• Submitted by: lena campos
• Sports
• 09 / 07 / 2013

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Cuba lost the opportunity to contend for a gold medal at the World Youth Baseball Championship in Taipei China after falling today 0-10 against Japan, the best team in the tournament.

Cubans, champions at the three previous U-18 championship, with 11 titles, were bound by the Japanese righthanded pitcher Tomoshiro Anraku, who ruled the eight inning game with 10 strikeouts, six hits allowed and no bases for balls.

Japan scored a run in the second inning, two in the fourth, one in the fifth and six in the final of the eighth to seal the victory.

For the winning team, the best batters were the third baseman Ryo Watanabe (home run, two RBIs, and two scored runs) and first baseman Satoshi Sanobe (two doubles, two RBIs and two scored runs), but receiver and third batter Tomoya Mori also showed flashes of greatness.

For Cubans, only center fielder Victor Mesa was able to manage more than one hit, hitting a pair of singles in three times at bat, while righthanded pitcher Arbelio Quiroz fell short.

Thus, Japan has ensured its leadership in the semifinal round with four straight wins, securing its passport to the title game, scheduled for next Sunday at the Taichung Intercontinental Stadium.

Meanwhile, Cuba must content itself with competing for the bronze medal against the winner of tomorrow�s match between South Korea and Taipei China.

Source: Prensa Latina