Cuba’s national baseball team, preparing to compete in the sixth edition of the World Baseball Classic, fell 4–0 today to the Kansas City Royals in the first of two exhibition games scheduled against Major League Baseball clubs on U.S. soil.

Playing at Surprise Stadium in Arizona, the Caribbean squad was unable to solve opposing pitching, managing only six singles — two by Roel Santos — while striking out six times.

Right-hander Ryan Bergert worked three hitless innings, recording four strikeouts, before five relievers combined to silence Cuban bats the rest of the way.

Cuba handed the ball to young right-hander Denny Larrondo, a former member of the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. Over two innings, he allowed three runs on five hits, including a home run by Michael Massey.

Yariel Rodríguez and Enmanuel Chapman kept the Royals off the scoreboard in subsequent frames, but in the sixth inning Darién Núñez surrendered another run on a delayed double steal with runners at the corners.

Pedro Santos and Raidel Martínez each tossed scoreless innings to close the game, yet the anticipated offensive response never materialized.

Cuba will face the Cincinnati Reds tomorrow at Goodyear Ballpark before traveling to Puerto Rico for its debut Friday in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, scheduled to take place from March 5 through 17 in Puerto Rico, the United States, and Japan.

In other exhibition action, Israel edged the Miami Marlins 1–0, the Netherlands defeated the Baltimore Orioles 8–5, and other national teams participating in the global tournament also fell to Major League opponents.

The Pittsburgh Pirates defeated Colombia 7–1, the Toronto Blue Jays topped Canada 10–7, the New York Mets beat Nicaragua 6–3, and the New York Yankees routed Panama 11–1.