Cuba Defeats Puerto Rico to Advance

Cuba had two close calls go against it late in the game and still held on for a 4-3 victory Wednesday night over Puerto Rico to advance to the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic.

Cuba will play the Dominican Republic in the single-elimination semifinal game Saturday in San Diego.

The Cubans were up, 4-1, in the seventh when Puerto Rico rallied in front of a raucous home crowd.

With runners at the corners and no one out, Ricky Ledee hit a grounder to second baseman Yulieski Gourriel, who tried to turn a double play. But Gourriel’s throw pulled shortstop Eduardo Paret off the bag and Cuba didn’t record an out while giving up a run.

Cuba Manager Higinio Velez was ejected for arguing the call with second base umpire James Hoye. Replays appeared to show Paret just barely off the base.

After Bernie Williams hit into a double play to leave a runner at third and two out, Ivan Rodriguez walked. Carlos Beltran lined a single to center to score one run and center fielder Carlos Tabares bobbled the ball.

Tabares relayed to Gourriel and Rodriguez was thrown out at the plate trying to score the tying run from first.

With the lead down to 4-3 in the eighth, Puerto Rico put runners on first and second with one out. Jose Valentin then reached safely when pitcher Vicyohandry Odelin’s throw in the dirt wasn’t fielded cleanly by first baseman Joan Carlos Pedroso.

Cuba argued the call to no avail and the bases were loaded. But Alex Cintron followed with an inning-ending double play on a grounder to short.