HAVANA, Cuba, Feb 5 (acn) Cuba had its first victory and remained with options to advance to the semifinals of the San Juan-2015 Caribbean Baseball Series when walking off in the tenth inning the host Puerto Rico with a score of 3-2.
The Cuban squad Pinar del Rio Vegueros scored the winning run driven in by outfielder Roel Santos off Puerto Rican reliever Fernando Cabrera, after Frank Camilo Morejon had reached second base due to an error by third baseman Yadiel Rivera.
The closer Héctor Manuel Mendoza was erected hero from the mound by holding back the Santurce Cangrejeros´ offensive in three and two thirds innings, where he allowed only two hits and no earned run although he faced difficulties with his control by giving away four walks.
In the match held on Wednesday at the legendary stadium Hiram Bithorn, Puerto Rico took the lead with a run in the first inning off the Cuban starter Yosvani Torres, who walked three before allowing a sacri-fly by outfielder Antonio García .
Cuba tied in the bottom of the first and took the lead in the second inning thanks to RBIs by second baseman Yulieski Gourriel and first baseman William Saavedra.
The Santurce Cangrejeros tied in the fifth thanks an RBI by Neftali Soto and had several chances to retake the lead but suffered the fatal consequences of the lack of timely hitting when leaving 12 runners on bases.
The biggest Puerto Rican threat came in the top of the ninth, when Cuba’s closer Héctor Manuel Mendoza also walked three, but he managed to strike out catcher Antonio Jiménez.
