Netherlands – Cuba 3-14 (8)
CUB 100 054 04 14 16 0 NED 011 000 10 3 10 2
After four innings, the Netherlands led 2-1 against Cuba and everybody remembered the upset at the Baseball World Cup last November. But in the end the Caribbean Baseball heavyweight crushed the lone European participant 14-3. Cuba decided the outcome by scoring five times in the fifth, four in the sixth and four in the eighth to win due to ten-run rule.
The Dutch overcame an early 0-1 deficit through a solo homerun by Bryan Engelhardt and a RBI double by Yurendell De Caster to take a 2-1 lead in the third. But the possible surprise win didn’t last long, as Cuba loaded the bases in the fifth and took advantage of it, putting a five-run spot on the board, highlighted by a two-run triple by Alexei Bell.
Bell finished with four hits, two runs scored and three RBI. Alfredo Despaigne also had three RBI. Michel Enriquez scored thrice. Percy Isenia hit a second homerun for Holland in the seventh.
Yadier Pedroso (CUB) started and allowed two runs on six hits in three innings. Yonder Martinez (W 1-0) replaced him and picked up the win with six strikeouts in four innings of relief. Juan Carlos Sulbaran (L 0-1) gave up four hits, five runs (2 ER) and three base on balls in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out six. David Bergman, Dave Draijer and Pim Walsma also appeared in the game.
