Cuba defeated Japan 6-3 in a game they wanted to have. It was the final game in Pool A and both teams knew they were advancing to the second round of the World Baseball Classic. However, for now, Cuba owns 2013 head-to-head matchup in a game that became interesting in its latter stages.
Cuba was powered by sluggers Yasmany Tomas and Alfredo Despaigne. Both shots were lethal to Japan as Yasmany's opened up the scoring in the bottom of the third inning for the "home" team. Despaigne's homer gave Cuba the cushion necessary to grab the win as Japan staged a rally in the top of the ninth.
Already up 3-0 in the bottom of the eighth inning, Despaigne sent a bomb to centerfield scoring Alexei Bell and Jose Abreu. This became the game-winner for the Cubans.
On the mound, both starting pitchers were dominant, beginning with Cuba's own Wilber Perez. He struggled in the first inning allow a couple of hits but proved clutch getting out of trouble numerous times. He went three innings allowing three hits, walking one and striking out three.
Kenji Otonari committed just one mistake in this game and it was to Tomas who hit a solo homer off Japan's left hander. Otonari went three innings allowing two hits, one earned run while striking out a batter and walking none.
For Japan, the offense started up too late. With Vladimir Garcia on the mound for the Cubans, Hisayoshi Chono, Takashi Toritani and Hirokazu Ibata drove in runs for the Japanese. Garcia got out of trouble in the ninth after striking out Ryoji Aikawa who was the tying run as there were men on first and second.
Next up for Cuba and Japan are the Netherlands and Chinese Taipei. Japan squares off against Chinese Taipei while the Netherlands have the tough task of facing a Cuban team that went undefeated in the first round.
