Cuba went into the game at 0-2, needing a win to stay alive for a chance at the Super Round facing Australia, who comes into the morning in Taiwan at 1-1. Getting the start for Cuba at the Taipei Dome was 19-year-old Dario Sarduy, facing Australia’s Tim Atherton. Cuba was able to secure their first win this year in Premier12, holding on late to defeat Australia 4-3.
Sarduy would get Travis Bazzana to ground out to get things started but then surrendered three straight hits, leading to an RBI single from Rixon Wingrove. After a mound visit and a strikeout, Darryl George was able to score Robbie Glendinning on an RBI single to right center for Australia to climb ahead 2-0. Andy Vargas would replace Sarduy, striking out Alex Hall to end the inning.
Cuba got right back in it in the bottom frame, with three straight singles to start off, leading to an RBI single to right field from Yoeklis Guibert for Cuba to now trail behind, 2-1. They would grab the lead in the third inning after the first two batters reached base, and Yadir Drake would bring everyone home, clobbering a three-run home run for Cuba to take a 4-2 lead.
But Robbie Glendinning would lead off the fifth inning with a solo home run to left field for Australia to be down by one.
Cuba’s bullpen would be resilient throughout the day after Sarduy exited, with combined efforts from Andy Vargas, Frank Alvarez, Geonel Gutierrez, and Leodan Reyes combining for seven and a-thirds innings, allowing one run on four hits, giving up five walks, while recording eight strikeouts.
Raidel Martinez would come in to close the game for Cuba in the ninth, getting the first batter to groundout, followed by punching out the next two batters on 97 MPH heaters to secure Cuba’s first win of Premier12 in 2024, defeating Australia 4-3.
Australia will play next on November 17, when they host Chinese Taipei at the Taipei Dome at 5:30 AM EST. Cuba will face Japan at Taipei Tianmu Stadium in Taipei City, and the first pitch is scheduled for 5 AM EST.
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