Cuba surges to second place in Gold Medals at the 2011 Pan American Games

Cuba, a small country with barely 12 million inhabitants, is now in second place in Gold Medals (52) at the 2011 Pan American Games. USA is in first place (86), but that country has 300 million inhabitants. In Cuba, all citizens can participate in sports activities, thanks to the Socialist nature of its government. In the USA, with its greedy Capitalist system, you have to have have a rich uncle to be able to participate in sports.

28 titles are being disputed on the penultimate day of competition, according to Prensa Latina.

Cuba Wins Five Gold Medals in Boxing at the 2011 Pan American Games

Roniel Iglesias (azul) ganó la semifinal del boxeo en los 64 kg de los Panamericanos de Guadalajara Foto: Ismael Francisco

CubaDebate Article

Today, Cuba has risen to third place in total medals (77) at the 2011 Pan American Games.

Cuba consoles itself with a bronze medal as it defeats Mexico 6-0

Well, at least Cuba got a bronze medal at the 2011 Pan American Games.

This time the Cuban batters came alive with home runs by Alfredo Despaigne, Jose Dariel Abreu and Yulieski Gourriel which secured their victory.

Canada defeated USA for the Gold Medal by 2-1.

BOXSCORE

USA defeats Cuba 12-10 in semifinals at the 2011 Pan American Games

Things didn't go well for Urquiola
Photo: Ismael Francisco, PL
This was a disaster game for Cuba. Yadier Pedroso, the best pitcher that Cuba has right now, should have been the starting pitcher.

Once the score was 7-0 in favor of the United States, I knew that it was going to be very difficult to win that game. Cuban pitching was very weak, and the mighty Yankees prevailed at the end.

Cuba now will have to wait until the 2013 World Baseball Classic to try to avenge this sad loss in international competition.

Cuba will play today for the bronze medal at 3:00 p.m, and the USA will play Canada for the gold medal at 8:00 p.m.

BOXSCORE

Update: Cuba won the Bronze Medal and Canada captured the Gold Crown.

Oh! Oh! USA scores five runs in the second inning

Errors continue to bedevil Team Cuba. USA has scored five runs in the top of the second inning and things do not look good right now for the criollos.

We will bring you details as they happen.

Cuban pitching is not performing well. They have used three pitchers in three innings.

Cuba is also not hitting. This is a formula for disaster. Only a miracle will save Cuba, and I do not believe in them.

Two more runs for USA. Cuba has a big zero and the Americans have seven runs now.

Get out your rabbit's foot.

My Adobe flash plug-in is crashing every ten minutes.

4:27 p.m. Three complete innings have been played. USA 7, Cuba 2.

The audio from es.justin.tv is extremely poor.

USA has scored two more runs. Cuba's fourth pitcher commits a wild pitch. This game does not look winnable for Cuba.

Cuba brings in its fifth pitcher. USA 11, Cuba 2. Things don't look good right now. USA gets ready to K.O. Cuba.

USA scores one more run. USA 12, Cuba 2.

Rudy Reyes, home run with one on base. USA 12, Cuba 4. End of four complete innings.

5:37 p.m. USA 12, Cuba 5.

5:53 p.m. After six complete innings, Cuba leaves the bases loaded. USA 12, Cuba 6.

6:11 p.m. USA 12, Cuba 7. (End of 7th inning. Cuba is the home team)

CUBA SCORES TWO MORE RUNS: USA 12, Cuba 9.

CUBA SCORES ONE MORE RUN: USA 12, Cuba 10.

Final Score: USA 12, Cuba 10.

Cuba will have a chance to fight for a bronze medal tomorrow.

TODAY AT 3:00 P.M. Cuba vs USA at the 2011 Pan American Games

Many, many, thanks to my friends at BaseballdeCuba.com for letting me "borrow" their graphic. I hope that all the Cuba Journal readers will visit them often. THEY DO A GREAT JOB!

Team Cuba at the 2011 Pan American Games

* Jose Abreu
* Yosvany Alarcon
* Freddy Alvarez
* Barbaro Arruebarruena
* Alexis Bell
* Rusney Castillo
* Frederich Cepeda
* Alfredo Despaigne
* Giorvis Duvergel
* Michel Enriquez
* Miguel Gonzalez
* Norberto Gonzalez
* Yulieski Gonzalez
* Yulieski Gourriel
* Dalier Hinojosa
* Miguel Lahera
* Jonder Martinez
* Frank Morejon
* Vicyohandry Odelin
* Hector Olivera
* Yadier Pedroso
* Ariel Pestano
* Rudy Reyes
* Alberto Soto

Cuba Defeats Puerto Rico 8-7 in ten innings

Team Cuba
Cuba prevailed against Puerto Rico in the bottom of the 10th inning with a key hit by Jose Dariel Abreu which brought home the winning run.

Cuba will rest the next two days and will play in the semifinals against either Mexico or the Dominican Republic.

BOXSCORE

Juventud Rebelde: Cuba vence 8-7 a Puerto Rico con un final polémico en el béisbol panamericano

After three innings, Cuba 5, Puerto Rico 1

More later...

4:56 p.m. Cuba 5, Puerto Rico 2, Top of the fifth inning.

4:59 p.m. Cuba 5, Puerto Rico 5, Top of the fifth inning.
GAME TIED.

I have to go. RESULTS TOMORROW.

Cuba defeats Canada 9-5 in the second game at the 2011 Pan American Games

Jose Dariel Abreu is congratulated by his teamates
Photo: AP
Based on the stellar performance of Jose Dariel Abreu, who had four RBI's with his Grand Salami in the third inning, and the magnificent explosion of 18 hits from Team Cuba, the Caribbean nation easily defeated the nine-squad from Canada by the score of 9-5.

Frederich Cepeda and Alfredo Despaigne also connected home-runs.

This was a dangerous game for Cuba. Canada always fights very hard, but this time they fell short.

Cuba has qualified for the baseball semifinals of the Pan American Games. But first it has to play Puerto Rico at 14:00 today. Los Portorros have two loses and no wins in Group B. Cuba must not become overconfident in this game.

BOXSCORE

Juventud Rebelde: Cuba derrotó 9-5 a Canadá en el béisbol panamericano

Cuba conquers U.S. in tense volleyball semi-final

Thu Oct 20, 2011 12:11am EDT

By Rex Gowar

GUADALAJARA (Reuters) - Cuba's volleyball women beat arch-rivals the United States 3-1 in a highly charged semi-final at the Pan-American Games Wednesday to keep their title defense on track.

The holders will meet Olympic champions Brazil, whom they upset in the previous final at the 2007 Rio de Janeiro Games and who eased into Thursday's final beating the Dominican Republic 3-0 in the second semi-final.

The Americans had looked destined to go down quickly after losing the opening two sets 25-17 and 25-16 but hit back to take the third 27-25 before Cuba wrapped up the fourth 25-21.

"I think we played a good game today and established a difference from the beginning," said Cuba captain Yusidey Silie, whose team rocked their opponents with some fierce serving.

The majority of the crowd that packed the arena were rooting for the Cubans in a Mexican show of Latin solidarity, but U.S. captain Cynthia Barboza shrugged off the partisan support.

"I think the fans here are great, they bring a lot of energy," she said. "They haven't really been cheering for us all tournament," she added with a laugh. "But we love playing here."

Volleyball clashes between the U.S. and Cuba now rival baseball as an arena for the two nations' intense rivalry.

Cuba, coached by Juan Carlos Gala, blasted a number of aces and their aggressive serving was a constant edge.

"Cuba put a lot of pressure on us with their serves, a lot of heat. I think in the third set we adjusted well," U.S. coach John Banachowski said.

"I'm proud of the way our team fought today, especially in the third and fourth sets ... now we're going to refocus and set our sights on winning the bronze tomorrow," added Barboza of the playoff with the Dominican Republic.

Cuba will look to retain their title with a raw squad including five 19-year-olds, among them the powerful Gyselle Silva, one of several players on the team with a strong and accurate spike.

(Editing by Ian Ransom)

Cuba defeats Venezuela 5-4, but has to sweat it out at the end.

Photo: Cubadebate
This was a tough and ugly game for the criollos, but at the end they prevailed 5-4.

Cuba scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning, and would add another three runs on their sixth inning. The score Cuba 4, Venezuela 0. The criollos probably thought that it was going to be an easy game.

Then came the unlucky seventh inning for Cuba. They committed a monumental error. Their opponents took advantage of it (the Cuban defenses faltered and its relief pitching collapsed), and mounted a four run rally. Tied game. Cuba 4, Venezuela 4.

Alberto Soto pitched one good inning of relief on the eighth and on the ninth Cuba brought in their ace reliever, Yadier Pedroso. He allowed one hit and gave one free pass.

The Cubans were able to hold the Venezuelans and win the game.

Cuba will play Canada tonight at 19:00.

Boxscore

Cubadebate: Cuba debutó con triunfo en el béisbol panamericano

Juventud Rebelde: Cuba vence con susto a Venezuela en el béisbol panamericano

Cuba scores early

Watch live video from beisbolcubano on es.justin.tv

3:46 p.m. Cuba 1, Venezuela 0 - Bottom of the first inning.

4:44 p.m. Score still the same. Bottom of the fifth. Cuba at bat.

5:10 p.m. Lost the streaming video signal.

5:19 p.m. Cuba is ahead 4-0 on the bottom of the six inning.

5:41 p.m. Cuba 4, Venezuela 2.

5:43 p.m. Cuba 4, Venezuela 4. Cuba committed a costly error at the beginning of the seventh inning.

5:54 p.m. After seven complete innings: Cuba 4, Venezuela 4.

6:15 p.m. Cuba 5, Venezuela 4. Bottom of the 8th inning.

CUBA WINS THE GAME 5-4.

Today at 3:00 P.M. Cuba vs Venezuela at the Pan American Games

Click here to see it at es.justin.tv via BaseballdeCuba.com.

Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez is scheduled to pitch for Cuba.

Baseball at the 2011 Pan American Games

Click here to go to the Wikepedia Page.

There will be two groups of nations competing at the 2011 Pan Am Games.

Group A: Mexico, Panama, United States and the Dominican Republic.

Group B: Puerto Rico, Cuba, Canada and Venezuela.

Cuba's first game will be on October 19 at 14:00 against Venezuela.