Fabio Murakami of Brazil celebrates after scoring a run in Brazil’s 4-2 win against Cuba at the Pan American Games. (Photo Courtesy WBSC Americas)
World No. 24 Brazil beat No. 8 Cuba 4-2 and remains undefeated at 3-0 at the 2023 Pan American Games.
Brazil and Panama, at 3-0, are the only undefeated teams remaining at the 2023 Pan American Games.
Brazil’s pitching staff at the 2023 Pan American Games has thrown 23 innings, with opposing hitters batting .271 against them, and have allowed just eight earned runs, 18 hits, 10 walks, and 22 strikeouts with a 2.43 ERA prior to the start of the super round.
Cuba had three defensive errors during Tuesday’s loss and mustered just three hits offensively against Brazil’s pitching staff.
In the top of the second inning, Brazil right fielder Ariel Frigo reached on a fielding error by Cuba shortstop Roberto Baldoquin and left fielder Fabio Murakami plated the first run for Brazil.
Cuba starting pitcher Jose Rodriguez threw four innings allowing three hits, no earned runs, one walk and one strikeout.
During the top of the fifth inning, Brazil designated hitter Salomon Koba singled up the middleand first baseman Victor Coutinho came in to score to extend the lead to 2-0.
Cuba pitching coach Pedro Lazo went to relief pitcher Renner Rivero during the top of the fifth inning to replace Erly Casanova.
The next batter, Brazil left fielder Fabio Murakami, poked an RBI single through the left side of the infield and center fielder Paulo Orlando came in to score to make it 3-0.
A few moments later, second baseman Lucas Rojo roped a double to left-center field and Murakami came in to score the fourth run of the game.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Brazil starting pitcher Felipe Marcondes was injured when Cuba catcher Andrys Perez ripped a line drive comebacker off Marcondes’ left foot and had to be taken out of the game.
Felipe Martins, a reporter from Tailgate Zone Brazil, told World Baseball Network through WhatsApp, “there were no structural damages in Marcondes foot from the line drive.”
Marcondes threw 4.2 innings before being taken out of the game and did not allow a hit, including no earned runs, walking three batters, and striking out three. Brazil manager Ramon Ito called on relief pitcher Andre Rienzo out of the bullpen.
Cuba did not score until the bottom of the sixth inning when third baseman Dayan Garcia tripled into the right-center field gap, scoring designated hitter Yurisbel Gracial to cut the lead to 4-1.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Brazil reliever Enzo Sawayama faced the first two batters of the inning , allowing a single to Cuba first baseman Raul Gonzalez and then walking pinch hitter Yasniel Gonzalez.
Brazil’s Eric Taniguchi came on to try to close out the game, and he got Cuba second baseman Yadil Mujica to hit into a 3-6-3 double play to end it.
Brazil has never had three wins at the Pan American Games or an intercontinental senior event prior to this tournament.