By Matt Tallarini, World Baseball Network
NASSAU, BAHAMAS – There will not be a repeat champion at the Caribbean Cup this year.
Curacao, looking to win their second Caribbean Cup in as many years, fell to Cuba 4-2 in the first semifinal game Saturday.
Curacao struck first when Darren Seferina drove a double to left center, scoring Shurendell Mujica for the first run of the ball game. The next batter, Lenora Dudley, drove a single to center field, scoring Seferina for a 2-0 lead.
Jose Rodriguez was lifted in the sixth inning by Cuba manager Armando Johnson, going 5 1/3 innings pitched with giving up eight hits, allowing two earned runs, walking one batter, and five strikeouts in his start.
“He’s the most experienced pitcher we got, and he’s the one we needed to pitch today,” Cuba pitching coach Pedro Lazo said.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Cuba tied the game up at two apiece when Alexquemer Sanchez drove a single to right field, scoring Yoelkis Guibert.
Curacao starter Jordan Lucas went 5 2/3 innings for allowing six hits, two earned runs, and walking two batters in the semifinal game.
Cuba grabbed the lead in the bottom of the eighth when Sanchez popped a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Guibert for a 3-2 lead. Cuba would add one more insurance during the eighth on Yasiel Gonzalez’ RBI single to center field, plating Guillermo Reyes.
Cuba’s Yeudi Reyes closed out the game with a six-out save, propelling them to the Championship game where they will face Puerto Rico at 7 p.m., with Pavel Hernandez taking the mound for Cuba.
“No matter who is going to play against us tomorrow, I’m just going to try and get ground balls and throw strikes,” Hernandez said.
Curacao will face the Bahamas in the consolation game at 2 p.m. Sunday. Cuba will look to win its first-ever Caribbean Cup, though they’ve already qualified for the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games in El Salvador.