Here is your WBC Update for Tuesday
Pool 1 - San Diego, CA, USA:
MEXICO HAS BEEN ELIMINATED
Cuba: 7, Mexico: 2
Despite a late flurry of longballs from Jorge Cantu and Christhian Presichi, Cuba put the Mexican squad away soundly. Cuban Starter Norge Vera exited in the 5th inning with leg cramps, and Pedro Luis Lazo pitched the final 4.1 innings to keep Cuba alive and send the Mexican team packing.
Lines of the game:
Mexico 3B Jorge Cantu: 2-3, R, RBI, HR
Cuba LF Frederich Cepeda: 3-4, R, 4RBI
Japan and Korea battle tonight (9PM MT, MLBN) in the "battle of the winners" to give one team an automatic berth to the next round, and sending the loser to an elimination matchup with Team Cuba.
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Pool 2 - Miami, FL, USA
Venezuela: 2, Puerto Rico: 0
An absolute pitcher's duel and possibly one of the best battled games we've seen so far this WBC, the Venezuela squad stood up to Puerto Rico's sound thrashing of all their opponents so far and sent them into a win-or-go-home matchup with Team USA. USA had been Mercy Rule'd 2 days prior, and Puerto Rico looked near unstoppable. Despite some wildness from starter Felix Hernandez, the Venezuelan team did not allow any PR baserunners to convert. PR Starter Ian Snell looked arguably sharper than did King Felix, striking out 5 and walking only 2.
Lines of the game:
Venezuela SP Felix Hernandez: 4.2IP, 4H, 7K, 4BB, 0R
Puerto Rico SP Ian Snell: 4.0IP, 5H, R, 5K, 2BB
Venezuela C Ramon Hernandez: 3-4, R, RBI, HR
Tonight, Team USA will play Puerto Rico in an elimination matchup that promises to continue the trend of excellent baseball we've been seeing so far this whole tournament.
In fact, it's starting...Right now! Ted Lilly v Jonathan Sanchez, MLBN