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Stefan Tonev
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Netherlands stun Cuba in World Baseball Classic opener
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The Dutch scored three runs in the sixth inning

The Netherlands shrugged off nerves to stun Cuba 4-2 in the opening game of the 20-team World Baseball Classic, which got underway after a six-year absence on Wednesday in Taiwan.

 

This is the first World Baseball Classic in which MLB players are eligible to play for Cuba.

The Netherlands scored three runs in the sixth inning in Taichung to sink Cuba. Didi Gregorius and Josh Palacios each scored a run for the Dutch, who finished fourth at the two previous editions of the world tournament, while Chadwick Tromp notched two.

Cuba, who finished runners-up in the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006, scored both their runs through Yadil Mujica.

Ex-MLB player Yoenis Cespedes, who played for Cuba in the event in 2009, hit .458 in that tournament and began his MLB career three years later with the Oakland Athletics.

He played in part of eight seasons with Oakland, the Boston Red Sox, the Detroit Tigers and the New York Mets.

“It’s very, very important to win the first game — it takes a monkey off your back, it relaxes everybody,” said Netherlands manager Hensley Meulens.

Netherlands stun Cuba in World Baseball Classic opener 1

“We know we have the talent. Until you win that first game though, it’s like a nervous wreck.”

The win gives the Dutch, whose roster features several players with MLB experience such as Gregorius and San Diego’s Xander Bogaerts, the early edge in a Pool A that also includes Taiwan, Italy and Panama.

In a late game on Wednesday, Panama played Taiwan in Group A.

Play in Group B kicks off on Thursday in Tokyo with South Korea playing Australia and host Japan — led by Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani — up against China.

Play in Groups C and D starts Saturday in Phoenix and Miami.

The United States won the last tournament in 2017 and is among the favorites with the Dominican Republic and Japan.

Japan has won it twice (2006, 2009) and the Dominicans once (2013).