two teams.
Yu Hsun Chen allowed six hits and Cuba’s lone run over eight innings while striking out three and not allowing a walk. Yu Ching Lin pitched the final scoreless inning for Taiwan.
For Cuba, Yosvani Torres pitched well through six scoreless innings but in the seventh a combination of five Taiwan hits and an intentional walk off Torres and relievers Ismel Jimenez and Duniel Ibarra produced the winning team’s four runs.
Cuba’s only run came on a double by Rusney Castillo and RBI single by Yoilan Cerce in the third inning.
Cuba faces Holland on Friday and closes its tournament qualifying play with Germany on Saturday.
With the top two teams playing off in the one-game finals, the standings as of Thursday are: Taiwan 6-1, Holland 4-2, Cuba 3-3, Curazao 2-5 and Germany 1-5.