Cuba explodes into Baseball final

  2008-08-23 02:55:05 GMT    2008-08-23 10:55:05 (Beijing Time)    BOCOG

  (BEIJING, August 22) -- Cuba's sluggers overpowered the United States as they clobbered five pitchers with four homeruns to seize a berth in the gold medal game, defeating Team USA 10-2 at Wukesong Baseball Field on August 22.

  US starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg's 152km/h fastballs and change-ups were not enough to stop the Cubans. But it was the relievers team who truly felt the brunt of the Cuban power, allowing three homeruns between them.

  Cuba opened the scoring in the third as Hector Olivera tripled to score Giorbis Duvergel, who was on base with a single. Olivera then scored on an error by second baseman Brian Barden and Cuba went up 2-0.

  Back-to-back singles in the fourth put the United States in scoring position. Terry Tifee then grounded-out to advance the runners to second and third before a sacrifice fly by Matt Brown scored Brian Barden and closed the gap to 2-1.

  Strasburg chalked up two strikeouts in the bottom of the fourth before Alfredo Despaigne sent a solo homerun soaring over the center field fence to put Cuba ahead 3-1 and send Strasburg from the mound.

  Team USA came back in the fifth as Lou Marson advanced to second base on an error by Alexei Bell. He scored on a Jason Donald's broken-bat single to put the US team behind 3-2.

  But Cuba unleashed on the US relief pitchers as Frederich Cepeda gave Cuba a 4-2 lead in the sixth with a solo homer from a Brian Duensing pitch.

  The United States third reliever, Jeff Stevens, then fell victim to Cuba's third homerun as Bell smashed a three-run homer over the center field fence in the bottom of the eighth.

  Blaine Neal tried to stem the flow but suffered the inning's second three-run homerun as Ariel Pestano hit a beamer straight down the third base line and out, scoring Yuliesky Gourriel and Despaigne as Cuba shot ahead 10-2.

  Appearing in his fourth game of his fourth Olympic Games, Cuban veteran Pedro Luis Lazo picked up his second save and sealed Cuba's appearance in the gold medal game.

  Cuba faces Republic of Korea for the gold medal at 6:00 p.m. (UTC/GMT +8) on Saturday, August 23. The United States plays Japan for the bronze medal at 10:30 a.m. on the same day.