Cuba 010 000 000 1 5 1 Israel 000 102 01X 4 5 0
Israel miracle run at the 2017 World Baseball Classic also continued with the start of the second round. Facing record world champion Cuba at the Tokyo Dome they prevailed 4-1 after a defensive masterpiece.
Cuba even took a 1-0 lead in the second when – who else – Alfredo Despaigne hit a solo home run. But Israel remained unfazed and got back into the game. Ryan Lavarnway doubled home Ike Davis to tie the game in the fourth. A RBI single by Zach Borenstein and a RBI double by Blake Gailen in the sixth gave them a 3-1 advantage. A sac bunt by Gailen in the eighth then brought the fourth run home.
Former big leaguer Jason Marquis, conceded only one run on four hits and a walk in 5 2/3 innings. It was his third appearance in the tournament in the fourth game. Zack Thornton picked up the win in relief. Josh Zeid shut the door for another save. Yoennis Yera got charged with the loss.