USC’s Jones Gets Big Hits for U.S.

Jacque Jones of USC had four hits, including two homers and a double, and drove in four runs for the U.S. Olympic team, which beat South Korea, 8-2, at Bowie, Md.

Kris Benson, the No. 1 pick in last month’s baseball draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates, gave up seven hits and two runs over eight innings with 12 strikeouts.

The U.S. team improved to 22-3 on its pre-Olympic tour.

Jones drove in his first two runs with a bases-loaded double in the first inning. He ended a 56 at-bat home run drought with a solo shot in the third that made it 3-0 and his second homer made it 7-1 in the seventh.

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Second baseman Yobal Duenas went three for four with four RBIs as Cuba overpowered Nicaragua, 12-0, in a pre-Olympic exhibition game at Huntsville, Ala.

Jose Estrada had two doubles in Cuba’s six-run first inning. He led off the game with a double and that was followed by a walk and three consecutive run-scoring singles to make it 4-0.