Rosete belts two homers as Cuba tops Botswana. Netherlands outlasts Singapore in four

Roger Rosete blasted two solo home runs today in Havlickuv Brod to lead Cuba to a 6-0 victory over Botswana, in a key match for Group A. Alain Roman and Alberto Hernandez combined for the shutout as Cuba improves to 2-1 in the standings.

Cuba scored in the first two innings of play. In the top of the first, second baseman, Yesander Rodriguez hit an RBI single to right field to give his team the advantage. One inning later Roger Rosete crushed a 1-1 pitch off Botswana starter Kunyalala Samuel for a solo home run.

Botswana had some chances to score in the game but couldn’t get the clutch hit to produce the runs.

In the fourth, the African champions loaded the bases with one out but couldn’t get a run. Jurry Manaka singled up the middle as a pinch hitter for Botswana, Kabo Matlho was hit by a pitch and Tiro Mazulugwa walked, However, Alain Roman got back-to-back Ks to Morulaganyi Moalos and Romeo Tshelametse to escape the jam.

One inning later the African team again put the tying run on base, with a base on balls by Brian Dekoker and a single off the bat of Jurry Manaka to put runners on first and third with two outs. Thabiso Radithobante made good contact to shortstops hands, who gloved and retired easily the third out on second base.

But in the top of the sixth, Rosete hit his second homer of the day, a blast that landed in the right-field bleachers to give his team a 3-run difference.

And in the seventh Cuba got some security runs with a 2-RBI single by Rodriguez and an RBI single by Reinier Vera.

Whit this score, Cuba remains in the hunt for a spot in the playoffs, with a 2-1 record, and tomorrow they will play Mexico, at 10:30, in Svoboda Park. Immediately after this game Botswana -who dropped to 1-2-, will take on the world champions, New Zealand.

Netherlands outlasts Singapore in four

The Netherlands scored multiple runs in his three at-bats to clinch its first win of the event against Singapore in Group B. An 8-run third lifted the European team to a 13-0 victory in four innings of play.

Jeroen Mulder pitched four innings of 2 hits and 1 walk for the shutout, while Jun Tan was charged with the loss in 2 innings of work.

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