U.S. Hangs On, Defeats Cuba, 11-10

A.J. Hinch had four hits and scored the go-ahead run on a balk in the seventh inning, leading the U.S. to an 11-10 victory over Cuba in Chattanooga, Tenn.

“I was trying to be aggressive,” said Hinch, who had a two-run single in the fifth. “These games mean a lot to the guys on the team. We don’t want to go to the Olympics with a losing streak to Cuba.”

Mark Kotsay hit a two-run homer in the second inning for the United States, which dropped the first two games of the five-game series after winning 39 consecutive games over two seasons.

Cuba’s Eduardo Paret hit a three-run homer in the sixth to tie the score, 7-7. Reliever Randy Wolf (2-0) gave up three runs on two hits for the victory and Braden Looper finished for his second save. Jose Contreras was the loser.

The series continues tonight at Knoxville.