Cuba ties warm-up baseball game against Japanese professional team

HAVANA, Cuba, Mar 3 (acn) Cuba reacted in the eighth inning to tie 3-3 with the Orix Buffaloes in their first warm-up match in Japan towards the 4th World Baseball Classic (WSB).

The Caribbean side was losing 3-0 when catcher Frank Morejon singled, then OF Roel Santos doubled and they both were driven in by hit of SS Alexander Ayala, who subsequently scored thanks to an error by local 3B Ito Hikaru on William Saavedra´s rolling, thus leveling the game.
Lazaro Blanco, Cuba´s starting pitcher, allowed one run in four innings, while Vladimir Garcia, his reliever, surrendered one more run in two frames, both driven in by Hikaru.
The local side increased its lead in the seventh to 3-0 off Cuban relievers Jonder Martinez and Livan Moinello, while closer Miguel Lahera managed to control offensive of the Asian squad during one and a third innings.
Cubans hit seven hits which went to the account of Morejon (3), Santos (2), Ayala (1) and Frederich Cepeda (1).
"We know it's an inaugural game that raises a lot of expectations," said Morejon in a press conference on the match between Cuba and Japan, which will officially open the 4th WBC, agreed for next Tuesday at the Tokyo Dome, as part of the pool B that also includes China and Australia.
"The winner will almost have half the battle won and we are going to go out to give our best in a match between the two best teams in the group," said Blanco, the other Cuban who talked to the journalists.
Today Cubans will train in Nissay and on Sunday they will face the Seibu Lions as a close to the Asian training tour that also included Taiwan (one win and two losses) and South Korea (0-2).