Twenty years in the making, Puerto Rico finally got its moment.
Team Puerto Rico defeated Cuba 4-1 on Monday night at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, clinching a spot in the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals in front of a passionate home crowd. The win improved Puerto Rico to 3-0 in Pool A and settled some old scores with a Cuban side that had beaten them in a heartbreaking 4-3 defeat at the same venue back in 2006.
The game was delayed by over an hour due to rain, but nothing could dampen the atmosphere. Puerto Rico loaded the bases in the second inning and 39-year-old fan favorite Martín Maldonado, a recently retired MLB catcher, delivered a bases-clearing hit on the very first pitch he saw to set the tone.
Yankees prospect Elmer Rodríguez handled the start with three scoreless innings and four Puerto Rico relievers kept Cuba largely at bay through the middle frames. Edwin Díaz closed things out in order in the ninth, fittingly striking out 44-year-old Alexei Ramirez, who was on the Cuban squad that beat Puerto Rico back in 2006.
“I feel really proud because it’s my first time playing back home,” Díaz said. “We have a really good team. I feel happy to be here.”
Cuba’s Alfredo Despaigne doubled for the team’s only run and now sits second all-time in Classic extra-base hits with 12. Cuba drops to 2-1 and can still advance with a win over Canada on Wednesday.
Manager Yadier Molina praised the character of his group throughout the week.
“These players don’t take anything for granted,” Molina said. “They play hard and I trust them. We have a really good group.”
Pool A quarterfinalists will face Pool B qualifiers in Houston in the next round.
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