By: Joe Krasnowski and David Polli
Virgin Islands 6 – Cuba 5
Cuba came into the game undefeated at 2-0 against a Virgin Islands team that just upset Curaçao the day prior. The Virgin Islands had not won two games at the Caribbean Cup since 2019 and now faced another Caribbean power to try and accomplish that task.
The Virgin Islands started off hot and scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning to go up 3-0 early. Cuba got their first run of the game in the top of the second off an RBI groundout to third via Jean Baldqouin, who has been very impressive in this tournament.
They scored another one in the X inning to cut the lead to one. Then in the top of the fifth inning, Cuba was able to tie the game on a great suicide squeeze bunt down the third base line from Rodolexis Moreno Gonzalez.
The Virgin Islands responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the fifth to reclaim the lead 4-3, but that didn’t last for too long. In the top of the sixth inning, Cuba’s lineup continued to chip away. A Cuban sacrifice fly with the bases loaded was able to tie the game 4-4 and a once comfortable lead for the Virgin Islands had slipped away.
In the top of the seventh, Virgin Islands’ pitcher Mark Knight had the task of keeping the game tied. With Denis Pena up to bat for Cuba with two outs and men on second and third for Cuba, Knight threw a wild pitch that allowed Yulieski Remon to score for Cuba and take the lead. Knight was able to strike out Carlos Tejera looking with a curveball, but his team now trailed going into the final half-inning.
Now with their first lead of the game, Sammy Benitez had an opportunity to close the game down Cuba. The first batter of the inning for the Virgin Islands was Kelani Luke and Benitez generated an easy grounder to third, but the throw was off the mark and Cuban first baseman Denis Pena had to come off the bag so the Virgin Islands would start the inning with a baserunner. Toshawn Drew came in to pinch run for Luke to give the Virgin Islands some speed on the base path in the do or die inning. Dwayne Maduro then hit a single over the head of the second baseman to make it runners on first and second with no outs. Zayd Brannigan then bunted both runners over successfully, sacrificing the first out of the inning to put runners on second and third. Rafael Jacksin then drew a walk to load the bases. That brought up Isranel Wilson who hit a hard grounder to first in which the first baseman smartly fired home to get the second out of the inning without a run scoring.
With two outs and the bases loaded, VMI’s final hope was Conroy Samuel. On a 1-0 count, Samuel blooped a single to shallow left to score two runners to win the game for the Virgin Islands on a walk off 6-5. Cuba loses their first game of the tournament and the Virgin Islands are now in first place in the cup standings.
The run differential in three games for team Virgin Islands is now 0, as they have played three games to a 2-1 record with each game being decided by two runs or less. Both teams are 2-1 and with two games each left to play could possibly see each other in the championship game matchup between the two teams with the best records in knockout play on Oct. 28.
St. Maarten vs. Dominican Republic
St.Maarten scored the first run after the Dominican catcher threw down to second on a steal attempt and the ball bounced out of the infield into center field which allowed the runner on third to score. #5
33 st. maarten. St. Maarten scored again to make it 2-0.
The Dominican starter Brayant Capellaw was then pulled without recording a single out in the inning and allowing two runs and righty Luis Guzman entered the game in relief. Fortunately, he got them out of a jam to keep the game at 2-0 after one inning.
The Dominican Republic was able to cut the lead in half with a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the third to make it 2-1, but from then on the game became a pitchers duel.
Jack Wagner of St. Maarten was very good pitching all seven innings of work only allowing one run. Guzman was matching him pitch for pitch and was able to stop scoring chances in multiple innings to keep the Dominican Republic in the game.
Guzman recorded all 21 outs for the Dominican Republic in relief without allowing a run, but his offense was not able to match his performance. Jack Wagner was just too much for the Dominican lineup to handle and recorded the final out to give St. Maarten the win in a low scoring contest.
St. Maarten moves to 2-1 while the Dominican Republic falls to 0-3.
Curaçao 11- Bahamas 1
A nightmare showing the Bahamas reached a new low as the hosts were blown out 11-1 Friday afternoon by Curaçao.
Darren Sefferina’s three hits led the offensive outburst for Curaçao, adding a triple and a run scored.
He was far from the only offensive juggernaut on the day as seemingly everyone in the Curaçao lineup joined in on the beatdown. Bahamian starter Lamour Roberto struggled mightily, allowing eight earned runs in just 1.1 innings. Meanwhile, Siamani Boekholdt of Curaçao was extremely effective, striking out five, allowing just three hits and walking one.
Underpinning the strong pitching performance, of course, was the remarkable Curaçao offense, a factor only lessened by the five-inning mercy rule that came into effect.
But for the Bahamas, the blowout loss marks a clear nadir in their Bahamian Cup run. The tournament was looked at as a good chance to boost their global status in search of a WBC qualifier berth in four years. The hosts will look to get back on track tomorrow against Cuba, while Curaçao will take on St. Maarten.
Fans can watch all of the games on r1live.com and get analysis here at worldbaseball.com.
