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Cuba knocks down US for gold

Cuban baseball players wave their national flag after defeating the US 3-1 at the XIV Pan American Games in Santo Domingo on Tuesday. PHOTO: AFP

Cuba beat arch-rivals the US 3-1 on Tuesday to win the Pan American Games baseball gold medal for the ninth time running, while tempers flared on the soccer field and another gold medalist failed a dope test.

Referee Ricardo Valenzuela was escorted off the field by security staff to protect him from furious Colombian players after they lost 2-1 to a golden goal by Argentina in the soccer semi-finals.

Earlier, organizers announced that US sprinter Mickey Grimes had tested positive for ephedrine after winning the 100m last Wednesday.

Ariel Pestana produced three hits, including a double and a home run, to set up Cuba's win over the US as the Caribbean islanders extended a golden run which began in Cali, Colombia, in 1971.

The US scored the first run on a sacrifice fly by Brent Lillibridge in the bottom of the second inning.

Cuba hit back with runs in the top of the sixth and seventh before Pestana whacked the ball out of the stadium for his homer in the top of the ninth.

Pitcher Norge Luis Vera gave up only two hits and a run in nine innings for Cuba.

The players chanted the name of President Fidel Castro, who turned 77 yesterday, as they celebrated on the pitch while the US sat dejected on the bench with their heads in their hands.

"This win is dedicated to the `Comandante,'" Vera told reporters.

Arch-rivals Argentina and Brazil will meet in the soccer final after both enjoyed fortuitous wins.

Colombia took a second-half lead through Abel Aguilar but Argentina snatched an equalizer when Manuel Perrone headed home in the fourth minute of injury time. Franco Cangele struck the golden goal winner eight minutes into extra time.

Colombia, who also had defender Luis Gonzalez sent off in extra time, chased after the referee at the end but the official was saved by security staff.

"I don't know where he found four minutes of injury time from," said disgruntled Colombia coach Reinaldo Rueda. "His decisions kept putting them in front of our goal."

Brazil needed an 87th minute goal by Atletico Paranaense striker Dagoberto to overcome Mexico 1-0 in the other semi.

US sprinter Grimes said in a statement that he had made a mistake after the Pan American Sports Organization announced he had failed a doping test.

Grimes followed Surinam's Letitia Vriedse, who was stripped of the women's 800m gold medal after a test showed she was above permitted levels of caffeine.

"I sincerely regret letting down the US delegation and my country," Grimes said.

The US won all five of Tuesday's events in the swimming pool and set two Games records, with Benjamin Michaelson completing the 100m butterfly in 53.04 seconds and the men's relay team finishing the 4x200m freestyle in seven minutes 18.93 seconds.
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