THE SIDELINES : U.S. Defeats Cuba in Baseball

Chris Gomez of Loyola Marymount drove in the winning run in the ninth inning as the United States beat the Cuban national team, 6-5, Monday night, tying their exhibition series at a game apiece.

The decisive game of the three-game series will be played tonight. The series serves as preparation for the two teams before traveling to Seattle for the Goodwill Games and Edmonton, Canada, for the IBA World Championships.

The Americans, beaten 15-3 in Havana on Saturday night, got solid pitching from Joey Hamilton of Georgia Southern, who allowed one hit in four scoreless innings.

Gomez broke a 5-5 tie with an RBI single.