Cuba opened the ENECO World Port Tournament with an unexpectedly tough 2-1 narrow victory over Chinese Taipei but remain the team to beat after four straight wins. This prestigious tournament being held in Rotterdam, Netherlands from August 2-12 also features national teams from the United States, Japan, and the Netherlands.
Cuba 2, Chinese Taipei 1
Vladimir BANOS scattered one run on four hits in eight innings and Arley SANCHEZ recorded the final two outs to get the save as Cuba slipped past Chinese Taipei in the tournament opener. Donald DUARTE homered and drove in two runs while Yasser GOMEZ added two hits and an RBI for Cuba.
USA 1, Japan 0
Logan FORSYTHE collected the Americans only hit – a ninth inning RBI single –and Ryan BERRY pitched 7.2 scoreless innings to outduel Japan’s Yusuke IWAMOTO (9.0, 1H, 1R) in a suspenseful, low-scoring contest. Brett HUNTER was perfect for the final four outs to get the win.
Cuba 11, Japan 3
Jose RUIZ clobbered two home runs and designated hitter Yosvani PERAZA was 3-for-4 with a homer and four RBI’s as Cuba pummeled Japan. Alberto Bicet tossed seven strong innings to notch the win.
Netherlands 3, Chinese Taipei 0
Leon BOYD registered the first win for the Dutch surrendering only two hits in six scoreless innings as the Netherlands blanked Chinese Taipei. Relievers Dave DRAIJER and Michiel VAN KAMPEN combined for three shutout innings while Harvey MONTE was 2-for-4 with a home run.
Chinese Taipei 3, Japan 1
Chih-Yao CHAN and Yi-Chuan LIN both hit home runs, and Ching-Ming WANG fanned six hitters in seven innings to lead Chinese Taipei past Japan. Chu-Kuan LEE pitched two innings to get the save and Japan’s Ikuhiro KIYOTA was 2-for-4.
USA 11, Netherlands 0
Tyson ROSS blanked the Dutch for seven innings and speedy Jordan DANKS had three hits as the Americans cruise to an easy win over the Netherlands. Team USA had five players with at least two hits while the Dutch had eight different players with one hit.
Cuba 5, Netherlands 2
Alfredo DESPAIGNE connected for a home run and Yadel MARTI fanned eight hitters to lead Cuba over the Netherlands. Percy Isenia was 2-for-3 for the Dutch.
Chinese Taipei 10, USA 5
Yi-Chuan LIN had three hits, two RBI’s and scored three runs as Chinese Taipei kept their title hopes alive with a key victory over Team USA. Chia-Chun TANG and Ming-Chieh HSU combined to shutout the Americans the final six innings to earn the win and save, respectively.
Cuba 8, USA 2
Cuba broke open a close game with a five-run outburst in the seventh inning and Yulieski GONZALEZ struck out nine hitters as the Cubans dealt Team USA their second straight setback. Alfredo DESPAIGNE slammed a pair of home runs and knocked in five RBI’s for Cuba.
Netherlands 4, Japan 3
The Dutch raced out to an early 3-0 lead and then added another run in the sixth to break a 3-3 tie and slip past Japan. David BERGMAN picked up the win while Michiel VAN KAMPEN was perfect in retiring the final four batters to earn the save. Raily LEGITO was 2-for-5 and seven other Dutch players had at least one hit.
Cuba 6, Chinese Taipei 5 (13 innings)
Arly SANCHEZ tossed five scoreless innings while fanning five hitters and Cuba smacked 20 hits in a 13-inning thriller over Chinese Taipei. Donald DUARTE and Alfredo DESPAIGNE were both 4-for-7 while Yosvani PERAZA had a home run and five RBI’s for Cuba. Chih-Yao CHAN and Ming-Chue TSAI each had three hits for Chinese Taipei.
USA 10, Japan 0
The Americans used big games from Brett WALLACE (3-for-4) and Roger KIESCHNICK (HR, 4 RBI’s), and Erik SURKAMP threw six shutout innings in an easy win over a young Japanese squad. Jordan DANKS, Ryan FLAHERTY, Josh ROMANSKI, and Jordy MERCER all had a pair of hits for Team USA.
