Protesters invaded the field three times at Miami’s Loan Depot Park Sunday night during Cuba’s bitter 14-2 semifinal loss to the US in the World Baseball Classic.
The game was briefly interrupted in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings when three fans ran onto the field to protest the Cuban regime.
The first held a banner that read ‘Freedom for the Cuban Prisoners of July 11’, alluding to the date of the 2021 demonstrations.
Another ran onto the field with the Cuban flag waving behind him, while the last simply made a break before being tackled to the ground.
Many other spectators inside the stadium carried banners with messages such as ‘Freedom for Cuba’ or ‘No to communism, to misery, to the dictatorship!’
The field invasions came after protesters gathered in front of the Miami Marlins’ stadium on Sunday before the matchup.
Protesters invaded the field three times during Cuba’s bitter 14-2 semifinal loss to the USA.
The first held a banner that read ‘Free the Cuban Prisoners of July 11’ in reference to the date of the 2021 demonstrations.
One field invader just got away before the staff shot him down.
Dozens of protesters gathered in front of about 15 policemen with banners against the communist government of Cuba and the political prisoners still detained on the island.
Protesters surrounded the park waving flags, wearing slogan T-shirts and carrying signs outside LoanDepot Park in Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood, a center of Cuban culture and home of the Miami Marlins.
Some posters branded the national team ‘traitors’, others called on Fidel Castro supporters to leave Miami, while others simply protested for ‘freedom’.
An unidentified man was seen wearing a T-shirt with Castro’s face and the word ‘assassin’ underneath.
The Cuban exile community raised a huge banner with children’s faces that read: ‘Castro, do you know these children? You should know them because you killed them.
Miami’s Cuban population has become ingrained in the area’s culture and lifestyle. More than 1.5 million Cuban-Americans live in Florida, of which 850,000 live in Miami-Dade County alone.
“We are condemning the Cuban dictatorship, not the Cuban baseball players,” Ramón Saúl Sánchez, 68, who immigrated to Miami more than 50 years ago, told the Miami Herald. We are here because this is a trap.
One of the attendees of this game was reportedly denied entry because he was wearing a T-shirt with the Cuban flag and the phrase ‘Patria Y Vida’, which translates to ‘Patria y Vida’, a common phrase during protests. of 2021 on the island, according to an independent journalist.
Another fan ran onto the field with a Cuban flag dangling from his hands.
Other spectators in the stadium carried banners with messages such as ‘Freedom for Cuba’
A banner discovered inside the stadium read: ‘No to communism, misery, dictatorship’
Reports of his denied entry reached Cuban-American and Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who called it “outrageous,” “disgusting,” and “grotesque.”
However, DailyMail.com contacted Major League Baseball, who denied that fans have been barred from the stadium for wearing jerseys with that slogan.
“I am not aware of the circumstances surrounding this specific incident, but we have not prohibited anyone from wearing Patria Y Vida jerseys,” an MLB spokesperson said.
“This is going to be a global event and if I have the opportunity to show the world how I feel, I will do it,” Andrea Rodríguez, 24, told the Herald. “I’m excited to show them that we don’t support the regime.”
According to the Washington Post, “MLB officials had prepared to protest outside the stadium and considered the possibility that activists would try to buy seats in conspicuous places to place protest signs where the world would see them.”
The Post also said that additional security followed the team to training and to the stadium.
Outside the LoanDepot Park in Miami, Cubans protested against the country’s current regime
The protests took place before Cuba’s World Baseball Classic semifinal against the US.
A huge banner was held up by the Cuban exile community with the faces of children in
Some banners placed outside the baseball stadium described the team as ‘traitors’.
A man was seen wearing a T-shirt with Castro’s face on it with ‘assassin’ written underneath.
A sign read: “Our freedom is not a fame,” as protesters held signs and banners.
Some posters asked supporters of Fidel Castro to leave Miami and others for “freedom”
Others held the Cuban national flag with the words ‘Patria y Vida’ printed on it.
Protests before the match gave way to fans celebrating and eager to cheer on their country.
Politics aside, Cuba is led by two Chicago White Sox standouts: outfielder Luis Robert and switch-hitting third baseman Yoan Moncada. Robert, 25, has 40 doubles and 25 home runs in 166 games over his past two major league seasons. Moncada, 27, has three seasons with 30-plus doubles in his major league career.
Outfielder Yoenis Céspedes, who has not played in the majors since 2020, will also compete for Cuba.
But many other Cuban major league stars have chosen not to play for their native country, a list that includes closer Aroldis Chapman, first baseman José Abreu, designated hitter Yordan Alvarez, outfielder Jorge Soler and catcher Yasmani. Grandal.
It seems obvious that defections to the US have weakened Cuba’s talent pool over the years. For example, Cuba failed to qualify for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, and the country went 1-6 in the Caribbean Series last month, finishing last among eight teams.
Also, Cuba hasn’t been too impressive in this year’s WBC, going 2-2 in group play and then narrowly defeating Australia 4-3 on Wednesday to advance to the semifinals.
However, Cuba’s manager, Armando Johnson, will not agree with anyone who hits his roster.
“Every team that gets to this point in the tournament did it under their own weight,” Johnson said in Spanish. I think we deserve respect.
Cuba certainly has a great history in the Olympic Games, winning gold in 1992, 1996 and 2004, as well as silver medals in 2000 and 2008.
But since finishing second in the 2006 WBC, Cuba hasn’t placed better than fifth.
A pro-Cuban crowd at the Miami ballpark is sure to be friendly with ‘Team Asere’
But the USA, with last night’s hero Trea Turner (8), won’t make it an easy game for Cuba.
On Sunday, the Cubans will face a loaded American lineup that includes right fielder Mookie Betts, center fielder Mike Trout, third baseman Nolan Arenado, catcher JT Realmuto, first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, second baseman Tim Anderson, left fielder Kyle Tucker and designated hitters Kyle. Schwarber and Pete Alonso.
The lineup is so deep that star shortstop Trea Turner hits the ninth hole.
Turner was the hero of the United States’ 9-7 victory over Venezuela on Saturday night. Turner hit a go-ahead grand slam in the eighth inning for what he called the biggest home run of his career.
“That’s one of the best games I’ve ever been a part of,” United States coach Mark DeRosa said. Trea stepped forward with an absolute bombshell.
Turner said the fans were electric on Saturday, as Venezuela and the United States had large rooting sections in the sold-out crowd of over 35,000, and things could get even rowdier on Sunday against Cuba.
“We’ve had team meetings, talking about how big this is for everyone, not just for us but for all sides,” Turner said of the WBC. ‘We wanted to match the energy (of Venezuela). We knew that we would basically be playing on tour. The fans were electric.
