Guillermo Garcia's two RBIs drive Cuba to beat Australia

Guillermo Garcia powered the offence, while the pitchers took care of defence for Cuba to beat Australia 3-1 in their last Opening Round game in the IV WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup on Tuesday.

Cuba relied on strong defence, as their three pitchers limited Australia to only four hits. And while there are no Cuban hitters who made more than one hit, designated hitter Garcia came to the rescue with two RBIs to give his team their second win in Group B.

Both teams changed pitches in this game resumption, following postponement due to rain delay last October 14.

Cuba immediately took advantage of a defensive error as designated hitter Garcia singled in the go-ahead run in the bottom of the first off Coen Wynn's pitch.

Cuba's left-hander Naykel Cruz relied heavily on his breaking ball and when he started missing his spots, Australian hitters became more selective. With runners at first and second, third baseman Yuri Fernandez made a great play on a sacrifice bunt attempt to get the force out at third. Cruz loaded the bases on a walk, and Australia scored the tying run as Travis Bazzana grounded out.

Another defensive error gave Cuba a scoring chance in the bottom of the fifth, with first baseman Carlos Revilla making the most with an RBI single off Matthew Hampton. With a runner at third, Australia gave the call to left-hander Blake Townsend to face lefty Garcia, who turned his first and only pitch into a sacrifice fly and the third run.

Reliever Oscar Hernandez left with runners at first and second in the sixth, prompting the team to send Leodan Reyes to the mound. Australia loaded the bases as Bazzana reached on an infield single. Reyes bubbled a comebacker by pinch hitter Tyson Zamora, then fired to first in time for the third out.

Australia were left without any other scoring chances, therefore Cuba closed the game at 3-1.