Cuba began its participation in the World Baseball Classic with a win, defeating Panama 3-1 in the opening match of Group A, held at Hiram Bithorn Stadium, a result that allows them to start with an advantage.
The team led by Germán Mesa took control of the game early on and secured their victory with two home runs, solid pitching throughout most of the game, and effective management of the bullpen in the final innings.
The three Cuban runs came via home runs, while Panama could only score one, well into the second half of the game.
The first offensive strike from the Cubans came in the second inning. In that episode, Yoelquis Guibert sent the ball flying over the right field wall off a pitch from Panamanian starter Logan Allen, a hit that tilted the score in favor of the Antilleans and marked the beginning of Caribbean dominance in the game.
One inning later, Cuba extended the lead. Yiddi Cappé hit a double, and then Yoan Moncada launched the second home run of the Cuban offense, part of an offensive effort that included five hits from the team.
That sequence cemented the lead that the Caribbean team would defend until the end of the match.
Although the Cuban team did not have any more runs against a parade of five Panamanian relievers, the pitching support was enough to maintain control of the score.
The Cuban pitching staff maintained the lead and limited the opposing offense to just one run.
Liván Moinelo started for Cuba and pitched three innings and two-thirds. During that time, he allowed two hits, issued two walks, struck out four batters, and did not give up any runs, putting the team in a favorable position right from the start.
Then Yariel Rodríguez appeared, who retired the seven batters he faced in order, including three by strikeout. His relief kept the Cuban lead intact and became one of the most solid moments of the pitching performance from the Antillean team.
Panama's only run came against Enmanuel Chapman when Johan Camargo hit a clutch single. However, the damage was limited and did not alter the control that Cuba had maintained for most of the game.
Darién Núñez recorded the final out of the seventh inning, and then Yoan López and Raidel Martínez took care of hanging the last two zeros on the scoreboard to secure the definitive 3-1 victory. With that finish, Cuba sealed an important win at the start of the tournament.
On the offensive front, in addition to the home runs hit by Guibert and Moncada, Ariel Martínez also stood out for the winners, while Leonardo Bernal made a mark for Panama, with both players achieving two singles, according to the provided text.
The meeting kicked off the activities of Group A. On the same day, Colombia and Puerto Rico were scheduled to face each other at 6:00 PM local time, also at the Hiram Bithorn Stadium, to complete the initial competitive landscape of the group.
Cuba's next match will be on Sunday against Colombia, while Panama will play tomorrow against Puerto Rico.
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