Cuba, Japan reach WBC second round

Both teams notched up two wins with no defeats in the four-team Pool A round robin, securing the top spots ahead of China and Brazil, who suffered two losses each.

In Monday's match at the Fukuoka Dome, fourth batter Frederich Cepeda fired a triple to open the scoring for Cuba in the first innings before hitting a grounder to the third to go out, with Fernandez still on second base.

Jose Abreu then hit a double to the right field which helped Fernandez back home and extended Cuba's lead to 2-0 in the third innings.

Alexei Bell made a two-run home run before Alfredo Despaigne struck a double for two runs, taking the score to 6-0 and making Cuba almost certain of victory in the fourth innings.

The Cubans then hammered their win home with Fernandez hitting a single for two runs and Abreu hitting a grand slam to take it to 12-0.

Cuba and Japan will join two teams from Pool B in which the Netherlands, Australia, Taiwan and South Korea are fighting for second-round places.

Those matches are being played in Taichung, central Taiwan, and the second round games will take place in Tokyo from March 8.