WORLD BASEBALL ROUNDUP \ Wednesday's other games

Cuba 8, Panama 6
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- Panama scored twice in the ninth to force extra innings, but pinch-hitter Yoandy Garlobo had a tie-breaking single in the 11th that led the Cuba to victory in its World Baseball Classic opener. Yuliesky Gourriel drove in four runs for the Olympic champions 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 against winner Yunieski Maya before Olmedo Saenz blooped an RBI single and Sherman Obando was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. 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, Garlobo singled to center and Frederich Cepeda followed with another RBI single. Yadel Marti, Cuba's fifth pitcher, got three outs for the save.
Venezuela 6, Italy 0
KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Miguel Cabrera homered for the second straight game and drove in two runs and Venezuela rebounded from a loss in its World Baseball Classic opener. Freddy Garcia struck out seven and allowed 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 Wednesday and remained the only unbeaten team in Pool D. In front of a raucous, partisan Venezuelan crowd, Garcia and three other pitchers combined on a two-hitter and struck out 11. Carlos Silva gave up a hit in 3 2/3 innings, and Rafael Betancourt and Francisco Rodriguez each pitched a hitless inning for Venezuela. Italy's Mike Piazza struck out three times and briefly argued a call at first base after grounding out in the ninth inning.
Puerto Rico 8, Netherlands 3
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- Javy Lopez, Ivan Rodriguez and Carlos Beltran each hit solo home runs for Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico qualified for the second round with the win, improving to 2-0 in Group C, and will face rival Cuba Friday. Jose Valentin put Puerto Rico ahead for good in the sixth with a sacrifice fly to right field. Rodriguez and Beltran hit-back-to-back homers in the seventh to make it 7-3. The Netherlands (0-1) took advantage of errors by left fielder Luis Matos and shortstop Alex Cintron to push across a run in the fourth. They added two in the fifth, tying the game at 3 when Ivanon Coffie scored on a throwing error by second baseman Alex Cora.
Associated Press
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