Three games, three losses. That has been the performance of Villa Clara in the Caribbean Series. The Cuban champion honestly has not found the way to break the shell of the rest of the region’s kings. The Villa Clara Azucareros has just succumbed in its latest match against the Licey Tigers from the Dominican Republic. Impotence has prevailed on Cuban players, who have been clearly surpassed in all the game aspects during the three games, seeing themselves with no chance on the field when facing their rival’s impetuosity . This time, the Licey Tigers did not have any trouble to beat 9-2 Ramón More’s pupils.
Villa Clara´s starter was the lefty Yasmani Hernández Romero, who since the beginning showed lack of control and a total absence in command of his pitches plus an easy-to-hit fastball; he could not exceed a third of inning. The Dominicans took advantage of this and managed to score runs in the four first innings to put the game clearly in their favor very early. It is worth noting their timely offense led by Ronny Paulino, Francisco Peguero and Hector Gomez.
Cuban bats remained unproductive and were completely neutralized by American John Leicester, who left Villa Clara’s artillery scoreless during seven consecutive innings. Even Moré´s abrupt changes looking for more offensive power were in vain. Neither Andy Zamora nor Edilse Silva could contribute anything to the cause of the Azucareros, only a voracious Ramón Lunar could highlight at bat.
But perhaps the offensive is not the most worrying of the performance of the Cubans; let us say that none of their pitchers have managed to contain opponents for at least a couple of innings. Each Cuban pitcher that has climbed to the mound of Nueva Esparta stadium, in Margarita Island, has mercilessly received the furious attack of rival bats and this match was not the exception: Hernandez, Jimenez, Martinez, Sanchez and Del Rio, in that order, pitched for the Cubans and none of them could do it properly.
Is there any possibility to advance to the semifinals? There is still one, remote but it exists. Today they should defeat the Mayaguez Indios from Puerto Rico although these should also succumb to the Magallanes Navegantes in the final day of the qualifying stage to Villa Clara to maintain their aspirations to stay alive in the tournament.
So if that possibility was given, the Cuban champions would get their ticket to the semifinals and could again fight for a spot in the final. Venezuelans plays as local, and believe me, they will not give away even a cm of soil in their game. Therefore, what remains is trying to beat Puerto Ricans tomorrow.
Photo: Ricardo López Hevia
