The following is a list of
professionalbaseball match results currently active in the latest version of the
WBSC World Rankings, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.[4]
This was the second time Cuba competed at the
2009 WBC Pool B stage, at
Foro Sol in
Mexico City. Cuba continued to advance to the second round with wins over
South Africa and
Australia. Cuba lost to
Japan twice in the 2nd round, and were eliminated.
They last were eliminated before the start of the final stage of any international tournament in 1951.[citation needed]
2013 WBC
This was the third time Cuba competed at the
2013 WBC Pool A stage, in the
Fukuoka Dome in
Fukuoka, Japan. Cuba advanced in the tournament against:
China,
Japan, and newcomers
Brazil. Cuba moved on to the second round in
Pool 1 to defeat the
Netherlands, losing 6–2. Cuba defeated
Chinese Taipei, 14–0. They played a face off game with previous competitors, the Netherlands, and lost 7–6. Just as in 2009, Cuba was eliminated in the path to competing in the finals.
The team had a 2–1 record in the first round.[6][7] It was led by slugger Despaigne, who took over as the all-time WBC home-run leader.[3]
Cuba advanced into the second round, where it lost its first game to undefeated Pool A winner
Team Israel.[6][8][9][10] Former Major League starting pitcher
Jason Marquis (in 5.2 innings) and three Team Israel relief pitchers (including
Brad Goldberg and
Josh Zeid, who both threw 96
mphfastballs) kept Cuba to five hits and one run, a homer by Despaigne, who became the all-time World Baseball Classic home run leader.[11][12][13] Pool A MVP catcher
Ryan Lavarnway had two hits for Israel.[11] Cuba went on to lose all 3 games they played and failed to advance to the championship round.
Olympics
Cuba has been the most successful national team at the Olympics bringing home three gold medals and two silver medals. They have the distinction of being one of two nations to compete in the first five baseball contests at the
Summer Olympic Games since it has been an event that started at the
Olympic.