Colombia vs. Cuba Highlights ⚾️ World Baseball Classic on FOX

No sleep till Miami. It's day number three of pool A play here on Bithornne Stadium in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. And if you blink the first two days, you have missed a lot. And it looks like this. Michael Aoyo at the Mariners prospect in the top spot as the leadoff man and the designated hitter. >> Looks like this for Hermon Mesa and Cuba today. Coming off a 3-1 win on Friday afternoon in which their offense and their pitching staff are just very complete. knowing that with a loss, Columbia's dream of the quarterfinal round is gone as a foul pop out is out number one. >> But just those key moments so big runner off of the pitch, throw down to second base by Hernandez escapes into center field. The Royals to his feet and he's going to take third as well. Stolen base and the error and with one away, Columbia's got a man one station down the line. You see the athleticism and the speed, but you can see, look, Danny Londo, who's trying to get in a rhythm. I know he just got that first out, but sometimes you fall asleep with the runner over at first base where you just have that same leg kick, that same timings based on getting your best opportunity. Another walk here in the first inning for Cuba starter Danny Leondo. This is a young guy being trust classic, but starting as the cleanup hitter at first base today. and he lifts one in the air. Well struck to center. Roel Santos curling back in from in front of the warning track, tagging at third. A Royo will score. A sacrifice fly for Diaz and Colombia is on the board with its first lead of the 2026 Classic. It's one- nothing. Big pitch coming up right here for Laurando. 3-2 runner off. Ball four. Third walk of the inning for the 24 year old. a guy who has played on the biggest stages in the international game and was really part of that golden era of Cuban baseball. Fly ball out to left. Wind working on this one. Moas in. Aruba out and it is the shortstop to make the grab and wrap up days to open and to close their pool. Hey, as you cop Martinez highf fly ball deep right CAMPERO BACK WARNING TRACK WALL 31 CUBA IN the first Mario Martinez was just hunting. >> Martino had as much prospect helium as anybody in baseball and just has not been able to reach that ceiling and obviously the injuries were a big part of that but against and this is something we talked about with Cuba such a veteran lineup. These guys don't put together cheap at bats. >> Yeah. And again too man you get that 2-1 and you just completely pigeon hole him into something up in the strike zone. We have seen him once already here over the first couple days. The spine in the air should be playable. Foul ground for Urella. And that is the first out of the first and has played a pretty key role here the first couple days. Now Isabel Roena down the LEFT FIELD LINE OBLITERATES A SOLO SHOT AND IT'S FOUR TO ONE IN THE FIRST INNING. And Tyler, why not, right? Coming out swinging that first pitch. You've been the on deck surface ON THE TOP OF THAT DUGOUT WATCHING doing your Colombia and maybe best case on the other side for Cuba. Aribbel Arua Barwina a solo blast to end the day for Luis Patinho and it's a 41 game in the bottom of the first. So the first man to face the new arm of the game for Colombia is Omar Hernandez who skies one out to right. Gustavo Campo will put it away. One down. David Lordwi is the new arm. the Cincinnati Reds prospect who made a couple of Columbia used eight relievers yesterday, seven on Friday and a fly ball off the bat of Yowki Skair who belted a homer in his team's first game. This one will settle into Harold Ramirez's glove and send us to the second. >> Again, nothing's done just yet in regards to elimination. But three-run lead, you can take a breath. Everything just looks way more sharp. He's got that good rhythm to him. He looks good. The other thing too, just from the age perspective for him, if you're a guy when you don't have some of the firepower in the middle innings or or or the back end of that bullpen, he's not that three to four guys. >> Arondo deals the 2-2 and Royo in the air to center. Ourel Santos drifting back is there and that'll do it for Colombia in the second. We go to the bottom of two. It's 4 to1 Cuba. Jesus plus Manet the pitching coach for Cuba. You saw there a second ago in the dugout. He's sort of a reserve pitching coach as a pop out there by Malas for out number one of this team that excites you the most. And he said the unity >> and the reason as Cape goes down swinging that that felt like such a big comment is that that was the thing that we felt Cuba did. 38 years old but he's known for that speed. Slaps the ball around the place. And a one, two, three inning for David Looey. Five up, five down for him. We'll go two. The top of the third and a four to one from the Jay's right-hander. And Harold Ramirez puts a charge into one to left center field, but a great read off the bat by Roel Santos. One away. >> Some memories for me. Child's play, right? Is that what? That's right. >> Horrifying. 3-2 swing and a miss. Solano is strikeout number one for Y Rodriguez and out number two in the third. Well, one thing we've seen the last couple of years, he throws 182 last year against that split, 134 against that slider that we just saw right there in January of last year with the Orics Buffaloos. 50 games up at the Pacific League level. 228 hitter with a 597 OPS trying to find his footing over there. And Diaz finding his footing here as he laces one into center for the first hit of the day for Colombia. And it comes with two outs in third. So, Sonora, Mexico back in 2021. Gioella in the air to right. Gear no trouble. Inning over. Two out single left aboard. We go to the bottom of three. Cuba's out in front. Four to one. There is no event that makes you feel more like you are experiencing this game in virtual reality like the World Baseball Classic does. As the leadoff man Yuan Mana fouls out to start the thirds in his career. How do I get to a place in my career where I can wear that Puerto Rican jersey? It was a late ad. Yep, I would say probably. So, Alfredo Despier on a bouncer out to second. 463 double play. Inning over. One out hit batsman is erased. Seven years that the Emperor has attended a baseball game. And he was there today. I was texting with Steven Nelson and asking him what it was like. He said, "Well, they were in the booth above us, so we couldn't see them." >> Just levitating out there, wasn't it? >> Strike out there of Comparero. Polo back in and waiting and goes down swinging for the third strike out and five outs recorded now by Rodriguez. >> Yeah. Says around 40% of that slaughter. Different arm angles, different looks to perfection. Look at this split. There's nothing you can do with that pitch underneath the hands if you're a right-handed hitter. Ryan, you mentioned the guys missing for Puerto Rico. >> Celebrations. He was in a press conference yesterday the other day. >> He caught the first pitch yesterday as well. >> Bouncing ball out to short. Nice job on the run, Aoya Barwina. And the inning is over. Terrific work from Yariel Rodriguez. Three up, three down for Colombia in the fourth. As the new arm into the game for Colombia, Emerson Martinez works here with a two- two count. He freezes Aua Barena for the second strike out of the day for Columbia's pitching staff. All of a sudden, all right, this is an absolute boat race, but still three-run deficit. Ground ball back up the middle is a base hit for Omar Hernandez who's firing up his dugout as he trots up the first baseline and it's breaking ball middle of the plate stays up the middle right on Q as I was saying that the Cuban hitters are >> exclusively in the Venezuelan Winter League in each of the last three years and a ground ball shot right past him again this time Gear singles backto-back knocks almost carbon copies of each other and it's first and second with one out organization he played seven seasons in the minor leagues from 2013 13 to 2019 and a ground ball left side. 64 late throw. A little bit of a fumble out of the hand for Solano. So Moas beats it out at first. Nandez to third. Almost getting down that line quick. Martinez is not really overpowering stuff, but stays in the he bounces one left side. Orella is there to put him away and that will send us to the top of the fifth. All the offense coming in the first and Cuba's got a four to one lead and a blooper into right. He's got a knock. First hit of the World Baseball Classic for Frius and a leadoff base runner for the first time since the first inning for Columbia. It's a big spot for them right now and he bounces one out to second. Yiddi Cape to the bag. Arua Varane first double play, two gone. Frias takes third. Well, here you are in the fifth then you got two runners on, none out. The heart of your lineup coming up. You talk about some of the mental gymnastics that go on when all of a sudden you're like, "Oh, hey man, if we have a big inning, we get within a run. What do I do with this bullpen >> in seconds later >> and he's on with his second walk of the day here in the fifth." >> So, the tying run back again in the person of Jordan Diaz who got his first hit of the World Baseball Classic and of his WBC career in the third. Colombia desperately in need of a key hit in a big spot to produce some runs. 02 and it's not coming here from Diaz who has gone on strike. Great job by Santos to work back and get out of the jam with a double play in the Cuba going to work against Emerson Martinez and Santos fly ball center. Tito Polo out there to retire his center field counterpart. One away. as it's Colombia against Panama in the final game or in the early game rather on Monday >> as they called strike three on there's a lot of other countries that are starting to get their best players to come to these qualifiers to get back to the World Baseball Classic. It gets tougher and tougher to keep trying to qualify every single time. >> Ariel Martinez out to short and that'll do it. Three up, three down goes Cuba in the fifth headed to the sixth. They've got a three-run lead. A little more relaxed day. That's got to be kind of nice for fans here in San Juan. Like your heart rate has been absurdly high for the last two. At least today you can breathe. Your team is off. That's sort of nice. Lead off walk for Gio Or here in the sixth. That'll bring up Gustavo Compro game tonight will feature Canada. Another studying change up and keeps that really good arm speed. Capro shot to right center field. This is going to touch down into the alleyway and it'll get all the way to the wall. Rounding third, Gio Arella will be held there, but the double puts two in scoring position. And can Colia finally capitalize? Saw me make the pitching change because Santos had was on that short leash, didn't have the command. He got bowed out by a ground ball double play last inning. Now all of a sudden Cuba, excuse me, Colombia are threatening again. >> Tito Polo trying to change that here in a three-run game. And he swings and flares one right field and it'll hang up long enough for Gear to get to it. Tagging at third. Here comes Roella. THROW TO THE PLATE OFF target and he's in sliding safely. The sacrifice fly gets Colombia one closer. It's four to two in the sixth. >> Making something happen. shooting that ball into right field deep enough. Just deep enough. Throws a little bit off line. Talk about his demeanor on the mound, the characteristics, the pitch mix. Obviously, that is a extremely high comparison. Maybe stuff-wise nobody's going to match that. The 2-1 Martinez another grounder to short Barena two gone. It does move to third and for free. You're going to get pitches to hit. You got Michael Roy on deck and all of a sudden you're in that 02 count. 02 from Nunes. Cold strike three. Monster strikeout for the lefty and Colombia gets >> really on either side offensively >> but especially for Cuba. >> There's Colombian pitching staff. Now we talk about how limited they've been or had to be cuz some of their bigger name starting pitches. There he goes. >> There he is. >> Despic. >> Yeah. You feel like with him, he tries to get that a swing off and very little deep in the count. He does this right here. Stays right through it and just shoots that ball into that right center gap. A >> fascinating baseball life Alfredo Despa has led world quite literally. He is now back in the Cuban National Series. He will depart this game for a pinch runner as he'll give way to Yankee. W first. >> Oh, one good bunt down over to third base. So, Shella gets to it and he'll make the throw in time. That's the type of bunt, Ryan, we talked early on in this week with Arman Mesa about same spot. They got Donovan Solano station basically right behind the second base bag. Couple of steps to that first base side as a laser beam out to left and that finds Harold Ramirez. Two gone. Hernandez retired for five so far in the classic for the young left fielder. Not super young anymore. Coming up on his 30th birthday. Zabaleta trying to work out of this and may have just done it. Fly ball in the air to center. THE WIND PLANE TRICKS IT. AND IT KICKS OFF THE GLOVE OF POLO. ROUNDING THIRD HELD THERE IS GEAR, BUT YANKEE SCORES AND ANOTHER CRUCIAL MISCUE IN THE FIELD COSTS COLOMBIA a run in the sixth. Missed opportunities offensively trying to keep this game tie within just a couple of runs. Man, for Polo who again was a late ad to this roster. They they told him when he was out, look, hey, just come, you have fun. You probably come off the bench. He's getting a chance to play every day. Couple big hits again. And it's blowing not directly in from where he is. Is off from first. A stolen base easily for Moas. So two. It has just been a worst case scenario. Murphy's Law kind of first three games for Colombia here in San Juan. 02 pitch. Pap to left field. RAMIREZ IN. AND NOW IT'S BACK AND OVER HIS HEAD. TWO MORE ARE HOME FOR CUBA. DEFENSE HAUNTING COLOMBIA IN THE SIXTH AS THEY TRAIL THIS ONE NOW 7-2. You have to throw strikes and you simply have to play defense and make the routine plays. Again, you talk about that win. We saw Ramirez getting tied up on a ball from hit by Tyler O'Neal. Look, we know the struggles he's had at a high level in regards to defense, but man, that's rough. You got to make these plays. >> Santos goes down swinging and that'll wrap things up, but three home in the inning and Cuba is out in front by five. >> Oldest Chapman Bouncing ball back up the middle. Michael Aoyo is on for the third time today. His first hit of the day to go along with two walks looking to spark his team from the leadoff spot in the seventh. Baria Montteria a little bit further inland. Ramirez grounder left side. Aro Barwena still plays a really nice short and a great play for the first out of the seventh. Good throw too. Off balance charging in front on Diaz and he is gone swinging first base side of the rubber and a bouncing ball back up the middle ringing to his right. It's off the glove of Cape rounding third. A Royo is going to score. Colombia gets one back. 73 now. >> Came off empty. Finally getting on the board and getting that RBI and contributing. Now it's on a sack fly and he takes it off the arm to drive in a run and Colombia inching closer. It's now seven to four. And here comes the go-ahead run potentially in the person of Carlos Martinez. And it looks like that will be the end of the day for a Manuel Chapman. Behind back to the mound. Romero is there to knock it down and that will snuff out the Columbia Rally in the seventh. But today's visitors continuing to fight >> to left field. That's a good sign if you're an Angels fan. >> This one's into the wind. Twisting sky high and dicey, but Dian Frio, nice job. >> He takes a called strike three here for the second out last season. Yankee off from first. Throw down to second by Vehen is not going to get him. The hand slipped off the bag though and the tag will get him and that will end things in the seventh. The caught stealing sends us to the eighth. Cuba >> I've had to deal with that with team Australia getting things started on the right note here in the eighth though. The nine-hole hitter Diane Frius who has had a terrific day is now two for three with a walk. helps. I know for when you talking to for a strayer and some of these a royal lift is now all the way to the track. Giver that just kept carrying on him and a great job to stick >> which was great as Ramirez has another hit. Harold Ramirez the hit machine in this classic for Columbia has his sixth knock in three games and it's first and third and the tying run will bat with one out here in the top of the eighth. >> Noted it earlier. He said it's probably a situation where you're going into the batters box, you're thinking about the misplay that you just had in the outfield. Set and deals the 1-1 and Solano on the ground to second and the double play will kill yet another Colombian attempt at a rallying Cuba and trying to hold the line at a three-run deficit as the first pitch of the bottom of the eighth inning has bounced right back to the new reliever into the game for Colombia, Elkala, and he's got the first out. on the rest of that pitching staff having to cover nine innings and then you have Luis Patini only got a third of an inning. So you deal with that, you deal with the defense and this bear two3 cross the diamond and inning over adamant that his runner beat that throw. We'll get a look at it. >> And yeah, that's >> Wow, >> that's a great challenge by Cuba. And Gar is going to >> That's a quick review. >> He turned it over. >> That's a great challenge Mesa >> because swinging a drive left field. Maybe a game-breaking BLAST. NO, IT'S OFF THE BASE OF THE WALL. Streaking into third. Gear will hold there. A two out double for Moas. And here comes Cuba trying to take advantage of yet another miscue in the field for Columbia. >> Defense, man. The miscues we have talked about all game long get so magnified. All of a sudden you got two outs. You're trying to get your team have that quick inning. Get your team back in offensive >> and a swing and a miss as Alcala buckles down and bails out. Another miscue by his defense. We will go to the ninth. Col two cold strike three plus this ball tagged well to right field back on it Gear at the warning track puts it away. Diaz will retreat to first and Colombia is down to its final out. One two on the way. There it is. CUBA IS 2 AND 0 with a 74 win over Colombia on a Sunday afternoon in San Juan.

Check out the best moments of Pool A Group play of the World Baseball Classic between Colombia and Cuba! #FOXSports #wbc #cuba #colombia About FOX Sports: With exclusive highlights, original programming, and behind the scenes footage, FOX Sports' YouTube channel provides the sports content that fans are hungry for. FOX Sports coverage includes: College Basketball, College Football, MLB, NASCAR, NFL, Soccer, and the FIFA World Cup. www.youtube.com/@foxsports