Reversal of Fortunes for Cuba, Which Rebounds from Two Tough Losses Yesterday to Win Big
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CUBA | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 11 | 15 | 1 |
USMN | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 1 |
Pool A Winner Cuba suffered through two tough losses yesterday, but fought its way into the Bronze Medal game Saturday and came away with Bronze Medals to show for it. On Friday, Cuba lost to the USA, 9-6, and then to Gold Medal game finalist Canada, 9-1, mustering only one hit. But the offensive rebounded in a big way on Saturday in the rematch against Team USA.
Cuba jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning, with lead off hitter Valliant putting down a bunt single, was sacrificed to second and third, and scoring on a one-out single to right field.
The Cubans took command of the game in the third inning, adding three more runs on a walk, two doubles and an RBI single, to extend their lead to 4-0. In the bottom of the fourth, the USA looked as if they were going to get back into the game. A walk, single and an error by the shortstop on a tough-chance play from shallow left field game the USA their first run. Another walk loaded the bases, but Cuba turned the threat away with an inning-ending double play.
With the lead trimmed to 4-1, starter Brad Kilpatrick, who threw the lion’s share of games for the USA gave way to Joel Cooley, the winner in yesterday’s 9-6 win over Cuba. Three straight singles turned into two more runs and a 6-1 Cuba lead.
The USA battled to keep the game within reach, getting the two runs back in the bottom of the fifth. A single by Zack Shaw and hit batter (Mullins) put two aboard, both of whom scores a single to left field by Cam Schiller narrowed the Cuba lead to 6-3. But it seemed that the USA was playing catch-up for most of the day, fighting to stay in the game.
But that hope ended in the seventh inning, when an offensive outburst by Cuba piled on five more runs, and an 11-3 lead. In the inning, Cuba had a single, two doubles, and two two-run homers. USA starter Brad Kilpatrick re-entered the game to put out the fire.
With Cuban reliever Guber Plutin pitching in the seventh, the USA refused to go quietly. Blake Milhiem stroked a two out-nobody on single to right, and scored on a two run home run blast by Cam Schiller to straight away center. But the USA ran out of outs and the final tally frozen on the scoreboard was Cuba 11, USA 5.
Cuba pounded out 15 hits on the day, while the USA mustered just 7.
In the end, both teams left the field with a sense of pride and accomplishment, as both qualified for the 2022 WBSC World Cup in New Zealand in November-December 2022.
But the Cuban squad took away something more, the Bronze Medals and their first trip to a WBSC podium. The jubilant Cuban squad celebrated by spraying an open bottle of champagne and circling the bases together, wrapped in the Cuban flag. Considering where things stood for the team just 24 hours before, it was indeed a reversal of fortunes for the Cuban team.
Box Score
Cubamore stats
Lineup | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vaillant | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Dominguez | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Yesander Rodriguez | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Ramos | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Vera | 4 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Rosete | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Perez | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Savigne | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Sanchez | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Lamote | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Yuri Rodriguez | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Boza | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Roman | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Plutin | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Totals | 33 | 11 | 15 | 11 | 1 | 5 |
Batting2B: Yesander Rodriguez 2, Rosete, Vaillant
HR: Vera, Perez
TB: Yesander Rodriguez 6, Vera 5, Dominguez 2, Rosete 3, Perez 4, Savigne 2, Vaillant 3
RBI: Yesander Rodriguez 4, Vera 4, Rosete, Perez 2
SAC: Dominguez
FC: Yuri Rodriguez, Rosete
HBP: Savigne
GIDP: Vera
TotalsTeam QAB: 17 (47.22%)
Yesander Rodriguez 4, Vera 4, Dominguez 4, Rosete 2, Perez, Savigne, Vaillant
Team LOB: 4FieldingE: Yuri Rodriguez
DP: Dominguez 2, Perez 2
USA Men’s National Teammore stats
Lineup | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nick Mullins | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Blaine Milheim | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Cameron Schiller | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
Erick Ochoa | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Jonathan Lynch | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Tyler Bouley | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Dusten Rutt | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Matthew Ratliff | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Zac Shaw | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Yusef Davis | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Joel Cooley | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Brad Kilpatrick | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Totals | 26 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 10 |
BattingHR: Cameron Schiller
TB: Tyler Bouley, Blaine Milheim, Erick Ochoa 2, Cameron Schiller 5, Zac Shaw
RBI: Cameron Schiller 4
HBP: Nick Mullins
GIDP: Matthew Ratliff 2
TotalsTeam QAB: 15 (48.39%)
Tyler Bouley 3, Yusef Davis, Jonathan Lynch, Blaine Milheim, Nick Mullins 3, Erick Ochoa, Matthew Ratliff 2, Cameron Schiller 2, Zac Shaw
Team LOB: 4FieldingE: Zac Shaw
DP: Brad Kilpatrick, Erick Ochoa, Cameron Schiller 2, Zac Shaw
Cubamore stats
PitchingW: Roman
SV: Plutin
HBP: Roman
Pitches-Strikes: Roman 88-46, Plutin 42-31
Groundouts-Flyouts: Roman 5-1, Plutin 3-0
First pitch strikes-Batters faced: Roman 9-21, Plutin 7-10
USA Men’s National Teammore stats
Pitching | IP | #P | S% | H | R | ER | SO | BB | HR |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brad Kilpatrick | 4.2 | 54 | .685 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Joel Cooley | 2.1 | 39 | .667 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
Totals | 7.0 | 93 | .677 | 15 | 11 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 2 |
PitchingL: Brad Kilpatrick
HBP: Joel Cooley
WP: Joel Cooley
Pitches-Strikes: Joel Cooley 39-26, Brad Kilpatrick 54-37
Groundouts-Flyouts: Joel Cooley 0-2, Brad Kilpatrick 6-3
First pitch strikes-Batters faced: Joel Cooley 9-13, Brad Kilpatrick 16-23
Play-by-Play
BOTTOM 7TH • USA MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM |
Strikeout | 3 OutsStrike 1 looking, Foul, Ball 1, Strike 3 swinging.E Ochoa strikes out swinging, Plutin pitching. |
Home Run | CUBA 11 – USMN 5Strike 1 swinging, In play.C Schiller homers on a fly ball to center field. B Milheim scores. |
SingleBall 1, Strike 1 looking, Ball 2, In play.B Milheim singles on a line drive to right fielder Lamote. |
Ground Out | 2 OutsStrike 1 looking, In play.N Mullins grounds out, shortstop Dominguez to first baseman Perez. |
Strikeout | 1 OutStrike 1 looking, Strike 2 looking, Foul, Strike 3 swinging.Y Davis strikes out swinging, Plutin pitching. |
TOP 7TH • CUBA |
Ground Out | 3 OutsIn play.Boza grounds out, pitcher B Kilpatrick to first baseman E Ochoa. |
Fly Out | 2 OutsLineup changed: B Kilpatrick in at pitcher, Lineup changed: Sanchez in for left fielder Savigne, Ball 1, Ball 2, In play.Lamote flies out to right fielder M Ratliff. Sanchez remains at 1st. |
Hit By PitchBall 1.Savigne is hit by pitch, J Cooley pitching. |
Home Run | CUBA 11 – USMN 3Foul, Ball 1, In play.Perez homers on a fly ball to center field. Rosete scores. |
DoubleFoul, In play.Rosete doubles on a fly ball to left fielder J Lynch. |
Home Run | CUBA 9 – USMN 3Ball 1, Lineup changed: Ramos in for third baseman Y Rodriguez, Ball 2, Strike 1 looking, In play.Vera homers on a fly ball to left field. Ramos scores. |
Double | CUBA 7 – USMN 3Foul, Strike 2 swinging, Ball 1, Dominguez advances to 2nd on wild pitch, Ball 2, In play.Y Rodriguez doubles on a line drive to left fielder J Lynch. Dominguez scores. |
SingleBall 1, In play.Dominguez singles on a hard ground ball to center fielder Y Davis. |
Strikeout | 1 OutStrike 1 looking, Ball 1, Foul, Ball 2, Strike 3 looking.Vaillant strikes out looking, J Cooley pitching. |
BOTTOM 6TH • USA MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM |
Strikeout | 3 OutsBall 1, Strike 1 looking, Ball 2, Strike 2 swinging, Strike 3 swinging.Z Shaw strikes out swinging, Plutin pitching. |
Strikeout | 2 OutsStrike 1 looking, Strike 2 looking, Ball 1, Foul, Foul, Ball 2, Strike 3 looking.M Ratliff strikes out looking, Plutin pitching. T Bouley remains at 1st. |
SingleLineup: T Bouley in for batter D Rutt, Ball 1, Ball 2, Strike 1 looking, Strike 2 looking, Foul, Foul, Ball 3, In play.T Bouley singles on a hard ground ball to center fielder Vaillant. |
Ground Out | 1 OutStrike 1 looking, Ball 1, Strike 2 looking, In play.J Lynch grounds out, pitcher Plutin to first baseman Perez. |
TOP 6TH • CUBA |
Dropped 3rd Strike | 3 OutsStrike 1 looking, Strike 2 swinging, Foul, Strike 3 swinging.Boza out at first on dropped 3rd strike. |
Strikeout | 2 OutsStrike 1 swinging, Strike 2 swinging, Ball 1, Strike 3 swinging.Lamote strikes out swinging, J Cooley pitching. |
Fly Out | 1 OutStrike 1 swinging, In play.Savigne flies out to left fielder J Lynch. |
BOTTOM 5TH • USA MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM |
Ground Out | 3 OutsLineup changed: Plutin in at pitcher, Strike 1 swinging, In play.E Ochoa grounds out, second baseman Boza to first baseman Perez. |
Single | CUBA 6 – USMN 3Ball 1, Courtesy runner B Milheim in for N Mullins, Strike 1 swinging, In play.C Schiller singles on a fly ball to left fielder Savigne. Z Shaw scores. B Milheim scores. |
Ground Out | 2 OutsIn play.B Milheim grounds out, third baseman Y Rodriguez to first baseman Perez. Z Shaw advances to 3rd. N Mullins advances to 2nd. |
Hit By PitchBall 1, Ball 2, Strike 1 looking, Strike 2 swinging, Foul, Ball 3.N Mullins is hit by pitch, Roman pitching. Z Shaw advances to 2nd. |
Strikeout | 1 OutStrike 1 swinging, Strike 2 looking, Ball 1, Strike 3 swinging.Y Davis strikes out swinging, Roman pitching. Z Shaw remains at 1st. |
SingleBall 1, Foul, Ball 2, In play.Z Shaw singles on a ground ball to second baseman Boza. |
TOP 5TH • CUBA |
Double Play | 3 OutsRosete advances to 2nd on error by second baseman Z Shaw, Strike 1 swinging, Ball 1, In play.Perez pops into a double play, second baseman Z Shaw to shortstop C Schiller. Rosete out at 2nd, failing to tag up. |
Fielder’s Choice | 1 OutIn play.Rosete grounds into fielder’s choice to second baseman Z Shaw. Vera out advancing to 2nd. |
Single | CUBA 6 – USMN 1Lineup changed: J Cooley in at pitcher, Ball 1, Ball 2, In play.Vera singles on a line drive to center fielder Y Davis. Dominguez scores. Y Rodriguez scores. |
SingleBall 1, In play.Y Rodriguez singles on a hard ground ball to left fielder J Lynch. Y Rodriguez advances to 2nd on the throw. Dominguez advances to 3rd. |
SingleIn play.Dominguez singles on a hard ground ball to shortstop C Schiller. |
BOTTOM 4TH • USA MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM |
Double Play | 3 OutsLineup changed: D Rutt in for extra hitter T Bouley, Ball 1, Strike 1 swinging, In play.M Ratliff grounds into a double play, shortstop Dominguez to first baseman Perez. E Ochoa did not score. J Lynch advances to 3rd. D Rutt out advancing to 2nd. |
WalkBall 1, Ball 2, Ball 3, Strike 1 looking, Ball 4.T Bouley walks, Roman pitching. E Ochoa advances to 3rd. J Lynch advances to 2nd. |
Walk | CUBA 4 – USMN 1C Schiller advances to 3rd on error by second baseman Y Rodriguez, C Schiller scores on the same error, E Ochoa advances to 2nd on the same error, Ball 1, Ball 2, Ball 3, Strike 1 looking, Ball 4.J Lynch walks, Roman pitching. E Ochoa remains at 2nd. |
SingleBall 1, Ball 2, Strike 1 swinging, Strike 2 looking, In play.E Ochoa singles on a ground ball to shortstop Dominguez. C Schiller advances to 2nd. |
WalkBall 1, Strike 1 swinging, Strike 2 swinging, Ball 2, Ball 3, Ball 4.C Schiller walks, Roman pitching. |
Ground Out | 1 OutIn play.B Milheim grounds out, second baseman Y Rodriguez to first baseman Perez. |
TOP 4TH • CUBA |
Ground Out | 3 OutsStrike 1 swinging, In play.Vaillant bunts out, third baseman B Milheim to first baseman E Ochoa. |
Fielder’s Choice | 2 OutsIn play.Y Rodriguez grounds into fielder’s choice, shortstop C Schiller to second baseman Z Shaw. Savigne out advancing to 2nd. |
Strikeout | 1 OutStrike 1 looking, Ball 1, Foul, Strike 3 swinging.Lamote strikes out swinging, B Kilpatrick pitching. Savigne remains at 1st. |
SingleFoul, In play.Savigne singles on a fly ball to center fielder Y Davis. |
BOTTOM 3RD • USA MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM |
Strikeout | 3 OutsBall 1, Strike 1 looking, Ball 2, Strike 2 swinging, Ball 3, Foul, Strike 3 swinging.N Mullins strikes out swinging, Roman pitching. |
Strikeout | 2 OutsStrike 1 looking, Ball 1, Ball 2, Strike 2 swinging, Ball 3, Strike 3 swinging.Y Davis strikes out swinging, Roman pitching. |
Line Out | 1 OutIn play.Z Shaw lines out to third baseman Y Rodriguez. |
TOP 3RD • CUBA |
Fly Out | 3 OutsIn play.Perez flies out to left fielder J Lynch. |
Single | CUBA 4 – USMN 0Foul, Strike 2 looking, Ball 1, Ball 2, In play.Rosete singles on a line drive to right fielder M Ratliff. Y Rodriguez scores. |
Ground Out | 2 OutsBall 1, Strike 1 looking, Ball 2, In play.Vera grounds out, third baseman B Milheim to first baseman E Ochoa. Y Rodriguez held up at 3rd. |
Double | CUBA 3 – USMN 0Foul, In play.Y Rodriguez doubles on a line drive to left fielder J Lynch. Y Rodriguez advances to 3rd on the throw. Vaillant scores. Dominguez scores. |
WalkBall 1, Strike 1 looking, Ball 2, Ball 3, Ball 4.Dominguez walks, B Kilpatrick pitching. Vaillant remains at 2nd. |
DoubleBall 1, Strike 1 swinging, Ball 2, In play.Vaillant doubles on a fly ball to left fielder J Lynch. |
Ground Out | 1 OutBall 1, In play.Y Rodriguez grounds out, second baseman Z Shaw to first baseman E Ochoa. |
BOTTOM 2ND • USA MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM |
Double Play | 3 OutsBall 1, Strike 1 looking, Ball 2, Ball 3, Foul, In play.M Ratliff grounds into a double play, shortstop Dominguez to first baseman Perez. E Ochoa advances to 3rd. T Bouley out advancing to 2nd. |
WalkBall 1, Ball 2, Foul, Ball 3, Ball 4.T Bouley walks, Roman pitching. E Ochoa advances to 2nd. |
Strikeout | 1 OutBall 1, Strike 1 looking, Ball 2, Foul, Strike 3 swinging.J Lynch strikes out swinging, Roman pitching. E Ochoa remains at 1st. |
SingleStrike 1 looking, Ball 1, Ball 2, In play.E Ochoa singles on a hard ground ball to center fielder Vaillant. |
TOP 2ND • CUBA |
Ground Out | 3 OutsFoul, Ball 1, In play.Lamote grounds out, third baseman B Milheim to first baseman E Ochoa. |
SingleIn play.Savigne singles on a hard ground ball to right fielder M Ratliff. |
Fly Out | 2 OutsStrike 1 looking, In play.Perez flies out to center fielder Y Davis. |
Strikeout | 1 OutStrike 1 swinging, Strike 2 looking, Strike 3 looking.Rosete strikes out looking, B Kilpatrick pitching. |
BOTTOM 1ST • USA MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM |
Ground Out | 3 OutsIn play.C Schiller grounds out, shortstop Dominguez to first baseman Perez. |
Strikeout | 2 OutsStrike 1 looking, Ball 1, Ball 2, Strike 2 swinging, Strike 3 swinging.B Milheim strikes out swinging, Roman pitching. |
Strikeout | 1 OutStrike 1 looking, Strike 2 looking, Ball 1, Foul, Strike 3 swinging.N Mullins strikes out swinging, Roman pitching. |
TOP 1ST • CUBA |
Double Play | 3 OutsBall 1, In play.Vera grounds into a double play, pitcher B Kilpatrick to shortstop C Schiller to first baseman E Ochoa. Y Rodriguez out advancing to 2nd. |
Single | CUBA 1 – USMN 0In play.Y Rodriguez singles on a hard ground ball to right fielder M Ratliff. Vaillant scores. |
Sacrifice Bunt | 1 OutIn play.Dominguez sacrifices, first baseman E Ochoa to second baseman Z Shaw. Dominguez out advancing to 1st. Vaillant advances to 2nd. |
SingleLineup changed: B Kilpatrick in at pitcher, Strike 1 looking, In play.Vaillant singles on a bunt to catcher N Mullins. |
Recap from Game Changer
USA Men’s National Team Can’t Catch Up To Cuba
- USA Men’s National Team fell behind early and couldn’t come back in an 11-5 loss to Cuba on Saturday. Cuba took the lead on a single in the first inning.
- Cameron Schiller drove in four runners in the loss. Schiller drove in runs on a single in the fifth and a home run in the seventh.
- Cuba got things started in the first inning. Yesander Rodriguez singled on the first pitch of the at bat, scoring one run.
- Cuba scored five runs in the seventh inning. Rodriguez, Vera, and Perez each had RBIs in the frame.
- Roman got the win for Cuba. The ace went four and two-thirds innings, allowing three runs on four hits and striking out six. Plutin threw two and a third innings in relief out of the bullpen. Plutin recorded the last seven outs to earn the save for Cuba.
- Brad Kilpatrick took the loss for USA Men’s National Team. The pitcher lasted four and two-thirds innings, allowing nine hits and six runs while striking out two and walking one.
- USA Men’s National Team smacked one home run on the day. Schiller had a dinger in the seventh inning.
- USA Men’s National Team racked up seven hits in the game. Erick Ochoa and Schiller all managed multiple hits for USA Men’s National Team. Schiller and Ochoa each collected two hits to lead USA Men’s National Team.
- Cuba totaled 15 hits in the game. Rodriguez, Dominguez, Savigne, Vaillant, Vera, and Rosete all collected multiple hits for Cuba. Rodriguez went 4-for-4 at the plate to lead Cuba in hits.
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