Pitcher Jason Marquis pitched an amazing 5 2/3 innings, allowing one empty-bases home run, then three Israeli relievers held Cuba scoreless until the team’s closer Josh Zeid got the last four outs, and Israel came out the winner, 4-1, MLB.com reported.
Israel’s manager Jerry Weinstein took Marquis out after 69 pitches, which means he won’t pitch again in the Tokyo round.
Israel added White Sox reliever Brad Goldberg to its roster, and he threw 96 mph fastballs. In the eighth, Goldberg walked Cepeda, who was followed by Despaigne with two outs, and Weinstein called for Zeid, who intentionally walked Despaigne to load the bases, then got William Saavedra to ground to third base.
The undefeated Israel next faces the Netherlands, which it defeated in round 1 4-2, and Japan, which, like Israel was undefeated in its first round. Should Israel win two out of its three games in the Tokyo portion of the championship, it will advance to the semifinals at Dodger Stadium.
