Cuba stumbles before toppling Panama
Cuba won its World Baseball Classic opener, but only after a ninth-inning meltdown.
Panama scored twice in the ninth to force extra innings, but pinch hitter Yoandy Garlobo had a tiebreaking single in the 11th that led the Cubans to an 8-6 victory yesterday in San Juan.
Yuliesky Gourriel drove in four runs for the Cubans with a two-run homer, a double, and a sacrifice fly.
Ruben Rivera hit a three-run homer for Panama (0-2), which trailed, 6-4, in the ninth and loaded the bases with no outs against the Olympic champions.
Yunieski Maya struck out Freddy Herrera, but Olmedo Saenz blooped a single to center. Carlos Lee then struck out, but Maya forced in the tying run when he hit Sherman Obando on a hand with a pitch. Rivera followed with an inning-ending fly out.
Michel Enriquez started Cuba's go-ahead rally with two outs in the 11th against Jorge Cortes when he was hit by a pitch for the third time in the game. Gourriel walked, and Garlobo singled to center. Frederich Cepeda followed with another run-scoring single.
''This was our first game, the one that gave us butterflies and we are happy that we were able to break the ice with a victory," said Gourriel, Cuba's star second baseman.
Puerto Rico 8, Netherlands 3 -- Javy Lopez, Ivan Rodriguez, and Carlos Beltran each hit solo home runs to power Puerto Rico in San Juan. Puerto Rico improved to 2-0 and qualified for the second round. Jose Valentin put Puerto Rico ahead for good in the sixth with a sacrifice fly.
Braves outfielder Andruw Jones was 0-for-3 for the Netherlands (0-1).
Venezuela 6, Italy 0 -- Miguel Cabrera homered for the second straight game and drove in two runs and Venezuela rebounded from a loss in its opener with a victory in Kissimmee, Fla.
Freddy Garcia struck out seven and gave up one hit in 3 1/3 innings for Venezuela, which improved to 1-1 in Pool D play and dropped Italy to 1-1. The Dominican Republic (1-0) was idle and remained the only unbeaten team in Pool D.
Lefthander Lenny DiNardo of the Red Sox started for Italy and gave up two earned runs and four hits in 2 2/3 innings.
Mexico 10, South Africa 4 -- Jorge Cantu and Vinny Castilla each had three hits and Cantu drove in three runs to lead Mexico (1-1) in Scottsdale, Ariz. Brett Wallemburg had three hits for South Africa (0-2).
