Mexico close to perfection, beats Cuba, earns first win of U-23 Baseball World Cup

Mexico close to perfection, beats Cuba, earns first win of U-23 Baseball World Cup
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25 September 2021
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Starting pitchers Alemao Hernandez and Bryan Chi were perfect for three innings. The first hit of the night, a solo homer by Fabricio Macias, set the tone for the hosts.

After a disappointing defeat on opening night, the reigning U-23 World Champion, Mexico, picked up its first win of the tournament on Friday night, defeating Cuba 5-0 at Estadio Yaquis in Ciudad Obregon.  The game was much closer than the final score would indicate.

The starting pitchers - Cuba’s Brian Chi and Mexico’s Alemao Hernandez - matched each other zero for zero through the first three innings before Mexico got on the board in the top of the fourth.

Fabricio Macias, Mexico’s leadoff man, blasted the first pitch of the inning over the wall in left to put his team in front for the first time in the tournament. 

 

Macias would come around to score again two innings later on a Tirso Ornelas two-out single into right.  That sixth inning hit knocked Chi out of the game.

Hernandez came out to start the bottom of the sixth for Mexico, but was lifted after striking out Loidel Chapelli.  Reliever Herrera Hernandez yielded a two-out double to Rangel Ramos, but got out of the inning unscathed.

Mexico added three insurance runs in the top of the seventh and Rabago Robles retired the side in order in the bottom of the seventh to preserve the victory.

Macias and Agustin Ruiz led the Mexican offense with two hits each, while Reivaj Garcia was the only player to drive in two runs for the victors.

Alemao Hernandez was simply dominant, throwing 50 of his 68 pitches for strikes, and giving up just two hits in his 5.1 innings of work.  He struck out four without walking a batter.

Chi, who pitched for Cuba at the Americas Olympic Qualifier earlier this summer, fanned six without walking a batter in his 5.2 innings of work.

There was not a single walk issued by either side in the contest.

Mexico heads into a showdown with the Dominican Republic on Saturday night, while Cuba will face a tough task taking on the only 2-0 team in Group A – Chinese Taipei – on Saturday afternoon at Estadio Yaquis.

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