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Contreras keeps Cuba on right track

The Philippines' Ernesto Binarao follows through on a pitch during the bottom of the fourth innning against Japan in the second game of the 34th International Baseball World Cup yesterday in Taipei. Japan won 21-0. PHOTO: AP

Favorites are falling in the 34th Baseball World Cup, with Team USA, Canada and the Netherlands registering losses.

"Good pitching nullifying good hitting," was Canadian manager Marty Lehn's postgame analysis, after Cuba blanked Canada 1-0 last night at the teams' World Cup opener in Taipei.

Cuba's Jose Contreras and Brett Gray of Canada both threw excellent games, with only an unearned run separating them in the end.

Contreras overpowered the Canadian batters, while maintaining his composure.

Contreras, who also shut down the Baltimore Orioles in a historic exhibition game in Havana in 1999, gave up just one hit while striking out nine.

His bid for a no-hitter was broken up in the sixth inning on a single by Ryan Radmanovich.

Cuban manager Higinio Velez praised both teams after the game.

"We just saw two great teams and a great game today. The teams pitched and played defense very well," said Velez, whose team aims to win a seventh straight World Cup.

South Korea 2, South Africa 0

The Dominican Republic catcher watches a US player slide home. PHOTO: CHANG CHUNG-YI, TAIPEI TIMES

In Chiayi, four Korean pitchers combined on a one-hit shutout.

Ma Hae-young drove in the winning run with a RBI double in the first inning. Ma, who plays for the Samsung Lions, is one of 19 professionals on the Korean team.

Japan 21, Philippines 0 (7 innings)

At Tienmu Stadium, the Philippines got the first three hits of the game, but the rest of the game was all Japan, as the mercy rule ended the game after seven innings.

Dominican Republic 6, US 4

Without doubt the surprise result of the day was a slim victory by the Dominican Republic over Team USA, 6-4 in Kaohsiung.

The Domincans capitalized on an error and a wild pitch to score five runs in the fifth inning. Joe Borchard hit a solo home run for the US in the fourth inning.

Los Angeles Dodger minor leaguer Orlando Rodriguez tossed two-and-a-third innings for the victory. Chris Enochs took the loss.

Panama 3, the Netherlands 2

At Shinchuan Stadium, Yonathan Vega's RBI single broke a 2-2 tie in the sixth inning to give Panama the win. Miguel Gomez then held the Dutch scoreless the remainder of the game to earn the win.
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