Sunday, August 24, 2008

Cuba Clobbers U.S. Baseball Team at Beijing Olympics

Havana. August 22, 2008

Cuba clobbers U.S. baseball team; will fight for Olympic gold

BEIJING.- Cuba beat the United States 10-2 this Friday, and will face South Korea for the gold medal in baseball at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Solid pitching by opener Norge Luis Vera and an effective closing by Pedro Luis Lazo allowed just two runs, guaranteeing Cuba a place in an Olympic baseball final for the fifth time in a row.

A triple by Héctor Olivera, followed by an error and then home runs by Alfredo Despaigne, Frederich Cepeda, Alexei Bell and Ariel Pestano — with two runners on base for the last two, in the eighth inning — gave Cuba its runs.

Cuba has made it to the baseball final since that sport was first included in the Olympic program, in the 1992 Games in Barcelona.

In the other baseball semifinal, South Korea beat Japan 6-2, remaining unbeaten in this tournament. (PL)

Translated by Granma International

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