Defending champions Japan claimed the last remaining World Baseball Classic semi-final spot with a 5-0 win over Cuba, while Venezuela finished top of their second-round group with a 10-6 win over the US on Wednesday.
Japan scored two unearned runs with two outs in the fourth inning on a foggy night at Petco Park when Cuba’s center fielder Yoennis Cespedes committed a two-base error on Michihiro Ogasawara’s high fly-ball.
Even though it was hit into heavy fog and Cespedes had a long run, he seemed to see the ball and had it in his glove before it popped out, glanced off his cap and rolled to the wall.
PHOTO: AP
Japan join Venezuela, South Korea and the US in the semi-finals. Japan will play South Korea at Petco Park to determine the seedings from Group 1.
The loser will play Venezuela tomorrow, while the winner will play the US on Sunday.
Wednesday’s loss was the first time since 1951 that the Cubans have failed to reach the finals of a major international competition.
They had made the finals 40 straight times in the IBAF World Cup, the Intercontinental Cup, the Olympics and the Classic.
“It meant a lot,” Japanese manager Tatsunori Hara said. “It was a big deal for us. It will be left in history. I have great respect for Cuba.”
Norichika Aoki went four-for-five with two RBIs and one run scored.
Ichiro Suzuki went two-for-five to raise his Classic average to .214. He tripled in the ninth and scored on Aoki’s single.
Hisashi Iwakuma and Toshiya Sugiuchi combined to five-hit the Cubans.
Three years ago at Petco Park, Japan beat Cuba 10-6 to win the inaugural Classic.
Earlier, US first baseman Adam Dunn made a wild throw that led to four unearned runs as Venezuela beat the Americans to top Group 2 in their final group game.
Max Ramirez had a three-run homer for Venezuela, who finished with 15 hits.
The US qualified for the semi-finals for the first time by scoring three runs in the ninth inning on Tuesday night to beat Puerto Rico 6-5. The Americans failed to come up with much of an encore, falling behind when Venezuela scored six runs in the second inning with the help of the first baseman’s error.
Cabrera finished with three hits and two RBIs. Three pitchers shut out the Americans after they cut the margin to 7-6 in the sixth inning.
“This team is doing a lot of small things to win games,” Venezuela manager Luis Sojo said. “There is a different star every single day.”
Rain delayed the start for more than an hour and fell during much of the game.
The conditions did little to quiet the crowd, with Venezuela fans again chanting, pounding drums and booing Magglio Ordonez. Many Venezuelans dislike their left fielder because he supports Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
Guthrie lasted only one-and-two-third innings and gave up seven hits, including three doubles. He left trailing 6-1. Venezuela starter Armando Galarraga (1-0) allowed eight hits and three runs, two earned, in three-and-a-third innings.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two