Cuban team loses to DR in Caribbean Series

HAVANA, Cuba, Feb 8 (acn) The Aguilas Cibaeñas, from the DR, beat 7-4 Granma, Cuban representative, thus advancing to the final of the 2018 Caribbean Baseball Series, where they will face Puerto Rico´s Caguas Criollos.

This was the second win of the Dominicans over the Cuban side, whom they were previously defeated 7-1 in the qualifying round.

Cuba took a 3-0 lead in the second inning with RBIs by LF Frederich Cepeda, 2B Carlos Benitez and 3B Raul Gonzalez off the also Cuban starting pitcher Yuniesky Maya.
But in the sixth, Dominicans scored twice through a two-run homer by RF Ronny Rodriguez off Cuban starter Lazaro Blanco, who was then substituted by Miguel Lahera.

The winners took the lead in the coming inning when scoring thrice taking advantage of two walks granted by Lahera, relieved by closer Raidel Martinez, who first made an error on a sacrifice-bunt, to then allow a two-RBI single by 1B Edwin Espinal.

Alain Sanchez, another Cuban reliever, surrendered two more runs in the eighth frame driven in by SS Gustavo Nunez and DH Junior Lake, thus putting the score 7-3.

In the bottom of that same inning, Cepeda hit a solo homer, but nothing else happened and Dominicans advanced to the final to face the Caguas Criollos, defending champion, who beat 6-5 Venezuela´s Anzoategui Caribes in the other semifinal.

The win went to reliever Ramon Ramirez while Lahera took the loss and American Josh Judy earned the save.