Mexico beats Cuba in epic finale at Little League World Series

Mexico City. Sport cannot be understood without unexpected endings. Mexico entered the final inning with a three-run deficit against Cuba in the third round of the Minor League Baseball World Series. There was one out left to end the game. Suddenly, closer Denis Zamora sent a fastball over the infield and Antonio Guerrero, with two teammates on base, tied the score by hitting a home run over left field. The reaction at the Voluntarios stadium, decorated with tricolor flags and unabashedly crazed fans, was surprising. In the next turn at bat, with one bag full, catcher Ulises Ortiz hit another home run for the 6-4 victory.

“It was ‘make history or be history’. And we never gave up,” Ortiz said afterwards, smiling and proud of the elimination of the Santa Clara Bombers. “Now we are going against Venezuela and we are going to give it our all.”

Cuba had the fate of the Tamaulipas team in its hands. In four and two-thirds innings, pitcher Deivy Hernandez allowed only one run and struck out five batters. All that remained was to crown his work with a clean finish.

If there are any baseball games that stay in your memory, this one was full of meaning. It was one of those afternoons in which the young Mexican baseball players revived glorious images of the Major Leagues. Everything began with the last out, that thin line between continuing and being eliminated from the tournament. Their next opponent on Wednesday will be Venezuela.