Stolen Write-up
Monday, March 20th (All times eastern)
Cuba (5-2) vs. Japan (4-3), 9 p.m.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Japan - TBA Cuba - TBA
(Sports Network) - World baseball supremacy will be on the line this evening, as Cuba and Japan meet in the final of the first-ever World Baseball Classic at PETCO Park.
With the United States, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Venezuela all boasting rosters chock full of major league stars, both Cuba and Japan were considered afterthoughts when the event kicked off thanks to their lack of big league talent.
The only big league ballplayers in the game tonight will both be representing Japan in Seattle Mariners star outfielder Ichiro Suzuki and Texas Rangers reliever Akinori Otsuka.
Maybe Cuba's inclusion in the final game should not have come as much of a surprise, as it was the most decorated team coming into the event after claiming gold medals in the Olympic Games in 1992, 1996 and 2004.
In Saturday's semifinal, Osmani Urrutia went 1-for-3 with a RBI single as part of a three-run seventh inning that lifted Cuba over the Dominican Republic, 3-1. Frederich Cepeda had a RBI groundout to start the scoring in the seventh and Alexei Ramirez had a sacrifice fly to knock home the third run.
The Cubans got stellar pitching performances from their two pitchers as Yadel Marti started the game and tossed 4 1/3 scoreless innings. Pedro Luis Lazo picked up the win by throwing the remaining 4 2/3 frames and allowed just one unearned run on five hits while striking out three.
Cuba has now advanced to the championship game of an international tournament (Olympics, World, Cup, Intercontinental Cup, World Baseball Classic) for the 37th straight time. History will be on the side of the Cubans this evening, as they have not finished lower than second in an international tournament was 1951, when the team placed 3rd in the World Cup in Mexico.
However, this Cuban team is much different than those that won Olympic gold and fields a roster with an average age of 24.
While being in the final game of an international event is nothing new to Cuba, Japan will making its first appearance in this type of setting since it won the gold medal in the 1997 Intercontinental Cup.
Japan moved into tonight's final on Saturday, as Kosuke Fukudome's pinch-hit two-run homer highlighted a five-run seventh inning to lift his team past previously unbeaten Korea, 6-0.
Suzuki went 3-for-5 with an RBI single during the big seventh inning, as Japan finally beat Korea after losing twice to their Asian foe earlier in the inaugural tournament.
Japan has now advanced to the Championship game of a major international tournament, nine times previously: Olympics (once since 1992), World Cup (once), and Intercontinental Cup (seven times) with Gold Medals in the 1973 and 1997 Intercontinental Cups.
Neither team has named a starting pitcher for tonight's contest.
Cuban manager Higinio Velez has kept the identities of his starting pitchers under wraps all tournament. He is expected to use at least six arms in tonight's tilt with righthander Vicyohandri Odelin the leading candidate to get the starting assignment.
Odelin was sensational in his team's second round win over Puerto Rico, but is 0-1 in the tournament with a 5.63 ERA.
Japanese manager Sadaharu Oh has his two best arms available in Shunsuke Watanabe and Daisuke Matsuzaka. Watanabe has yet to record a decision in this tournament, but has allowed just one run and four hits in 10 2/3 innings. Matsuzaka, who is regarded as the best pitcher in Japan, is 2-0 at the WBC and has given up a run on four hits in nine innings.
Japan and Cuba have met 37 times in Olympic (since 1992), World Cup (since 1972), and Intercontinental Cup (since 1979) play, with the latter winning 33 of the 37 games. 03/20 10:15:34 ET <!-- content include stop --><!-- / message -->
Monday, March 20th (All times eastern)
Cuba (5-2) vs. Japan (4-3), 9 p.m.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Japan - TBA Cuba - TBA
(Sports Network) - World baseball supremacy will be on the line this evening, as Cuba and Japan meet in the final of the first-ever World Baseball Classic at PETCO Park.
With the United States, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Venezuela all boasting rosters chock full of major league stars, both Cuba and Japan were considered afterthoughts when the event kicked off thanks to their lack of big league talent.
The only big league ballplayers in the game tonight will both be representing Japan in Seattle Mariners star outfielder Ichiro Suzuki and Texas Rangers reliever Akinori Otsuka.
Maybe Cuba's inclusion in the final game should not have come as much of a surprise, as it was the most decorated team coming into the event after claiming gold medals in the Olympic Games in 1992, 1996 and 2004.
In Saturday's semifinal, Osmani Urrutia went 1-for-3 with a RBI single as part of a three-run seventh inning that lifted Cuba over the Dominican Republic, 3-1. Frederich Cepeda had a RBI groundout to start the scoring in the seventh and Alexei Ramirez had a sacrifice fly to knock home the third run.
The Cubans got stellar pitching performances from their two pitchers as Yadel Marti started the game and tossed 4 1/3 scoreless innings. Pedro Luis Lazo picked up the win by throwing the remaining 4 2/3 frames and allowed just one unearned run on five hits while striking out three.
Cuba has now advanced to the championship game of an international tournament (Olympics, World, Cup, Intercontinental Cup, World Baseball Classic) for the 37th straight time. History will be on the side of the Cubans this evening, as they have not finished lower than second in an international tournament was 1951, when the team placed 3rd in the World Cup in Mexico.
However, this Cuban team is much different than those that won Olympic gold and fields a roster with an average age of 24.
While being in the final game of an international event is nothing new to Cuba, Japan will making its first appearance in this type of setting since it won the gold medal in the 1997 Intercontinental Cup.
Japan moved into tonight's final on Saturday, as Kosuke Fukudome's pinch-hit two-run homer highlighted a five-run seventh inning to lift his team past previously unbeaten Korea, 6-0.
Suzuki went 3-for-5 with an RBI single during the big seventh inning, as Japan finally beat Korea after losing twice to their Asian foe earlier in the inaugural tournament.
Japan has now advanced to the Championship game of a major international tournament, nine times previously: Olympics (once since 1992), World Cup (once), and Intercontinental Cup (seven times) with Gold Medals in the 1973 and 1997 Intercontinental Cups.
Neither team has named a starting pitcher for tonight's contest.
Cuban manager Higinio Velez has kept the identities of his starting pitchers under wraps all tournament. He is expected to use at least six arms in tonight's tilt with righthander Vicyohandri Odelin the leading candidate to get the starting assignment.
Odelin was sensational in his team's second round win over Puerto Rico, but is 0-1 in the tournament with a 5.63 ERA.
Japanese manager Sadaharu Oh has his two best arms available in Shunsuke Watanabe and Daisuke Matsuzaka. Watanabe has yet to record a decision in this tournament, but has allowed just one run and four hits in 10 2/3 innings. Matsuzaka, who is regarded as the best pitcher in Japan, is 2-0 at the WBC and has given up a run on four hits in nine innings.
Japan and Cuba have met 37 times in Olympic (since 1992), World Cup (since 1972), and Intercontinental Cup (since 1979) play, with the latter winning 33 of the 37 games. 03/20 10:15:34 ET <!-- content include stop --><!-- / message -->
