Cuban manager Noelvis González makes his debut with a victory in China; three pitchers shine from the bullpen

The Cuban coach Noelvis González started his adventure in Asia on the right foot: this Monday, the Beijing CP Loongs defeated the Shanghai Orcas 4-2 in the China Professional Baseball League (CPB), as reported by Pelota Cubana.

The game was tied at two runs until the seventh inning, when the team coached by the player from Holguín found their turning point: two runs in that inning were enough to secure the final lead.

The day featured remarkable collective prominence among the Cuban team members, especially in the bullpen, where three newly added pitchers delivered solid performances despite the effects of the time change.

Frank Herrera opened the relievers' shift in the seventh inning with an impeccable performance: no hits, no runs, and two strikeouts, enough to earn his first hold in Chinese baseball.

The eighth episode was handled by the spirituan Yankiel Mauris, who matched the performance of his compatriot: with no hits and two strikeouts, he also recorded a hold in his debut in the CPB.

The closing performance was led by Fher Cejas, who retired the three batters he faced in the ninth inning and earned the save, thus becoming the first Cuban pitcher to achieve this record in the history of this Asian tournament.

The photograph of the celebration, circulated by Pelota Cubana, shows González alongside Cejas, Herrera, Mauris, and Andy Cosme, the five Cubans who make up the roster of the Loongs.

This participation comes at a historic moment for Cuban baseball in China: nine players from the Island are competing in the CPB 2026, divided between the Beijing CP Loongs and the Xiamen Dolphins.

Precisely on Sunday, Andy Vargas and Pavel Hernández made their debut with the Xiamen Dolphins with a 7-3 victory over the Changsha WantWant, another positive sign for the Cuban contingent in the tournament.

González, recognized as a pioneer in the use of sabermetrics in Cuban baseball, arrives at the CPB with experience as the director of the Holguín Hawks in the National Series and as a coaching staff member for the Cuban team in the VI World Baseball Classic.

The regular season of the CPB 2026 features 45 games with six teams, and the top four will advance to the playoffs scheduled to begin on September 26.