MEXICO CITY – Yulieski Gourriel, Ariel Pestano and Frederich Cepeda homered as Cuba pounded Mexico, 16-4, on Thursday to top Pool B of the World Baseball Classic.
Pestano and Cepeda belted 3-run homers in a nine-run seventh inning which ended the game under the mercy rule, which takes effect when one team leads by 10 runs or more at the end of an inning.
Both teams had already earned a berth in Group One of the second round.
Cuba’s next match will be against Japan, bringing together the two teams that met in the final of the 2006 WBC. Mexico will face South Korea.
Gourriel hit a 2-run homer in a five run fourth inning rally and finished with four RBI’s.
Freddy Sandoval, Oscar Robles and Karim Garcia hit solo homers for Mexico, which has had a rollercoaster ride in the tournament, having won two games and lost two games, all by more than 10-run margins. (AP)