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Cuba retains its crown

Members of the Cuban baseball team celebrate after winning the Baseball World Cup in Taiwan yesterday. Cuba beat the US 5-3 to clinch its seventh consecutive championship. PHOTO: REUTERS

Cuba avenged its defeat by the US in last year's Olympics, winning 5-3 yesterday to claim gold in the Baseball World Cup last night at Tienmu Stadium.

"This victory allows us to recover from the hurt of Sydney," said Cuba manager Higinio Velez.

"I am very happy. We haven't lost since 1952," said Velez, referring to Cuba's run of seven straight world championships.

The title was also Cuba's 23rd overall and the fourth consecutive time Cuba has defeated the US when they have met in the Baseball World Cup final.

Both teams chased the starting pitchers early before the sold-out crowd of 10,000.

The Cubans sat down Jason Philips after two-and-a-third innings with RBI singles by Orestes Kindelan and Michel Enrique in the first and third innings to go up 2-0.

Team US then sent Jose Ibar to the dugout after three-and-two-third innings, scoring in the third on a ground ball by Ben Broussard, and in the fourth on a single to right field by Ken Huckaby after Orlando Hudson singled and stole second.

Cuba broke the 2-2 tie in the eighth inning off an American bullpen that had not surrendered a run in 26-and-a-third innings.

Kindelan and Antonio Pacheco first singled off Tom Shearn.

After Omar Lineras grounded out, Yobal Duenas walked to load the bases. Rolando Merino then hit a pinch-hit fly ball to centerfield.

The throw from US centerfielder Mark Budinski beat Kindelan tagging from third, but Huckaby could not hold on to the ball at home plate for what would have been the third out in the inning.

German Mesa then broke the game open, lining a single to right field to drive in two runs and make the score 5-2.

The US made a final rally in the bottom of the ninth. Marty Malloy reached first when he was hit by a pitch. After a fly ball out by Huckaby, Matt Erickson hit a RBI triple to cut the score to 5-3.

Cuba then turned to Pedro Lazo, who last faced the US in the Olympic final loss when he lasted just one inning and was the losing pitcher.

With the tying run at the plate, Lazo did not let the save get away. He struck out Chris Snopek and forced Ben Broussard to pop-up, which ended the game.

"We had a chance to win, but we just came up short," said US manager Terry Francona.

"We were excited that we got to their bullpen early, but we really didn't take advantage of it."
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