1-0 win over Cuba puts PR on brink of U-18 World Cup Super Round

By THE STAR STAFF

Puerto Rico pitchers Ethan de Jesús and Pablo Figueroa combined on a crucial 1-0 shutout victory over Cuba on Monday at the World Baseball Softball Confederation U-18 Baseball World Cup in a game held at Nishizaki Stadium in Okinawa, Japan.

It was the third consecutive win for the Boricuas, who now hold a 3-1 record and sit in second place in Group A. With the win, Puerto Rico stood on the verge of qualifying for the tournament’s Super Round, which brings together the top six teams.

“We knew it was going to be a tight game -- either team could’ve taken it,” Team Puerto Rico manager Eddie González said. “Thanks to our two pitchers, who came out throwing strikes just as we asked. The plan was to use two pitchers, and it worked perfectly. We’ll stick to the same plan, with the same goal.”

De Jesús pitched the first four innings, striking out five, allowing just two hits and one walk. Figueroa then closed out the game without giving up a hit in three innings of work, adding three strikeouts of his own.

The game’s only run came in the fourth inning. JC Pacheco led off with a walk, followed by a strikeout by Javeth Carrión for the first out. Jorhan Castro reached on a fielder’s choice, forcing out Pacheco at second. With two outs, Sebastián Rolón was hit by a pitch, setting the stage for Emanuel Hernández’s single to center field, which drove in Castro from second.

For Cuba, Marlon García pitched a complete game and took the loss, with only two hits recorded by each team.

The Cubans threatened in the sixth and seventh innings with runners on third base but failed to score. The game ended dramatically with a runner on third as Frederich Cepeda hit a tricky two-out grounder to shortstop Rolón, who gained control of the ball and threw sharply to first for the final out. Cuba challenged the play, but after several minutes, the call was confirmed.

Puerto Rico’s next game was scheduled for today at 5:30 a.m. (Puerto Rico time) against host Japan at Okinawa Cellular Stadium.