Cuba Routs Mexico to Claim Top Spot in Pool B of 2009 WBC

HAVANA, Cuba, March 13 (acn) Yulieski Gourriel, Ariel Pestano and Frederich Cepeda belted a homerun apiece to help Cuba cruise to a 16-4 win over Mexico in seven innings on Thursday night at the Foro Sol stadium in Mexico City to secure the top spot in Pool B of the 2009
World Baseball Classic (WBC).

Pestano and Cepeda each hit three-run homers in a nine-run seventh inning rally to lead Cuba to a win by the mercy rule while Gourriel hit a two-run homer in a five-run fourth and finished with four RBIs.

"Mexico and Cuba ... it was a tough game, we had to play to win it, but at the same time, we needed to keep our pitchers fresh because we were both thinking in the next round," Cuban manager Higinio Velez said.

Left-hander Yulieski Gonzalez gave up one hit and one run with three strikeouts and two walks in two innings of relief for Cuba to take the win.

Cuba finished the first round undefeated in three games while Mexico dropped to 2-2.

Cuba will open the second round on Sunday at the Petco Park in San Diego facing Japan in a rematch of the 2006 WBC final won by the Asian squad. For their part, Mexico will take on reigning Olympic champions South Korea.

"In the next round we will play the Asian team, they have great pitching, and Mexico will be there also and they are going to be different," added Velez.

Freddy Sandoval, Oscar Robles and Karim Garcia hit solo homers for Mexico.

(Cuba apaleó a México y enfrentará a Japón el domingo)