(Press Release; WBSC-AMERICAS).- The U23 qualifier started with three KO games by Puerto Rico, Cuba and México, three teams meant to compete for the gold medal in this tournament.
Puerto Rico started the opening round with an 11-0 victory over Guatemala, a game in which a seven run fourth inning was enough to end the game by KO in five innings of play.
Bryan Marrero pitched five innings with two hits, one base on balls and ten strikeouts to earn the victory. Adrián Colón went 3-2 with a run scored and three driven in. Ricardo De La Torre Rivera went 2-2 with two runs batted in and one scored.
Cuba played under a similar script in their opening game, but they scored eight runs in the fourth inning and three runs in the fifth inning for the 11-0 nocaut victory in five innings in the second game of the tournament.
For Cuba Naykel Cruz pitched five innings for the win with two hits and three base on balls with eight strikeouts. Javier Carabeo went 3-2 with two runs and four knocked in. While Luis Angel Rojas went 3-1 with a run scored and two RBI.
The host nation México finished the day with another 11-0 KO against Nicaragua to close out the opening day. With four runs in the first and another three in the fifth, it was enough to come away with a win.
Esteban Bloch came away with the win with five innings pitched, two hits, three walks and two strikeouts. On the offensive side Héctor Mora went 4-4 with four runs and two RBI plus a stolen base.
On saturday the U-23 qualifier continues with México against Argentina, Venezuela will face Cuba and Nicaragua will play versus Guatemala.
(WBSC-AMERICAS; Direction of Media Relations)
