Cuba loses in friendly match against Kansas City.

The Cuban baseball team, Team Asere, preparing for the upcoming World Baseball Classic, lost today to the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise, the Kansas City Royals, by a score of four runs to zero.

In the first of two games scheduled against MLB teams, the Cubans were dominated throughout the nine innings.
Right-hander Ryan Bergert pitched three scoreless innings, striking out four Cuban batters.

The American bullpen took over the remainder of the game against a Cuban offense that proved ineffective with runners on base.
The Cuban hitters managed only six hits: two by leadoff hitter Roel Santos and one each by Yoan Moncada, Omar Hernández, and Malcom Núñez.

The loss was charged to starting pitcher Denny Larrondo, who allowed three runs on five hits, including a home run, in two innings of work.

The national team’s final warm-up game before their World Baseball Classic debut against Panama next Friday will be against the Cincinnati Reds.