Unheard-of Call in Cuban Baseball Game Raises Controversy

For such a poor country…Cuba certainly has a lot of Meals.

Sancti Spiritus Roosters defeated national Cuban champions Habana Cowboys 4-2 in a marathon game that lasted 16 innings, signed by an unheard-of call that could change the basis of umpires work in Cuban baseball.

On the 16th inning, Roosters third baseman Yulieski Gourriel hit a hard drive line over the pitcher’s mound that none of the umpires could quite see.

The ball hit the mound and altered its course towards the Cowboys second baseman, Dayan Garcia who caught it without letting touch the ground, and threw it to first, making an error. Gourriel continued to second base, and then catcher Guerrero made just another throwing error and the runner reached the third base.

After the play was over, Cowboys and national team manager Esteban Lombillo complained the ball had gone straight to hit the hurler’s foot to later fly to the second baseman glove, therefore the runner was out.

The umpires met to discuss the play and realized they didn’t know exactly what had happened, and when the argument arose, they decided to watch the recording of the play, which allegedly proved Lombillo’s complain.

Honestly, the TV images, taken from faraway, left room to doubts since the pitcher did not make any gesture indicating he had suffered the strong impact, and even it could be seen the cloud of dust raised by the ball on the mound.