BIENVENIDO! ...to visiting Cuban baseball players.

WELCOME!  …to the Cuban National Team visiting the Triangle for two games, tonight in Cary at the USA Baseball Training Complex and Tuesday at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, against America’s college all-stars.

This “friendship series” has a 35 year history, but it has been 17 years since Cuba played in the U.S.

When we recruited USA Baseball to the Triangle ten years ago, this is the type of international event we had in mind. The team has played in Des Moines and Omaha, Cary tonight and the finale is tomorrow in downtown Durham. We will conclude with fireworks befitting an international celebration!

Speaking of fireworks, NC State’s Carlos Rodon is on the mound Tuesday. The last time he pitched here was Memorial Day weekend in that classic ACC tournament game with UNC. 6 hours. 18 innings. Record crowd. I’m expecting more of that Rodon magic as he dons a USA jersey and plays in front of a hometown crowd. Team USA also features Rodon’s Wolfpack teammate Trea Turner and Carolina standout Skye Bolt.

Join us at the DBAP Tuesday evening!

Independence Day Rain Check

USA-USA-USA the crowd chanted as America's college all-stars beat Japan Tuesday evening 4-3...but the Bull City crowd gave a standing ovation to the Japanese players. Baseball brings out the best in us!

Our Independence Day "rain check" was a big success. We had about seven thousand folks show up on a work night to watch Team USA vs. Japan and a fantastic fireworks display. (The City of Durham won a grant from Liberty Mutual for extra pyrotechnics and Bulls' GM Mike Birling worked some magic with his insider knowledge of fireworks procurement.)

It was the best fireworks show I've ever seen at the ballpark. Keep in mind that we don't have Boston Harbor to work with when staging fireworks. We're launching them from the field, and there are altitude restrictions imposed on our downtown site. It's remarkable that we're able to set the Durham sky ablaze in breathtaking fashion!

Here's how the game ended for Team USA - a victory lap with the American flag and the All American Cupid Shuffle...

WRAL TV5 Sports talked with Team USA's closer - from Duke University - Marcus Stroman who consistently throws in the mid-nineties...