Cuba Slams Baltimore 12-6

May 2, 1999 / 11:20 PM EDT / AP

The Baltimore Orioles knew the Cuban players could hit hard. What they didn't know was that the Cuban second-base umpire could hit, too.

The umpire, Cesar Valdez body-slammed and punched an anti-Castro demonstrator in shallow center field Monday night as the Cuban all-star team embarrassed Baltimore 12-6.

Omar Linares and Danel Castro each had four hits, and Andy Morales spread his arms wide as he steamed around the bases after a three-run homer in the ninth inning. Reliever Norge Vera pitched seven strong innings as the Cubans avenged a 3-2, 11-inning loss at Havana on March 28.

The Orioles, whose AL-worst 7-17 record belies their payroll of more than $78 million, were completely outplayed by a team whose players make a total of about $2,250.

The crowd at Camden Yards was already booing the home team and the Cubans led 6-3 in the rain-delayed exhibition when it became a real slugfest in the fifth inning.

An inning after three protesters ran into the outfield and were arrested, a man jumped onto the field down the right-field line. Carrying a sign that said, "Freedom Strike Out Against Castro," he headed toward short center.

But Valdez, one of three Cubans on the six-man umpiring crew, took exception and charged after the fan.

They tangled briefly, then Valdez lifted the fan over his head and threw him down to the ground hard. Valdez began swinging, and appeared to land a couple of blows to the man's head, before Orioles left fielder B.J. Surhoff rushed in and pulled Valdez off.

Police said the four people who ran onto the field all from Miami were arrested on a charge of trespassing.

At least one of the protesters wore a T-shirt that said, "40 Years Is Too Much," an apparent reference to Fidel Castro's leadership of Cuba. As police led one fan past the Cuban dugout and the Cuban delegation, he yelled at them while the Cubans booed and gave him the thumbs-down sign.

Just like every other team, the Cubans proved they could run around the bases against the Orioles, too.

So this became the most curious question at Camden Yards: Would any of the Cuban all-stars run away before the team left for Havana?

There was a heavy police presence outside the ballpark to monitor demonstrations, and Immigration and Naturalization Service agents stood by just in case of potential defections.

Inside the park, fans had trouble keeping track of the Cuban hitters. Castro, who scored three times, lined a triple that highlighted a four-run second inning as Cuba batted around.

Harold Baines hit a two-run double in the first, right after a 56-minute rain delay in the middle of the inning. But that was about all that went right for Baltimore as Scott Kamieniecki was hit hard.

Orioles pitchers never retired the Cubans in order, and Baltimore fielders made three errors. Albert Belle went 0-for-3 and struck out twice.

Instead, the fans standig behind the Cuban dugout on the third-base side had a field day. Waving flags and banners, blowing whistles and dancing, they watched their club win first-ever game between the Cubans and a major league team in the United States.

Danel Castro hit two triples and scored four runs. Ariel Pestano had three of Cuba's 18 hits, the most against the Orioles since opening day.

By the time Morales homered, more than half of the fans had left. He raised his arms high as he reached home plate, the Cubans streamed from the dugout to greet him. Delino DeShields hit a three-run homer in the Baltimore ninth.

The Orioles did everything to make their visitors feel at home. Along with playing Cuban music over the public-address system, Boog's Bar-B-Q Pit run by former Baltimore star Boog Powell added rice and beans to the menu.

The Bird mascot greeted the Cuban players as they were introduced, and fans gave them nice ovations. In fact, the only booing before the game was directed at Orioles manager Ray Miller.

A light drizzle fell at the start of the game and it was halted in the bottom of the first inning.

Clearly, though, there was not going to be a rainout, not after all the trouble baseball went through to arrange this game. And, there was no curfew this was the Cubans' last trip into town, of course.

Though baseball officials and police seemed somewhat tense because of the possibility of defections, the Cubans seemed to treat the topic lightly.

In a pregame news conference, Cuban manager Alfonso Urquiola was asked whether he was afraid one of his players might run into the Baltimore dugout chasing a foul ball and never return.

Urquiola laughed, as did Cuban stars Antonio Pacheco and Linares.

"We are not concerned about that," Urquiola said through a translator. "We have no fear, otherwise we wouldn't be here."

Unlike in Havana, where Castro sat in a front-row box, there was no obvious presence of American government officials. U.S. Senators Christopher Dodd, Patrick Leahy and Paul Sarbanes attended, but sat in private boxes on upper levels.

Notes: Kamieniecki is on the disabled list because of a strained left hamstring. He has made two rehab starts in the minors. ... Commissioner Bud Selig said four teams have asked about playing against the Cubans next year.