Shawn Schaefer and Team Canada were in position to pull off an upset that would have sent shockwaves around the baseball world.
Tuesday night at Citizen Field, site of the World Baseball Challenge, Canada got six brilliant innings from Schaefer, its starting pitcher. But, the Canadians lost 9-4 to a Cuban team that exploded for five home runs and a total of eight runs in the top of the seventh inning.
Heading into that fateful inning, Canada led 3-1 and seemed poised to upset the No. 1 team in the world. But, leadoff hitter Alfredo Despaigne started the carnage when he drilled a first-pitch home run over the centre field fence. After a single by Jose Dariel Abreu, teammate Yulieski Gourriel went deep -- also on the first pitch from Schaefer -- and Cuba suddenly had a 4-3 advantage. The next batter, Rudy Reyes, tagged the first offering from Schaefer and the ball again cleared the fence. That ended the night of Schaefer, who had successfully kept Cuban batters guessing for the first six innings.
Schaefer was replaced by Geoff Freeborn, but Cuba -- with Canadian blood in the water -- didn't let up one bit. The first batter Freeborn faced, Ariel Pestano, promptly knocked a ball over the wall for a 6-3 lead. After an RBI single by Hector Olivera -- this off Canadian pitcher Greg Byron -- Despaigne stepped back to the dish and, with a man on base, pounded his second homer of the inning.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Jared Johnson responded with a pinch-hit, solo homer for Canada.
The game was played in front of 3,950 fans, who appreciated the effort of the Canadians and were left in awe at the explosive power of the Cubans.
Cuba's Olivera scored the opening run in the top of the first inning and Canada replied with a tying run in the bottom of the third. In that inning, Charlie Strandlund ripped an RBI triple off the right field wall that Cuban outfielder Despaigne just failed to track down. Despaigne crashed into the wall and the ball bounced toward centre field. The carom allowed Chris Head, who had drawn a walk in the previous at-bat, to score all the way from first base.
In the bottom of the fourth, Canada scored twice for that 3-1 advantage. Kevin Atkinson started the inning with a leadoff home run over the Green Monster in left field. Two batters later, Rob Recuenco laced a ball into right field and was then brought home on a double to centre by Colin Moro.
Cuba moved to 4-0 in the tournament, while Canada dropped to 2-1.
Cuba is off on Wednesday and Canada will bat against Toshiba Japan at 7 p.m.
