China 000 000 000 0 1 0 Cuba 000 401 10X 6 14 1
Cuba rebounded from their 6-11 loss to Samurai Japan on opening day with a 6-0 shutout over China on Wednesday. For China it was their first game of the first round at the 2017 World Baseball Classic. Later today Australia meets Japan in this pool.
Bladimir Banos and three relievers kept the underdog to one hit in nine scoreless innings. Banos threw five innings of one-hit ball, striking out four. Afterwards the bullpen issued two walks, but never got into any danger.
At the plate Cuba had to wait for China’s starter Bruce Chen, a former Major Leaguer, to leave the game and the fourth inning to break the scoreless tie. However the record title holder did this in style, putting four runs on the board. Yoelqui Cespedes got them in front with a RBI single. Roel Santos followed with a two-run triple and later scored on Alexander Ayala’s RBI double. Roel Santos would also score in the sixth, while Frank Morejon made it 6-0 with a RBI double in the seventh.
Chen finished his limited stint with 2 2/2 scoreless frames, conceding three hits and a walk. Xia Luo got charged with five hits, four runs and two base on balls in one inning to take the loss.