The Cuban national team achieved its first victory against its counterpart from Nicaragua in the top of preparation that both teams maintain for the VI World Baseball Classic (WBC).
The second of the four agreed matches, played this Sunday in the city of León, served the Cuban team to take advantage in the series against the hosts, then of the tie in the initial pulse.
After that first meeting, which ended with a hug at 2 on the board, the actions resumed this Sunday on the stadium diamond Rigoberto López Pérezwhere those led by German Mesa emerged victorious with a score of 3-1.
#Baseball/#Cuba beat 3×1 #Nicaragua in the second game of their friendly series.
In the city of León, as part of the preparation for the VI World Classic.
IAS 1 10 1
CUB 3 4 1
The next meeting will be on Wednesday. #CubanBaseball #CubanSport #elCubaClasico pic.twitter.com/7QvJHap6GJ— JIT Cuban Sport (@jit_digital) February 22, 2026
To a large extent, the success rested on the excellent mountain work of the staff Cuban, led by the opener southpaw Darío Sarduy, who dominatedor during four innings of action.
After the good presentation of the young man from Villa Clara, four other pitchers paraded down the mound, but the victory belonged to Randy Cueto, after his impeccable performance in two capítulos, according to the review Cuban News Agency (ACN).
On the other side there was also success in choice of the pitchers, since Ronald Medrano and Dilmer Mejías kept Cuba scoreless until the gamenth entry. However, in that inning the tie was broken when they combined a walk, a simple by Christian Rodríguez and a mistake, which led to the first score of the clash against the loser Rodney Teophile.
The race that in the end it turned out decideIt would come in the seventh inning, when Ariel Martinez you He hit a full return hit to reliever Osmán Gutiérrez.
#Baseball/First baseman Ariel Martinez hit a home run in the game won today by #Cuba to #Nicaragua (3×1) as part of a friendly series heading to the VI World Classic.
The first left a 2×2 tie.#CubanBaseball #elCubaClasico pic.twitter.com/I365yTFsvq— JIT Cuban Sport (@jit_digital) February 23, 2026
One entry later a ticket with all bases occupied, awarded by Starling Orozco, allowed the Cubans to increase the advantage that was made up in the closing, when the locals avoidon the grout with a Chase Dawson’s RBI shot against closer Armando Dueñas’ pitches.
Satisfied helmsman
Once the match was over, manager German Mesa was pleased with the result and had words of praise directed mainly at the pitchers who participated in the match.
“Each one came to perform and fulfill their role, with the starter trying to advance as much as possible, and then the relays with specific functions, some in two innings and others in just one,” declared the strategist, quoted by the sports portal Hit.
He called the attention that the team was successful with only four hits connected, but above all the two mistakes committed on defense, and which usually cost dearly when playing at the highest level.
Box score of the match won today by #Cuba in view of #Nicaragua.
Second of the four agreed upon as part of their friendly series heading to the VI World Classic of #Baseball #elCubaClasico pic.twitter.com/rKXtruNY7W— Cuban Baseball and Softball Federation (@CubanaBeisbol) February 23, 2026
The third clash in the series preparation It will be held next Wednesday at the Yamil Ríos Ugarte Stadium, in the city of Rivas, and the Cuban helmsman confirmedor the choice of the left-handed man from Matanzas Yoennis Yera as opener.
Cuba will begin its time in the WBC at the beginning of March in the city of San Juan, Puerto Rico, where it will animate group A along with the host cast and those from Panama, Colombia and Canada.
Nicaragua, for its part, was placed in key D, based in the American city of Miami, where Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Israel and the Netherlands will also play.
