The Netherlands takes the measure of Cuba

(Taichung) After a six-year hiatus, the World Baseball Classic returned on Wednesday with a duel that ended in a 4-2 victory for the Netherlands over Cuba in a Group A match in Taichung.

In another Group A clash on Wednesday, Panama face Taiwan.

The Group B action kicks off on Thursday in Tokyo with a clash between South Korea and Australia and another duel between Japan – which will feature Angels star Shohei Ohtani – and China.

Matches in Group C, which includes Canada and the United States, among others, and Group D will kick off on Saturday in Phoenix and Miami, respectively.

Canada will play its first group stage match on Sunday, March 12 against Great Britain.

The tournament brings together 20 countries divided into four groups. The grand finale is scheduled for March 21 in Miami.

The United States won the last edition of the Classic, in 2017, and is among the favorite nations to win the tournament, alongside the Dominican Republic and Japan. The Dominican Republic emerged victorious from the tournament in 2013, while Japan won the competition in 2006 and 2009.

It will also be the first time this year that major league baseball players will be able to wear Cuba’s colors during the Classic.

Yoenis Cespedes, a former major leaguer who played for Cuba in the 2009 tournament, had a . 458 batting average during the event. Three years later, he began his major league baseball career with the Oakland Athletics before playing for the Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers and New York Mets during an eight-year major league career.

Signed as a designated hitter against the Netherlands, Cespedes was limited to two walks in two official appearances on base. The Cuban formation only scored three goals in this duel between the two clubs considered favorites to finish at the top of Group A.

The Cubans took a 1-0 lead in the second half thanks to a Yadil Mujica double.

The Dutch tied the game in the third inning with a single by Didi Gregorius and added three runs in the sixth after a run by Josh Palacios and another good for two by Chadwick Tromp.

Cuba scored their second run of the game in the seventh inning, but failed to get closer.