The Cuba baseball team defeated Panama today, three runs to one, at the start of Group A of the World Baseball Classic, held at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Under the warm sky of the Puerto Rican capital and before an expectant stadium, the Cuban nine took the diamond with the weight of their history on their shoulders and the determination of those who know that every pitch can set the course of a tournament.

The squad led by Germán Mesa took control of the game in the second inning thanks to a powerful swing from Yoelquis Guibert, who sent the ball over the right-field wall on a fastball from starter and losing pitcher Logan Allen.

An inning later, the Antilleans extended their lead when Yiddi Cappé hit a double and Yoan Moncada followed with the second home run of an offensive effort that produced five hits.

The Caribbean lineup could not manufacture more runs against a parade of five relievers, but relied on their pitching staff to secure the lead and secure the important victory.

Liván Moinelo remained on the mound for three and two-thirds innings, allowing two hits, walking a pair, striking out four, and surrendering no runs.

His replacement, Yariel Rodríguez, retired all seven batters he faced in order — three of them via strikeout — and Enmanuel Chapman allowed the only run for the Panamanian side on an RBI single by Johan Camargo.

Darién Núñez recorded the final out of the seventh inning, and Yoan López and Raidel Martínez took care of the rest, hanging two scoreless frames on the scoreboard.

For the winners, Ariel Martínez also stood out at the plate, and for the losers, Leonardo Bernal, both recording two singles.

The match opened the action in Group A, a bracket where every victory carries the weight of gold on the tournament's scale and where margins for error are often as narrow as the seams of a baseball.

Later on this same day, Colombia and hosts Puerto Rico will face off at 6:00 p.m. local time, also at Hiram Bithorn Stadium, in a duel that will further shape the initial competitive landscape of the group.

Cuba's next game will be on Sunday against Colombia, while Panama will face Puerto Rico tomorrow.