DURHAM, N.C. – Steele Walker went 3-for-5 with a two-run home run, while Travis Swaggerty collected two doubles and two RBIs as the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team defeated Cuba, 5-1, on Monday in the second game of the sixth USA vs. Cuba Friendship Series from the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. The U.S. holds a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series.
The United States quickly jumped out to a 2-0 advantage behind Walker hitting a two-run home run to right field in the top of the first inning. It marks Walker’s second home run of the summer.
The red, white and blue pushed its lead to 5-0 with a three-run second inning. Nick Madrigal recorded his first RBI of the summer with a single to right field to bring home Braden Shewmake, followed by Swaggerty driving in two runs with his second double of the game to the right-field gap.
Starting pitcher Steven Gingery earned his second win of the summer throwing 5.0 shutout innings scattering just three hits and tallied one strikeout.
The U.S. team ended the game with five runs on 10 hits with one error, while Cuba finished with one run on five hits and no errors.
The United States and Cuba will play game three of the sixth USA vs. Cuba International Friendship Series on Tuesday at BB&T Park in Charlotte, North Carolina with first pitch set for 6:05 p.m.
The series is sanctioned by the World Baseball Softball Confederation.
