Perez three-run home run sees Venezuela top Cuba in a 6-5 thriller

Carlos Perez hit a three-run home run inthe top of the first inning, and Venezuela never trailed as they defeated Cuba6-5 in a thrilling game one of Group B play at the Ballpark of the Palm Beachesin West Palm Beach, Florida.

Perez added an RBI single in the top of thethird inning off Cuba starter Lazaro Blanco to increase Venezuela’s lead to4-0, while Venezuela starter Anibal Sanchez was able to work himself out oftrouble in the early going.

Sanchez allowed three baserunners in thefirst, but emerged unscathed after Venezuelan left fielder Alexander Palmathrew out Cuba’s Yadil Mujica at home plate on an Alfredo Despaignesingle. 

Sanchez then yielded three straight singleswith one out in the second inning before Roel Santos grounded into an inningending double play.

Cuba’s offense finally broke through in thebottom of the fourth when Erisbel Arruebarruena homered, cutting the Venezuelalead in half at 4-2.  A Mujica single inthe fifth chased Sanchez from the game and brought Cuba within one at 4-3, butanother inning ending double play kept Venezuela in front going into the sixth.

Hernan Perez led off the sixth inning witha home run for Venezuela, and the third baseman finished the game 3-for-5 witha single and a triple in addition to his first home run of the tournament. 

Robinson Chirinos added an insurance runfor Venezuela in the top of the eighth inning, blasting an 0-2 pitch from LivanMoinelo over the wall and into Cuba’s bullpen in left, making it 6-3 for thevisitors.  The home run was Chirinos’sonly hit of the game, but it would loom large as Cuba made a comeback in thebottom of the ninth.

Pinch hitting for Santos, Lisban Correa jacked a two-run homer to deep left-center with one out and Cuba was down 6-5. Yordanis Samon worked a two-out walk to extend the game and the stage was set for the legendary Despaigne. Facing Moises Gomez, Despaigne swung hard at a 2-1 pitch and fell to the ground grabbing his left shoulder. He would be removed from the game, replaced by 19-year-old Rafael Viñales who grounded out to second to end the ballgame. 

The stunning conclusion capped off an incredible game that had thrilled the capacity crowd of 3,629. The win was the first for Venezuela in a world level tournament against Cuba since the 1953 World Cup.

Venezuela (1-0) will take on Colombia onTuesday afternoon at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie, while Cuba (0-1) will faceCanada in the night game.