BCL 2025 | Las Tunas Lumberjacks make their debut with a commanding 31-7 victory over the Santa Maria Pirates from Curaçao

The Las Tunas Lumberjacks equaled two records set by a Cuban team in international competitions and set a new record for the Alfredo Harp Helú Stadium in Mexico City. This accomplishment took place on Wednesday as they began their campaign in the II Baseball Champions League of the Americas with a remarkable 31-7 victory over the Santa Maria Pirates from Curaçao.

Box score

The match advanced the Cubans to the tournament semifinals, after Curaçao suffered two defeats on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Champions League of the Americas commenced its second edition this Tuesday. In Group B, the Kane County Cougars from the USA triumphed 16-14 over Santa Maria from Curaçao. Meanwhile, in Group A, Mexico's Diablos Rojos secured a 15-2 victory against the Titanes de Florida from Puerto Rico.

This Wednesday, the Cuban representatives achieved an impressive 31 runs and 32 hits, matching the records set by the Cuban national team on July 16, 1978, during the Central American and Caribbean Games in Medellín, in their memorable 31-2 victory over Puerto Rico. In that historic game, Pinar del Río left-hander Félix Pino secured the win, while Rogelio Negrón took the loss. The Cubans hit 10 home runs and set numerous other records, including 24 runs in a single inning (the third). Meanwhile, today's 31 runs set a record for any team at Alfredo Harp Helú Stadium.

This time, the Las Tunas team's extensive offensive display wasn't as shocking as Cuba's in 1978, but they still managed to hit five home runs. Yoelkis Guibert and Rafael Viñales each contributed two home runs (with Viñales hitting a grand slam), and Yosvani Alarcón also added a home run.

The offense was relentless from the beginning, scoring seven runs in the first inning against the starting pitcher, right-hander Misja Harcksen (0-1), along with his first reliever, Carrol Servania. Harcksen gave up five of those seven runs and allowed the first of Viñales' two home runs in the game, a three-run shot.

Cuba consistently scored in every inning except the seventh, tallying five runs in the second inning, two in both the third and fourth innings, six in the fifth, five in the sixth, and four in the eighth. This was all against five relievers, with only Djenior Mogen managing to prevent scoring in the seventh inning.

At the same time, Cuban right-hander Andy Vargas (1-0) delivered five easy innings, allowing only three hits. One of these was a two-run unearned RBI single in the fifth inning, helped from a throwing error by first baseman Viñales. Vargas recorded five strikeouts and issued two walks in his 67-pitch performance, with 41 pitches being strikes.

Three other relievers took the mound for Las Tunas, with reliever Rodolfo Díaz shouldering most of the load. He gave up four earned runs over 1 2/3 innings, recording two strikeouts, one walk, and allowing four hits.

Alberto Pablo Civil finished the game by pitching a flawless ninth inning, recording one strikeout.

At night, in Group A, Nicaragua's Tigres de Chinandega were ahead of the Florida Titans with a score of 14-9 in the ninth inning. A victory for the Titans would have guaranteed them their place in the semifinals.

This Thursday, the Las Tunas Lumberjacks are set to play against the Kane County Cougars at 4:00 p.m. ET/PT in a match that will determine the Group B winner.