Baseball (w): Puerto Rico beat Cuba 5-4 in first friendly game

 HAVANA, Cuba, May 16 (ACN) The Puerto Rican women's baseball team defeated its Cuban counterpart 5-4 on Monday in the first of six friendly games scheduled to be played in this capital in preparation for upcoming international events.

The girls coached by experienced mentor Carlos Ferrer counted on an excellent pitching performance by right-hander Janiliz Rivera -who plays in the United States-, who pitched 6.0 innings with four hits, five strikeouts and two earned runs. For the Puerto Ricans, left fielder Alans Rodríguez, who went 3-2 with an RBI, was the standout hitter.

The Cuban team erred a lot on defense and left several runners on base.

Cuba's starter and third basewoman Libia Duarte, who went 4-3, was outstanding for Cuba. The only time she failed was in the seventh and last inning when she hit a double play with the bases loaded.

We missed a lot in the field, but we were able to close the game against a very combative team like the Cuban team. Today was our debut and tomorrow we will play better on a better field like the one at the Latin American Stadium, commented Carlos Ferrer, mentor of the Puerto Ricans, in an exclusive interview with ACN.

It was a good game, but we made mistakes that ruined the victory. That Puerto Rican team has very experienced players who play in the United States and other leagues. I am satisfied with the work of my girls, said Jorge Luis Pimienta, manager of the Cuban team.

This Monday they played at the Changa Mederos stadium in Havana's Ciudad Deportiva, and tomorrow they will move to the Latinoamericano stadium.

Last year, Cuba defeated Puerto Rico in the final of the Caribbean Cup held in the Dominican Republic and then the Puerto Ricans took revenge in the elimination phase of the pre-World Cup played in La Guaira, Venezuela, in which both teams won their tickets for the second phase of the World Cup to be held in Japan in September.