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 on their social media.

The game was tied at two runs until the seventh inning, when the team managed by the Holguin native found their momentum: two runs in that inning were enough to secure the decisive lead.

The day featured remarkable collective participation among the Cuban team, particularly in the bullpen, where three newly added pitchers performed reliably despite the effects of the time change.

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

The eighth episode was left in the hands of the espirituano Yankiel Mauris, who matched the performance of his compatriot: without any hits and with two strikeouts, he also added a hold in his debut in the CPB.

The closing performance was delivered 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, shared by Pelota Cubana, shows González alongside Cejas, Herrera, Mauris, and Andy Cosme, the five Cubans who make up the Loongs' roster.

This participation is set against 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 debuted 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, joins the CPB with experience as the manager of the Holguín Cubs in the National Series and as a coaching staff member for the Cuba team in the VI World Baseball Classic.

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