Cuba beats Germany, does one more step towards super round

Cuba broke the score open in the second inning. German pitchers struggled with control and allowed a total 11 walks.

Germany's pitchers struggled to throw strikes and Cuba took advantage to win 10-3 on day four of Group A play in Ciudad Obregon. Cuba scored four runs in the second inning without a single hit, and added three more in the third with three hits to build a 7-1 lead after three. Three more runs in the top of the fifth had Cuba ahead 10-1 before Germany had recorded its first hit.

Alexander Schmidt finally notched a hit for Germany in the bottom of the fifth and the Germans knocked three more hits around Estadio Yaquis in the bottom of the sixth to score two more runs. Schmidt would single for a second time in the bottom of the seventh, finishing the day as the only German player with two hits. David Grimes doubled for Germany for the second straight day, and Danny Lankhorst scored two runs in addition to his RBI triple.

Yandi Yanez and Miguez Gonzalez both reached base four times for the victors, while Rangel Ramos finished the game with two hits, two runs scored and an RBI.

The real star for Cuba was starter Marlon Vega, who gave up just one hit while striking out eight.

Sebastian Oetterer was the only German pitcher to keep Cuba from scoring, tossing two hitless innings to end the ballgame. Germany's pitchers walked a total of 11 Cuban hitters in the game.

The setback was tough for a German team that had earned its first victory a day earlier against the Czech Republic. Germany will end the group stage of play with a Monday night game against defending the U-23 World Champions, Mexico. Cuba heads into Monday's matchup with the Czech Republic as winners of two straight.

(Photo: WBSC)