Reports have surfaced that three members of the Cuban baseball team defected just before an exhibition match against Mexico at the Tepic Stadium, also known as the "Colossus of the Pacific." This information was revealed by journalist Francys Romero.
The Cuban team, which traveled with a roster of 18 players and five pitchers, had to deal with the sudden disappearance of their teammates shortly before the match was scheduled to begin. The players who left the delegation were left-handed pitcher Branlis Rodríguez from Pinar del Río, outfielder Over Cremet from Guantánamo, and infielder Alexis Varona from Havana.
The Escape and Its Timing
The defections occurred approximately two hours before the team was set to board a bus to the stadium for the game, which took place on Wednesday. Ultimately, the Cuban team suffered a 9-1 defeat at the hands of the Mexican selection during the game, which was part of the inauguration of the Tepic Stadium. This venue is also slated to be part of Group A in the upcoming Premier 12 tournament.
Mexico's Dominance on the Field
The host team, Mexico, showcased a strong offensive lineup, hitting no fewer than four home runs. The Cubans initially took the lead in the third inning, scoring their only run after hits by Jeison Martínez and Lázaro Ponce, followed by a sacrifice fly by Ariel Hechavarría.
However, in the bottom half of the inning, Mexico leveled the score at 1-1 with a single to center field, and from there, it was all downhill for the Cuban team, possibly impacted by the last-minute absences of key players.
Struggles in Cuban Defense
Out of the 15 hits by the Mexican team, nine were for extra bases. The Cuban defense committed two errors and managed only six hits throughout the game. Dennys Laza stood out with two hits in four at-bats, while Frederich Cepeda, William Saavedra, Jeison Martínez, and Lázaro Ponce each hit singles.
Both teams had agreed to field lineups with 10 batters, each featuring two designated hitters. On the Cuban side, only Osvaldo Abreu and Ariel Hechavarría avoided strikeouts. Meanwhile, Frederich Cepeda, Yosvani Alarcón, Yasser Julio González, and Rondón each struck out twice, as reported by the portal Pelotacubanausa.com.