Nicaragua 2, Cuba 2 – The first exhibition game in the Americas ahead of the 2026 World Baseball Classic ended in a 2-2 tie, with Cuba and Nicaragua both leaving unsatisfied after nine innings of baseball at Estadio Roberto Clemente in Masaya, Nicaragua.
The Cuba pitching staff held Nicaragua to just three baserunners over the final 5 1/3 innings, with reliever Yunieski Garcia allowing the only Nicaragua hit after Cuba starter Raymond Figueredo left the game after 3 2/3 innings, giving up a single to Cristhian Sandoval in the top of the fourth. None of the five pitchers who appeared in the game for Cuba are on the roster for the start of the World Baseball Classic, though Garcia is among six pitchers in Cuba’s designated player pool.
Cuba’s two runs came in the top of the first, the first coming when Ariel Martinez grounded out to short with one out and runners at the corners. World Baseball Classic legend Alfredo Despaigne followed with a single to center to score Yoelkis Guibert.
Omar Mendoza hit a solo homer to lead off the top of the second for Nicaragua, and a single by Juan Diego Montes scored Cheslor Cuthbert to tie the game in the fourth.
Nicaragua starter Erasmo Ramirez allowed two runs on four hits, striking out three in two innings of work. Five relievers — Angel Obando, Danilo Bermudez, Bryan Torres, Carlos Teller, and J.C. Ramirez — combined to hold Cuba scoreless over the final seven innings, allowing five hits but walking none. Obando, who pitched the third and fourth innings, struck out four, and the bullpen struck out eight batters in total. All six pitchers Nicaragua used in the game are on the WBC roster.
The two teams meet again on Sunday at Estadio Rigoberto Lopez Perez in Leon, Nicaragua.
Samsung Lions 4, South Korea 3 (Seven Innings) – Ahn Hyun-min hit a home run in his first at-bat, and Kim Do-young contributed a homer of his own, but it wasn’t enough as South Korea feel 4-3 to the Korea Baseball Organization’s Samsung Lions in seven innings at Akama Stadium in Okinawa, Japan.
Ahn homered with one out in the top of the first, but South Korea struggled to produce offense, squandering an opportunity to score more in the first following Ahn’s homer, when they had runners at first and second with one out, and again in the third, when they had the bases loaded with no outs, but Shin Min-jae flew out to center, Ahn Hyun-min struck out swinging, and No Si-hwan grounded out to end the inning.
2026 World Baseball Classic Exhibition Schedule
All times Eastern Standard Time
February 13
Chinese Taipei 3, TSG Hawks 2 – Chengcing Lake Baseball Stadium – Kaohsiung, Taiwan
February 14
Chinese Taipei 6, TSG Hawks 2 – Chengcing Lake Baseball Stadium – Kaohsiung, Taiwan
February 19
Cuba 2, Nicaragua 2 – Rivas, Nicaragua
February 20
Samsung Lions 4, South Korea 3 – Onna, Japan
10 p.m. – Australia vs. All Fuchu – Fuchū, Tokyo, Japan
February 21
Australia vs. All-Ashikaga – Fuchū, Tokyo , Japan
Australia vs. All Fuchu – Fuchū, Tokyo , Japan
February 22
1 p.m. – Cuba vs. Nicaragua – León, Nicaragua
Czech Republic vs. Chiba Lotte Marines (Minor League) – Miyakonojo, Japan
Japan vs. Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – Sun Marine Stadium – Miyazaki, Japan
February 23
Czech Republic vs. Chiba Lotte Marines – Miyakonojo City Municipal Baseball Stadium – Miyakonojo, Japan
Japan vs. Fukuoka – SoftBank Hawks Sun Marine Stadium, Miyazaki, Japan
Cuba vs. Nicaragua – Masaya, Nicaragua
February 24
Australia vs. Tokyo Metropolitan Police – Fuchū, Tokyo, Japan
February 25
Australia vs. Gold’s Gym Japan – Fuchū, Tokyo, Japan
February 26
Australia vs. 3GoodGroup HOZEN noLimiteds – Fuchū, Tokyo, Japan
South Korea vs. Samsung Lions – ONNA Akama Ball Park – Onna, Japan
Czech Republic vs. Chiba Lotte Marines – Miyakonojo City Municipal Baseball Stadium – Miyakonojo, Japan
Chinese Taipei vs. Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – Taipei Dome, Taipei, Taiwan
February 27
Japan vs. Chunichi Dragons – Vantelin Dome Nagoya – Nagoya, Japan
Chinese Taipei vs. Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters – Taipei Dome, Taipei, Taiwan
February 28
Australia vs. Yokohama DeNA BayStars – Yokohama Stadium, Yokohama, Japan
Japan vs. Chunichi Dragons – Vantelin Dome Nagoya – Nagoya, Japan
March 2
Chinese Taipei vs. Orix Buffaloes – SOKKEN Stadium – Miyazaki, Japan
Australia vs. Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – Sun Marine Stadium – Miyazaki, Japan
South Korea vs. Hanshin Tigers – Kyocera Dome Osaka – Osaka, Japan
Czech Republic vs. Yomiuri Giants – Sun Marine Stadium – Miyazaki, Japan
Japan vs. Orix Buffaloes – Kyocera Dome Osaka – Osaka, Japan
March 3
Chinese Taipei vs. Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – SOKKEN Stadium – Miyazaki, Japan
Australia vs. Yomiuri Giants – Sun Marine Stadium – Miyazaki, Japan
South Korea vs. Orix Buffaloes – Kyocera Dome Osaka – Osaka, Japan
Czech Republic vs. Orix Buffaloes – Sun Marine Stadium – Miyazaki, Japan
Japan vs. Hanshin Tigers – Kyocera Dome Osaka – Osaka, Japan
1:05 p.m. – Colombia vs. Pittsburgh Pirates – LECOM Park – Bradenton, Florida
1:05 p.m. – Netherlands vs. Baltimore Orioles – Ed Smith Stadium – Sarasota, Florida
1:05 p.m. – Panama vs. New York Yankees – George M. Steinbrenner Field – Tampa, Florida
1:07 p.m. – Canada vs. Toronto Blue Jays – TD Ballpark – Dunedin, Florida
1:10 p.m. – Israel vs. Miami Marlins – Roger Dean Stadium – Jupiter, Florida
1:10 p.m. – Nicaragua vs. New York Mets – Clover Park – Port St. Lucie, Florida
3:05 p.m. – Brazil vs. The Athletics – Hohokam Stadium – Mesa, Arizona
3:05 p.m. – United States vs. San Francisco Giants – Scottsdale Stadium – Scottsdale, Arizona
Italy vs. Chicago Cubs – Sloan Park – Mesa, Arizona
3:10 p.m. – Great Britain vs. Milwaukee Brewers – American Family Fields of Phoenix – Phoenix, Arizona
3:05 p.m. – Cuba vs. Kansas City Royals – Surprise Stadium – Surprise, Arizona
3:10 p.m. – Mexico vs. Arizona Diamondbacks – Salt River Fields – Scottsdale, Arizona
6:05 p.m. – Venezuela vs. Houston Astros – Cacti Park of the Palm Beaches – West Palm Beach, Florida
6:05 p.m. – Puerto Rico vs. Boston Red Sox – JetBlue Park – Lee County, Florida
6:05 p.m. – Dominican Republic vs. Detroit Tigers – Estadio Quisqueya – Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
March 4
1:05 p.m. – Canada vs. Philadelphia Phillies – BayCare Ballpark – Clearwater, Florida
1:05 p.m. – Nicaragua vs. St. Louis Cardinals – Roger Dean Stadium – Jupiter, Florida
1:05 p.m. – Netherlands vs. Tampa Bay Rays – Charlotte Sports Park – Port Charlotte, Florida
1:05 p.m. – Panama vs. Detroit Tigers – Joker Marchant Stadium – Lakeland, Florida
1:05 p.m. – Puerto Rico vs. Minnesota Twins – Hammond Stadium – Lee County, Florida
1:05 p.m. – Colombia vs. Atlanta Braves – CoolToday Park – North Port, Florida
1:10 p.m. – Israel vs. New York Mets – Clover Park – Port St. Lucie, Florida
2:05 p.m. – Dominican Republic vs. Detroit Tigers – Estadio Quisqueya – Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic3:05 p.m. – Brazil vs. Texas Rangers – Surprise Stadium – Surprise, Arizona
3:05 p.m. – Mexico vs. Los Angeles Dodgers – Camelback Ranch – Glendale, Arizona
3:05 p.m. – Cuba vs. Cincinnati Reds – Goodyear Ballpark – Goodyear, Arizona
3:10 p.m. – Italy vs. Los Angeles Angels – Tempe Diablo Stadium – Tempe, Arizona
3:10 p.m. – United States vs. Colorado Rockies – Salt River Fields – Scottsdale, Arizona
3:10 p.m. – Great Britain vs. San Diego Padres – Peoria Stadium – Peoria, Arizona
6:05 p.m. – Venezuela vs. Washington Nationals – Cacti Park of the Palm Beaches – West Palm Beach, Florida
Photo: Omar Mendoza celebrates his solo homer in the second inning of Nicaragua’s exhibition series opener against Cuba in Leon, Nicaragua on Feb. 19. (Photo via FENIBA on Facebook)
