The incidents occurred during the 64th National Baseball Series, in games held in the Villa Clara and Las Tunas stadiums.
LIMA, Peru – Two Cuban baseball players and the same number of coaches were sanctioned by the National Baseball Commission due to incidents that occurred during the 64th National Baseball Series (SNB), particularly in recent games held in the Villa Clara and Las Tunas stadiums.
The official report, cited by state media Cubadebatebases the measures announced in Article 20, subsection c) of the Disciplinary Regulations for the Competitive Baseball System.
The National Baseball Commissioner reported the five-game suspension of pitcher Yoelkis Cruz Fuentes, of the Las Tunas team, “for unsportsmanlike conduct in game number 191 against Mayabeque, played at the Julio Antonio Mella stadium.”
After allowing a home run to Denis Laza, Cruz Fuentes hit three consecutive batters with balls, including Laza again, an action that led to his expulsion by main umpire Henry Cisneros.
Likewise, in the same game, the other player sanctioned was Dismel Hurtado Machado, from Las Tuscany, who was sentenced to a five-game suspension after making an obscene gesture towards the public after hitting a hit.
Hurtado grabbed his genitals in front of the fans and verbally offended them, the report indicates as the reason for the punishment.
Among the sanctioned coaches was Mayabeque’s coach, Rigoberto Hernández Cuoto, who will be suspended for five games after his expulsion for insulting the main referee. The altercation occurred after a call at first base in the aforementioned game.
According to the report, Hernández uttered offensive words after a half swing called a strike, which caused his immediate expulsion.
Finally, the coach First baseman of the Granma team, Jorge Miranda Jiménez, was sanctioned with a 10-game suspension after being involved in an altercation during game number 213, held at the Augusto César Sandino stadium in Villa Clara.
In an appraisal play at third base, the umpire declared a runner on his team out, a decision that Miranda angrily protested. The coach moved from his position to the vicinity of home plate to rebuke referee Gualberto Luna Fusté, and was later expelled.
According to the report, after the expulsion the coach had to be restrained by his teammates due to his aggressive attitude and for having verbally insulted the official.
The National Commissioner highlighted in the official note that the sanctions seek to preserve ethics and good behavior on the field of play, ratifying the importance of adherence to discipline, respect and sportsmanship within Cuban baseball.
