Camagüey, absolute leader in National Tournament of Boxing

By:Adolfo Silva Silva

[Yender Arrechea (D), of Camagüey,overcame Geordanis Duarte, of Santiago de Cuba, in the division of the 69 Kgs]

The squad of Camagüey conquered with 277 points the scepter of the National Tournament of Boxing for Teams, with the strong guarantee of the unbeaten one in the global outcomes in its five posters of the final one.

The local conquered in the closing program with eight victories to Villa Clara, in the auditórium Iván Hildalgo Funes, of this town, where sesioned yesterday the last stage of the confrontation.

Camagüey achieved the fourth position in the precedent event, and the previous crown in the 2006.

The leaders included today in their victories to those that ratified a trajectory without setbacks in three of their púgiles in the final . Those competitors are Yorman Rodríguez (51 kilos), Yudiel Naples (75) and Yusiel Naples (91) who conquered, respectively, for the opponent's non presentation, 6-2 to Rafael Morell (VC) and 8-0 to José Fernández (VC).

Yudiel was imposed with the tensest marker in the program, and with Jusiel a singular duet became in the contest: two united siblings also in the sport and in the victory of his county. Hugo Noriega overcame 15-7 in the 69 kilos to Yeinier Arrechea, and was one of the main pegadors villaclareños in the challenges.

In the remaining gives birth to you of the closing, Guantánamo defeated 53-34 points to City of Havana and Santiago deCuba 56-29 to Pinar del Río.

Guantanameros (243), santiagueros (227), Havanan (208), pinareños (171) and villaclareños (157) were from the second to the sixth positions, according to the commission of statistical of the fair one.

In the fair one previous, City of Havana, Guantánamo and Santiago de Cuba occupied from the first one to third o'clock position.

Yorman Rodríguez (CAM) and Jorge Luis Mustelier (STGO) were selected in that order the most combative and technician of the lid among whose assistants were who represented to the island in the last World Championship, in which the Cubans obtained the third step.

Won Corrales and Bruzón lost in chess tournament

Santa Clara. The Great Cuban Teacher Fidel Corrales triumphed in the beginning of the tournament Guillermo García in Memorian, in this city, while Lázaro Bruzón lost in spite of possessing the biggest coefficient Elo of the fair .
In the group elite of the contest, Corrales made be worth its constant ascent in the national ranking of the discipline, room with two thousand 574 points, and conquered in 37 moved of a defense Sicilian, varying Dragón, to the Colombian International Teacher Alden Escobar.

Bruzón, current Cuban champion and second of the domestic listing with two thousand 617 units, also fell surprising before the GM Emilio Córdoba, of Peru, after fighting during 81 rush of a Peon Lady and to suffer the disadvantage of a horse that was decisive in the final phase of the departure.

Finished in charts the comparisons among the local GM Yuniesky Quesada before the International Argentinean Real Ernesto (36 rush of a Sicilian), Holden Hernández against the Danish Karsten Rasmussen (34 plays of a Slavic defense), and the crash between the Cuban Thin Neurys and Rodney Pérez (34-Karocan).

For this Thursday the "elite" of the Guillermo García in Memorian reserves the Escobar-thin confrontations, Rasmussen-Pérez, Hernández-Córdoba, Corral-real and that of Yuniesky Quesada against Lázaro Bruzón, more prospective commitment for the local fans.

This traditional chess tournament, second of more force in Cuba after the Capablanca, shows a XII category of the international Federation in the main group with two thousand 530 points of Elo average.

Also has to work in a group Open with foreign participation and a Closed one national. (William Urquijo Pascual )

Cuban Javelin Thrower Wins in Rio de Janeiro Grand Prix

HAVANA, Cuba. Cuban Osleydis Menendez, Athens 2004 Olympic champion, won the gold medal this Sunday in the javelin event at the Rio de Janeiro Grand Prix, in Brazil.

Menendez showed she is recovering her shape and threw the implement to the 62.74 meter mark, enough to overcome her team-mate Yanet Cruz (62.65) and Romanian Mónica Stoian (59.91).

Meanwhile, triple jumper David Giralt, fourth place in Beijing Olympics, reached the top of the podium with a 17.39 meter jump, 20 centimeters more than Yoandri Betanzos and 28 than World and Olympic champion Portuguese Nelson Evora.

In the long jump event, Ibrahím Camejo, from Cuba, won with a discreet 7.93 leap, trailed by Namibian Stefhan Louw with 7.81, and Wilfredo Martínez (CUB- 7.80). In the women’s event Yargelis Savigne, who leads the world ranking this season in triple jump, finished in the fourth
position with 6.59 meters.

The Cuban athletes will compete again on May 20th in Urbelandia, in Brazil.

(Triunfa Osleydis en Grand Prix de Atletismo Río de Janeiro)
(Jesús Arrieta Alfonso)

Cuban Domínguez Ties with Carlsen at M-Tel

HAVANA, Cuba. Cuban Grand Master Leinier Dominguez tied his game against Norwegian Magnus Carlsen this Thursday during the second day of the M-Tel Sofia Tournament, underway in Bulgaria.

Dominguez, with the lowest ELO among the six participants at this Grand Slam, the third of the season, couldn’t beat with white pieces the Wonder boy Carlsen, who had defeated world ranking leader Veselin Topalov during the first day.

Now Leinier accumulates one point, valid for the fourth position, trailing after the two winners of the first day, Carlsen and Spanish Alexei Shirov, and Chinese Wang, who beat Ukrainian Vassily Ivanchuk today.

In the fifth position is Topalov, Leinier’s rival tomorrow, who accumulates 0.5 point out his draw today against Shirov. In the last place is Ivanchuk, with two losses in the same amount of matches.

(Leinier Dominguez empata con Carlsen en Sofia)

Cuban National Women’s Basketball Team Travels to Europe

HAVANA, Cuba. The Cuban national women’s basketball team travels on Tuesday to Europe where they will continue their preparation for a 2010 World Championship qualifier that takes place next September in Brazil.

The squad is comprised of Oyanaisi Gelís, Ineidis Casanova, Arleni Romero, Yamara Amargo, Leidi Oquendo, Suchítel Ávila, Daimí Fernández, Cariola Echevarría, Marlene Cepeda, Kenia Noblet, Lázara Moisés and Claudia Calvo.

During this European tour the Caribbean team will face the national squads of Spain, Portugal and Australia, as well as silver medallists of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

The Cuban team will make their debut in Europe in a triangular tournament on May 15-17 in Spain facing the local squad and Australia.

Afterwards, they will play against Spanish teams from Navarra, the Basque Country and Barcelona. Then, they will face the national squad from Portugal on May 26 and 28 and will conclude facing Spain on May 30.

The regional qualifier in Brazil next September will grant three tickets for the World Championship in the Czech Republic next year.

A fourth ticket for the Americas was granted to reigning Olympic champions United States.

(Baloncestistas cubanas rumbo a Europa)

Cuba Beats Italy 7-3 in Boxing Match

HAVANA, Cuba. Cuban boxing squad won 7 out of 10 bouts this Sunday during the second and last bilateral match with its Italian counterpart, held at the Sports Palace in Modena.

Sources from the organizers pointed out that Cuban national champion won Iván Oñate (57 kg) his second combat against Alessio Di Savino though once again the judges’s voting was not available.

The Cuban representative in the 69 kilograms division, Beijing’s silver medallist Carlos Banteur won his match over Cirillo Carmine, while Rosniel Iglesias (64) did the same over Darío Vangeli.

The other winners for the Caribbean squad were youth world champions Rey Eduardo Recio (75) and José Larduet (81) over Adriano Sperandio and Alessandro Sinacore, respectively.

Also, Yampier Hernández (51) and Idel Torriente (60) reached the victory over Alfonso Pinto and Ignazio Crivello in that order.

Meanwhile, the Italians achieved three victories: Clemente Russo beat Osmay Acosta for the second time in the heavyweight division; Daniel Matellón (48) lost again, this time against Vicenzo Picardi, and the combat between Olympic runner-up Yankiel León (54) and Vittorio
Parrinello, which had been a draw the previous match finished with a victory for the Italian in this match.

(Cuba 7, Italia 3 en segundo tope boxístico)

Cuba and Italy Tie in Boxing Match

HAVANA, Cuba. Cuba and Italy tied their boxing match five victories per side and one draw in Milan, a show attended by almost 3000 people.

The Italian boxing federation website, thoug it didn’t published the ndividual scores, reported that the Cubans boxers that won were Olympic silver medallist Carlos Banteur (69) and bronze medallist Rosniel Iglesias (64).

Bantear beat Alessandro Marziali, while Iglesias did the same to Renato de Donato, shortly after Cuban champion Ivan Oñate (57) won over Alessio Di Savino.

The other Cubans that won were Youth World Champions Rey Eduardo Recio (75) and José Larduet (81), over Luca Podda and Gianluca Rociglione, respectively.

The draw was in the bout between Beijing’s runner-up Yankiel León (54) and Vittorio Parrinello, who had lost to the Cuban at the finals in the Klichko Cup in Ukraine.

The best Italian boxers, Olympic champion super heavyweight Roberto Cammarelle, and silver and bronze medallist Clemente Russo (91) and Vicenzo Picardi (51), won easily their matches.

Cammarelle gave a knock-out in the first to Robert Alfonso, while Russo beat Osmay Acosta and Picardi won over Yampier Hernadez.

World champion Domenico Valentino beat Idel Torriente and Alfonso Pinto followed his steps in his match against Daniel Matellón.

On Saturday both squads will cross gloves again, this time in Modena.

(Igualan Cuba e Italia en tope boxístico)

Cuban Female Volleyball Team Departs for Peru

HAVANA, Cuba. Cuban youth female volleyball team departs this Thursday to Peru to get some training before the world championship of the category to be played between July 23rd and August 1st in Baja California.

The squad is made up of attackers Rosanna Giel, Heidy Rodríguez, Dairlis Cruz and Daneille Castañeda and passers Lilianni Marcillán and Yamila Hernández.

The other team members are Yunieska Robles, Yudit Pumariega, Anay Hernández, Yenifer Álvarez, Daimara Lescay and Regla García, and libero Grethel Valladares as well.

The Cuban squad will be in the South American country till next 16^th, a period when they will train and play matches in Cuzco, Iquitos and Lima cities.

At the Peruvian capital they will participate in a three-team event, with Colombia and the host country, in order to correct their faults before the world championship.

The youth squad won its ticket to Baja California in the North, Centro America and the Caribbean (NORCECA) tournament held in 2008 in Saltillo, Mexico, where they finished third.

(Voleibolistas juveniles buscarán fogueo en Perú)

Cuban Diver Wins Three Gold Medals in Montreal GP

HAVANA, Cuba, May 4.Cuban diver Jose Antonio Guerra won this weekend three gold medals at the Montreal Grand Prix, in Canada, in which his compatriot Victor Toranzo won a bronze.

Guerra won the first medal in platform with 520.70 points, trailed by Japanese Sho Sakai (469.65) and Brazilian Hugo Parisi (469.30), while Cuban Jenkler Aguirre (460.05) finished in the 4th position, reported Granma newspaper today.

On Sunday, the Cuban diver had combined efforts with team-mate Jorge Betancourt to reach the top of the podium in synchronized 3 meter springboard with 423.18.

Guerra’s third gold was won on Saturday along Aguirre in synchronized platform with 450.30 points, followed by Russians Oleg Vikulov-Alexei Krachenko (419.10) and Brazilians Hugo Parisi-Rui Marinho (386.67).

Meanwhile Víctor Manuel Toranzo’s 423.35 points granted him the bronze medal, according to the event’s official website. Platform diver Yaima Mena didn’t reach the podium with 315.75 points for the 4th position; in the synchronized event she finished fifth along Sahily Martínez (273.00).

(Clavadista cubano conquista tres de oro en Montreal)

Third ALBA Games Wrap Up in Havana

HAVANA, Cuba, April 28 (acn) Friendship and integration, rivalry and healthy sportsmanship characterized the closing ceremony of the Third ALBA Games and its 12 days of arduous competition. The festivity had plenty of good music, juggling, dance and gymnastics, reports Granma newspaper.

In a brief speech, Christian Jimenez, President of Cuba’s National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (INDER), declared the games officially closed and invited all the countries present to participate in the fourth games, to take place in Venezula in 2011.

A few minutes before, the most outstanding athletes of the event were given special awards. Andreina Pinto (VEN-swimming), seven gold medals and one silver medal, was selected as the best female athlete, while the best male athlete was Guillermo Aguiar (CHI-archery), with five gold medals and one bronze.

The best Cuban athlete was Juan Carlos Stevens (archery), with four gold medals, two silvers and one bronze.

Esteban Lazo Hernández, member of the Party’s Politburo and Vice President of the Council of State, gave the head of the Cuban delegation, Servando Roig, the trophy for Cuba as the champion of the Third ALBA Games, with a total of 525 medals (255-153-117).

Victoria Mata, Venezuelan Minister of Sports, received the second prize representing her country, which finished second with 387 medals (98-138- 151). Giving the prize was José Ramón Fernández, President of Cuba’s Olympic Committee and Vice President of the Council of Ministers.

With an explosion of joy, Chileans, who finished third with 96 medals (32-29-35), received the prize from hands of Lázara Mercedes López, member of the Secretariat of the Party’s Central Committee. Receiving the trophy was Gabriel Gaspar Tapia, Chilean ambassador to Cuba.

The well known Adalberto Álvarez y su Son salsa band played at the end of the closing ceremony of this important Latin American and Caribbean sports event.

Presiding over the ceremony was Pedro Sáez Montejo, member of the Party’s Politburo, and other political leaders.

(Clausurados Juegos Deportivos del ALBA
Venezuela 2011, la próxima cita)

Venezuela Ready for ALBA Summit

HAVANA, Cuba, April 15 (acn) Venezuela is ready to receive the leaders at the extraordinary Summit of the Bolivarian Alternative for The Americas (ALBA), which will be held as of April 16 in the city of Cumaná, on the eastern side of that Andean nation.

The multi-state television network TeleSur and the Alba Portal reported
that the economic issue will be a priority for delegations attending the
event.

The sources add that leaders from Bolivia, Cuba, Dominica, Honduras, Nicaragua and Venezuela, as well as Ecuador and Paraguay as guests, will analyze on Thursday cooperation projects and common stances in this second trimester of 2009.

During the meeting, participants will review the development of the project for a common currency, according to information disclosed by Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez.

The proposal, which for many critics is so difficult to achieve as was said before about the Euro, includes a chronology which, before the establishment of a physical currency, will go through the creation of a joint account unit, the Sucre.

The project is part of a wide program that comprises of both joint ventures - called grand nationals- and actions in the fields of health and education.

Cumaná itself, with some half a million inhabitants, will become the HQ of the ALBA Fishing Fleet, one of the cooperation initiatives seeking to produce food at low cost.

The company, with 51% of the shares in the hands of the Venezuelan Agrarian Corporation and 49% in those of the Cuban company Pescavante, plans to have some 30 ships and 38 processing plants.

Another issue to be tackled by participants in the Cumaná Summit will be, according to information released by President Chávez, "to take careful aim" vis-a vis with the Summit of The Americas, scheduled for April 17-19 in Trinidad and Tobago.

"Our artillery is getting ready", said Chávez in recent statements, in which he also criticized the absence of Cuba in this type of meeting, as a result of Washington’s attempts to isolate the archipelago.

Chávez and the rest of the leaders of ALBA member nations have expressed their opposition to the economic, commercial and financial blockade of the United States against Cuba.


(Venezuela lista para Cumbre del ALBA)

Cuba will Participate with Four Teams at ALBA Softball

Cuba will present four teams in softball tournament of the 3rd Bolivarian Alternative for our America (ALBA) games, at the Santiago de Cuba and Ciego de Avila venues.

The Cuban softball players will be divided in four teams: two of each sex, including in their rosters the best national players, reported the official ALBA website for these games, to run from April 15th to the 26th in the 14 Cuban provinces and the Isla de la Juventud municipality.

According to the softball tournament’s sources the participants will play a round robin by the page system.

In the women’s event, to be played in Santiago de Cuba province, are expected the Venezuelan and Argentinean teams, while in the men’s the other participants are Venezuela and another Cuban squad, this time from the Ministry of Interior.

This event will be a good training for the women squad which will participate in the qualifiers in Venezuela for the 2010 Centro American and the Caribbean games in Puerto Rico and the Guadalajara 2011 Pan American games.

(Cuba con cuatro equipos en softbol de III Juegos del ALBA)

Two Cuban Players in 2009 WBC All-Star Team

HAVANA, Cuba, March 25 (acn) Two Cuban players were included in the All-Star team of the recently concluded 2009 World Baseball Classic (WBC).

A panel of specialized reporters who covered the event chose Frederich Cepeda and Yoennis Cespedes as two of the three All-Star outfielders along with Japanese Norichita Aoki.

According to the official website of the WBC, the only players that were chosen unanimously were Cepeda and first baseman Tae Kyun Kim of South Korea.

Other players included in the All-Star team were Puerto Rican catcher Ivan Rodriguez, Venezuelan second baseman Celestino Lopez, South Korean third baseman Bum Ho Lee and American short-stop Jimmy Rollins. South Korean Hyun Soo Kim was the All-Star designated hitter while Japanese Daisuke Matsuzaka – the tournament’s MVP - and Hisashi Iwakuma as well as South Korean Jung Keun Bong were the All-Star pitchers.

(Dos peloteros cubanos en el Todos Estrellas del Clásico)

Camagüey receives today to Holguín, in leaders' bereavement

By:José Luis López
Havana, March 24 (AIN) In an interesting bereavement of leaders, Camagüey receives today Holguín, in the court of the stadium Patricio Lumumba, in the date 28 of the National Championship of Soccer.

The people from Camagüey, unbeaten in their last seven exits to the grass, they lead the group C with 45 points. As long as, the square of Holguin passed to head the complicated and burning key D, with 36 lines.

For the people from Camagüey will go to the court, among other, the lethal battering ram Osmani Montero who possesses 13 goals and shares the second square of the leadership in that important department with the pinero Yoandri Puga. The biggest perforator in the contest is the tunero Maikel Celada that has 15 reveilles.

While, City of Havana (39), pointer of the segment A, receives Matanzas (20) in the Polar court, and Villa Clara (48), to the front of the group B and maximum owner of points, will move to New Gerona to be measured to Island of the Youth (28).

The day is completed with the comparisons Pinegrove of the River (36)-Cienfuegos (45), Havana (23)-industrial (38), Santiago de Cuba (35)-Sancti Spíritus (38), Guantánamo (22)-Ciego of Ávila (34) and The Tunas (34)-Granma (35), always in land of the first ones.

To the domestic tournament only subtract three days so that the classificatory stage culminates. To the phase of end rooms the four group leaders, and the other four teams of better punctuation will advance.

Japan Wins World Baseball Classic Title Again

HAVANA, Cuba, March 24 (acn) With a hard-fought 5-3 win against South Korea in 10 innings Monday night, Japan won their second straight World Baseball Classic and remained atop the international baseball world.

Ichiro Suzuki lined a two-out, two-strike single to center field off Chang Yong Lim to drive in two runs in the 10th and ignite a celebration from Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles to Tokyo.

“I believe that Ichiro’s hit is something I’ll never forget,” said atsunori Hara, the Japanese manager. “It’s an image that will forever be imprinted in my mind.”

The Japanese were one out from winning in the ninth, but Yu Darvish, a starter who was asked to close, could not stifle South Korea. Darvish walked two batters to put himself in a dicey position, then Bum Ho Lee lashed a two-out single to left to make it 3-3.

But, one inning later, Suzuki powered his team and pleased a baseball-obsessed country. Darvish was given a second opportunity to silence the South Koreans in the 10th and he produced a scoreless inning. Darvish ended the game with a strikeout and notched the win, but it was Suzuki
who saved it. The South Koreans decided not to intentionally walk Suzuki, who batted with runners on second and third, and the decision doomed them.

Japanese starter Daitsuke Matsuzaka was chosen as the Most Valuable Player of the tournament like three years ago. On this occasion he finished with a 3-0 win-loss record and a 2.45 earned-run-average.

The third World Baseball Classic will take place in 2013.


(Japón revalida el título en Clásico Mundial de Béisbol)

Japan Advances to Finale of 2009 World Baseball Classic

HAVANA, Cuba, March 23 (acn) Defending champions Japan advanced to a showdown with South Korea in Monday’s 2009 World Baseball Classic final by defeating Team USA on Sunday 9-4 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

Right-handed ace Daisuke Matsuzaka, the 2006 Classic’s Most Valuable Player, improved to 6-0 over the two events, yielding only two runs and striking out four in 4 2/3 innings while four Japanese relievers allowed only two runs the rest of the way.

The Americans had won their four prior games against Japan, two at the Beijing Olympics - including the bronze medal game - plus another at the 2007 World Cup in Taiwan and in the second round of the inaugural 2006 Classic.

Trailing 2-1 entering the fourth inning, Japan struck for five runs to seize command. The Americans, who stranded 10 base runners, responded in the eighth when Mark DeRosa hit a two-run double down the left-field line to lift the US squad within 6-4. But the Japanese answered with three runs in the eighth to seal victory.

Monday's all-Asian title matchup will be Japan’s fifth meeting with their arch-rivals in this Classic, having split four games against the reigning Olympic champions. In this Classic, Japan beat South Korea 14-2 in Tokyo but lost 1-0 in a first-round rematch there. In round two at
San Diego, the Koreans won 4-1 to seal a semi-final spot but lost a rematch for seeding 6-2.

The South Koreans reached the final by ousting a Venezuela major-league all-star lineup 10-2 on Saturday.


(Japón venció a Estados Unidos y hoy defenderá su título)

Japan Eliminates Cuba in 2009 World Baseball Classic

HAVANA, Cuba, March 19 (acn) Defending champions Japan advanced to the semi-finals of the 2009 World Baseball Classic (WBC) with a 5-0 win over Cuba behind a combined five-hit pitching of starter Hisashi Iwakuma and reliever Toshiya Sugiuchi on Wednesday night at the Petco Park in San Diego, United States.

Japanese starter Hisashi Iwakuma held the Cubans scoreless over six innings, where he scattered five hits while Sugiuchi retired the nine batters he faced in the last three innings.

Japan scored its first two runs in the fourth inning when Cuba centerfielder Yoennis Cespedes dropped Michihiro Ogasawara’s fly with two out and two runners on base. Akinori Iwamura added a run each in the fifth and seventh innings before Ichiro Suzuki had the final score in
the ninth.

Meanwhile, Venezuela beat Team USA 10-6 at the Dolphin Stadium in Miami to claim the top spot of its group.

Now, Venezuela will face the loser of Thursday’s Japan-South Korea game in one of the semifinal matches next weekend at the Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles while the United States will play the winner.

(Cuba cayó ante Japón y dijo adiós al Clásico)

South Korea Beats Japan and Advances to Final Round of 2009 WBC

HAVANA, Cuba, March 18 (acn) South Korea beat defending champions Japan
4-1 on Tuesday night at the Petco Park in San Diego and advanced to the
2009 World Baseball Classic (WBC) semi-finals while the United States
also moved on by downing Puerto Rico at the Dolphin Stadium in Miami.

Olympic champions South Korea managed to score three runs in the bottom
of the very first inning taking advantage of a shaky start by Japanese
starter Yu Darvish.

Darvish and the Japanese relievers allowed just one hit the rest of the
way but sharp fielding and solid pitching allowed South Korea to take
the final 4-1 win.

Outfielder Lee Yong-kyu led off the first for South Korea with a single,
stole second and scored the first run thanks in part to bobbled balls
from Japanese infielders Akinori Iwamura and Yasuyuki Kataoka. Then, Lee
Jin-young singled to left with the bases loaded and drove in two more
runs to give South Korea a lead they would never lose.

South Korean starter Bong Jung-keun got the win after pitching into the
fifth inning, giving up a run on three hits, three walks and hitting a
batter.

Meanwhile, the Americans scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth to
turn the tables on Puerto Rico with a 6-5 win, capped by David Wright’s
single that drove in two, including the winning run.

Japan will play Cuba on Wednesday with the winner advancing to the semi-
finals and the loser out of the tournament.

Venezuela has already advanced to the semi-finals.

Cuba Eliminates Mexico and Stays Alive in 2009 WBC

HAVANA, Cuba, March 17 (acn) Cuba avoided elimination from the 2009 World Baseball Classic (WBC) and sent Mexico home instead with a 7-4 win at the Petco Park in San Diego on Monday night.

After having lost to Japan 0-6 in the second-round opener on Sunday, the Cubans needed a victory to stay in the event and they succeeded thanks to good pitching performances by starter Norge Luis Vera and reliever Pedro Luis Lazo and an excellent 11-hit offense that was led by
Frederich Cepeda with three hi ts in four at-bats, including a three-run
double, four RBIs and a run.

Cuba scored in the first inning on a pair of two-out walks and Yulieski Gourriel’s run-scoring single that hit the mound and bounced into center field, then made it 2-0 two innings later by bunching three singles.

Mexico answered quickly, tying the score on a two-out RBI single by Freddy Sandoval in the third and Scott Hairston's bases-loaded groundout in the fourth.

But Cepeda broke the game open an inning later with a three-run double to center.

Cuba added two more in the seventh on a two-run triple by Yoennis Cespedes while Mexico closed out the scoring with solo homers by Jorge Cantu in the eighth and Christian Presichi in the ninth off Cuba’s Pedro Luis Lazo.

In addition to Cepeda, leadoff hitter Leonys Martin, making his first start of the tournament, and second baseman Hector Olivera had two hits each, as did Gourriel.

Now, Cuba will face the winner of Tuesday’s Japan-South Korea match in another elimination game on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, also on Monday, Venezuela became the first semifinalist of the tournament after a 2-0 hard-fought win over the Puerto Ricans, who will face the United States on Tuesday. The winner will advance to semifinals while the loser will exit the event.

(Cuba derrotó a México y continúa en el Clásico)

Japan Beats Cuba in World Baseball Classic

HAVANA, Cuba, March 16 (acn) Daisuke Matsuzaka continued his mastery of the Cuban lineup to lead defending champions Japan within a victory of reaching the semifinal round of the 2009 World Baseball Classic (WBC).

The right-hander struck out eight in six shutout innings as Japan blanked Cuba 6-0 on Sunday at the Petco Park in San Diego, United States, in a second-round game that was a rematch of the inaugural 2006 Classic final in which the Asians also beat Cuba 10-6.

Matsuzaka, who was the Most Valuable Player of the 2006 Classic going 3- 0 with a 1.38 earned-run average and 10 strikeouts, threw 61 of his 86 pitches for strikes and together with a trio of relievers struck out 12 Cubans in all and never allowed a Cuban runner beyond second base.

Cuban left-handed starter Aroldis Chapman was pounded by Japan for three runs in the third inning.

Kenji Johjima and Akinori Iwamaura led the Japanese attack with two hits apiece.

"We will stay calm. We will come back with our all. Nobody will win this Classic without losing a game. Psychologically we’re already preparing for it. Our fans need to stay calm and trust in us. We know what we need to do," said Cuban manager Higinio Velez.

Meanwhile, also on Sunday, South Korea downed Mexico 8-2 in this pool in San Diego.

After these results, Japan and South Korea advanced to a Tuesday game that will decide a berth in next weekend's semifinals in Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, the previously unbeaten Cubans will face Mexico on Monday evening in a knockout game from the double-elimination competition.

Elsewhere, in the other group, the United States kept their semifinal round aspirations alive as they eliminated the Netherlands with a 9-3 win at the Dolphin Stadium in Miami, Florida. Thus, on Tuesday they will face the loser of the Venezuela-Puerto Rico game that will grant the
first semifinal ticket on Monday.

(México rival de Cuba hoy, en partido decisivo del II Clásico)