• Submitted by: lena campos
• Sports
• 08 / 20 / 2013

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Canada had pulled within a pair of runs in their game with the Cuba Ciego de Avila Tigres at one point, but it didn't take long for the Cubans to extend their lead by five runs in Sunday's late game at the World Baseball Challenge.

It was 13-5 for the Cubans at press time at Citizen Field in front of 1,130 fans after 7.5 innings Sunday. If the score holds up and Canada loses they'll fall to 0-4 with two games left, while the Cubans will be perched on top of the standings with a 4-0 record. Canada would be eliminated from finishing first or second and they'd need help to finish third.

It didn't take long for Cuba to get on the board, The Tigres notched four runs in the first inning off of five hits, highlighted by a two-run triple off the bat of designated hitter Ruben Valdez. The Cubans sent eight men to the plate in the top of the inning.

After Canada went one-two-three in their half of the first inning, Cuba tacked on two more runs in the second inning to take a 6-0 lead. Canada shortstop Jason Chatwood overthrew first base, which eventually allowed Cuba's Yorbis Borroto to score an unearned run. Ricardo Bordon scored the other Cuba run after a double got him on base.

In the bottom of the inning, Prince George's Brandon Hunter sent the ball over the fence for a two-run homerun to pull Canada back within four at 6-2. Before Hunter came up to the plate, Canadian first baseman hit a single.

Cuba pitcher Ogmar Carrero was replaced by Vadir Rabi in the bottom of the fourth inning. Carrero allowed two runs on three hits, with three strikeouts and one walk in three innings of work

After getting the first two Canadian batters to fly out, Rabi walked Hunter on four pitches. The walk didn't hurt Cuba as the next batter, Canada coach/designated hitter Darren Doucette, struck out to end the inning.

After two scoreless innings, Cuba added another run for a 7-2 lead in the fifth inning. Ruban Valder and Yozzen Cuesta banged out singles before catcher Osvaldo Vazquez hit a sacrifice fly ball caught by Hunter at the centre-field wall to score Valder. There was some question as to whether the ball bounced off the wall, but the umpire called it a catch.

Canada pulled back into the game in their half of the fifth when Aaron Dunsmore blasted a three-run homerun, after Chatwood was hit by a pitch and Rob Recuenco reached base on a Cuba error, to pull within a pair at 7-5.

But Cuba responded five runs on four hits and went through the batting order in the sixth inning to take a 12-5 lead. Bordon and Mario J. Vega led off with back-to-back doubles and Valder hit a two-run single. Valder later scored on a Canada error.

Canada's Dustin Northcott's night was done after walking the third batter of the inning. In five complete innings of work, Northcott was responsible for 10 runs on 13 hits, two strikeouts and two walks. Kyle McKay completed the inning for Canada, while Graham Allard was on the mound for the seventh inning.

There were about 450 fans at Chinese Taipei's 8-4 win over the USA in the afternoon game.

Canada faces the USA today at 3 p.m.

Source: Princegeorgecitizen.com