Cuba and USA to face for World Cup gold
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- International
- North America
- Sports
- 11 / 17 / 2007
Chapman, 19, striked 11 batters out in eight innings, and silenced Japan to only one run within three hits in the 7th inning and two more in the 9th.
Cuba made three runs in the 4th inning and enhanced the score in the 9th with two doubles by Eduardo Paret and central fielder Alfredo Despaigne who scored the 5th run through hit by third baseman Yulieski Gourriel.
Relief and closer pitcher Pedro Luis Lazo pitched the 9th inning but allowed Japan two runs, with three hits, including two doubles, then Yunieski Maya made the last out.
Colby Rasmus led off the home first with a home run and Matt Wright threw six shutout innings, as Team USA advanced to the championship game of the IBAF Baseball World Cup with a 5-0 victory over the Netherlands.Wright (2-0) scattered four hits, walked two and struck out six for Team USA, which will face Cuba for the gold medal on Sunday. Cuba advanced with a 5-3 victory over Japan.
Rasmus finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored and Steve Pearce drove in two during a four-run eighth inning that provided some insurance for the American pitchers.
After Wright left the contest, Neal Musser worked a one-hit seventh and Lee Gronkiewicz tossed a perfect eighth. Chris Booker then completed the six-hit shutout in the ninth.
David Bergman stifled the American bats after Rasmus' homer until the eighth, when the first three batters reached. After a walk, Rasmus singled and Jayson Nix followed with a run-scoring base hit to chase the Netherlands' starter.
Andy LaRoche was walked to intentionally load the bases for Pearce, who singled down the line in right field to score a pair. Justin Ruggiano added a sacrifice fly to account for the final margin.
The Americans will play for the gold medal for the first time since 2001. They haven't won the title since 1974.
Cuba, meanwhile, is the nine-time defending champion.
Source: Sports Network and Prensa Latina
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