Vols Post Second Straight Shutout in Cuba

Dec. 16, 2002

Havana, Cuba -- Tennessee's pitching staff extended its scoreless streak to 18 innings with a 3-0 shutout over the Havana Junior All-Star team at the Sports City Park.

But that was only a sidelight as the team met All-Star catcher Barbaro Canizares who plays for the Industriales.

The trading of baseball merchandise was the pregame talk as head coach Rod Delmonico brokered a deal for his bat by working a two-for-one swap. Then, assistant coach Larry Simcox got in on the wheeling-and-dealing and was able to get Canizares' jersey which he autographed.

Having lost the first game of the series 2-0 Sunday, the Cuban's replaced five starters from the previous day. It didn't seem to help as they struckout 11 times and were held to four hits by Derek Tharpe, Brandon Crowe, Beau Massey and John Parscal.

Tharpe worked six innings with seven strikeouts in picking up the win. Parscal earned the save as he staved off the only scoring threat of the game as the junior team left runners stranded at second and third following the only Vol error of the game.

Javi Herrera doubled and went 2-for-2 to improve to 3-for-6 in the series.

Two errors cost Havana a run in the first as Nick Crowe scored as Brian Cleveland beat out an infield hit.

Then in the seventh, Justin Branson's two-out RBI scored Josh Alley who walked, moved to second on a balk and stole third for a 2-0 lead.

Walter Sevilla added an insurance run in the eighth as he walked, stole second and plated on Jeremy Cabbage's base hit.

Following the game, the Vols got a quick tour of the 55,000-seat Latino Americano Stadium, where the Havana professional team plays. It was also the site of the Major League exhibition game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Cuban Nationals in 1999.

Tennessee is scheduled to see the home opener between La Habana and Matanzas at 8 p.m. Tueday night.

The Vols will conclude their series Tuesday at 11 a.m. (EST) against the same Havana Junior All-Star team.

Results
Day 1 -Vols Arrive in Cuba
Day 2 - Vols Win Exibition Opener
Day 4 - Vols Complete 3-game Sweep