Jasson Otondo’s two-run double in the top of the third put Mexico ahead 6-5, and the Caneros de Los Mochis held on to defeat Cuba’s Agricultores at the Caribbean Series Sunday afternoon.
Jeff Kinley went six innings, allowing five runs on four hits and striking out two for Mexico.
With Justin Dean on second and Reynaldo Rodriguez on first, Rodolfo Amador smacked a single to center to score Dean and give Mexico a 1-0 lead. Then Joey Terdoslavic doubled to center, scoring Rodriguez and Amador to put Mexico up 3-0.
Cuba battled back with a five-run bottom of the second, which started when Yosvani Alarcon hit a leadoff single to center field. Rafael Vinales followed with a walk, and then Guillermo Aviles singled to right, loading the bases. When Denis Laza grounded into a fielder’s choice at third, Mexico third baseman Rodolfo Amador bobbled the ball, allowing Alarcon and Vinales to score to cut the lead to 3-2.
Andres de la Cruz followed with a single, scoring Laza to tie the game, and then Osvaldo Abreu hit into a fielder’s choice at short, scoring Laza to make it 4-3.
Mexico finally recorded the first out of the bottom of the second when Yuniesky Larduet grounded into a fielder’s choice, advancing de la Cruz to third and Abreu to second.
With Cruz on third, Mexican pitcher Kelbis Rodriguez was called for a balk, scoring de la Cruz to make it 5-3 and drawing the ire of Mexico manager Jose Moreno, who was ejected by third base umpire Edwin Jimenez.
A bases-loaded ground out to first by Julian Ornelas scored Roberto Valenzuela in the top of the third, cutting Cuba’s lead to 5-4. Two batters later, Jasson Otondo ripped a two-run single to give Mexico a 6-5 lead that they wouldn’t relinquish.
Rodriguez went 7.1 innings for Cuba, allowing eight hits and three earned runs, striking out two.
Cuba faces Colombia at 9:30 a.m. ET Monday, while Mexico will take on Puerto Rico at 3 p.m. Both games will be held at La Rinconada in Caracas and will be streamed live on ESPN+.
