WBC News: Japan, Chinese Tapei Now 2-0, Cuba Wins Opener

Two-time WBC champion Japan defeated China 5-2 to improve to 2-0 in Group A pool play  of the  World Baseball Classic. apan starter Kenta Maeda picked up the win after striking out six and giving up one hit over five scoreless innings. “Our pitchers did very well tonight,” Japan manager Koji Yamamoto said.

China got two of its three hits  in the top of the night but could not close the gap. “Baseball is new in China and this was just another step,” China manager John McLaren said. “I thought the guys played really hard. We didn’t hit much until the end of the game so we’re just trying to get better with every game.”

Meanwhile in Taipei, Taiwan Dai-Kang Yang  had three RBI and including two run home run to help Taiwan to a 8-3 victory over the Netherlands in Group B  pool play.

Cuba played its first game in the 2013 World Baseball Classic  beating Brazil 5-2. Frederich Cepeda scored from third on a fielder’s choice to give Cuba a 3-0 lead in the sixth and shortstop Erisbel Arruebarruena drove in two more runs with a bases-loaded single to left. Cuban starter Ismel Jimenez  struck out six over 4 2/3 innings of work to earn the victory for Cuba.

Two teams from each of Asia’s two pools will advance to the second round next weekend at Tokyo Dome. The championship round will be March 17 to 19 in San Francisco.

Team USA begins pool play on Friday against Mexico, lead by R.A. Dickey, Giancarlo Stanton, Ryan Braun, c, Ben Zobrist and David Wright.