Yadir Drake three-run homer leads Cuba over Australia to first Premier12 win

A three-run homer run by Mexican Baseball League (LMB) veteran slugger Yadir Drake led world No. 9 Cuba to a 4-3 win against No. 15 Australia. It was their first win in the WBSC Premier12 2024 presented by RAXUS.

Australia's lineup was off a brilliant start and combined seven hits in the first 4.1 innings. They added just one through the ninth.

"It was a close game. Drake's home run made the difference," commented Aussie manager Dave Nilsson. "The loss doesn't change much for us. We still need to beat Chinese Taipei tomorrow night. I told the players we must focus on that game, not other teams' results."

Cuba's manager, Armando Johnson, felt differently: "We have seen a great game. Drake's home run made, of course, the difference. We hadn't hit a home run so far; it was time to get one. I also want to credit our pitching staff. They did a perfect job. In general, the team came together. We finally executed what we had prepared."

"We regret the game against the Dominican Republic. We should have won that, and a win would have helped us play better against Korea. Well, that's baseball. I'm confident the guys will compete through the final inning on Monday."

Cuba must beat Japan and Chinese Taipei to advance to the Super Round. "It's a challenge," said Johnson on a final note. "Today, we used a lot of pitchers, so we need to think of a new plan for the next two games."

Left-hander Dario Sarduy, the youngest player in the WBSC Premier12, could get only two outs. Aaron Whitefield reached on a one-out single. Shortstop Robbie Glendinning followed with a single through the left side. First baseman Rixon Wingrove scored Whitefield from second with a single to right field, advancing Glendinning to third.

After a coach visit, Sarduy struck out Tim Kennelly with an off-speed pitch but gave up the second run on an RBI blooper by third baseman Darryk George and went to the showers.

Cuba handed the ball to right-hander Andy Vargas, who struck out Alex Hall to get out of the at-bat.

In the bottom half of the frame, they needed just five pitches from right-hander Tim Atherton to get on the scoreboard. Roel Santos, Yadir Drake and Yolekis Guilbert all singled to cut the gap to 2-1. Atherton got out of the jam, striking out Alfredo Despaigne and getting Ariel Martinez to ground into a double play.

Cuba took the lead in the bottom of the third. Lefty Blake Townsend took over for Atherton. Jean Walters led off the at-bat, reaching second on an error, and advanced to third as Santos bunted for the hit. Yadir Drake, a Baseball Champions League Americas alum, looked at two balls and sent the third pitch well beyond the left-field wall for a three-run home run.

"In that situation, you want to hit the ball in the air," said Drake postgame. "I made a good contact and got the home run. Once we had the lead, I trusted our pitchers could get the job done. We needed this win. We finally came together. We now feel ready to try our best against Japan and Chinese Taipei."

Australia called Luke Wilkins from the bullpen to get out of the at-bat.

Glendinning made it a one-run game, leading off the fifth with a solo home run off Vargas.
The Chunichi Dragons of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) reliever Frank Alvarez came out of Cuba's bullpen to get through the at-bat.

Alvarez left with a runner on (walk) and one out in the top of the seventh. Lefty Geonel Gutierrez took the mound but faced only one batter, allowing a walk. His legacy to right-hander Leodan Reyes, a WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup 2022 alum, was a 1-0 count on Tim Kennelly. Reyes got out of the jam with the bases loaded and two outs by retiring Alex Hall on a hard grounder to second.

NPB's Chunichi Dragons closer Raidel Martinez, who picked 43 saves during the 2024 season, took care of the final three outs. He retired the first batter he faced on a hard comebacker to the mound and then struck out the side.

On Sunday, November 17, Cuba (1-2) will return to Taipei Tianmu Stadium to face No. 1 Japan (2-0 before facing No. 2 Chinese Taipei). Australia (1-2) will play at the Dome No. 2 Chinese Taipei (2-0, before facing Japan).