Venezuela books semifinal spot

Mar 17, 2009 - 6:28 AM MIAMI (Ticker) -- Ramon Hernandez homered and Carlos Guillen drove in a run as Venezuela claimed a 2-0 victory over Puerto Rico in Pool 2 of the World Baseball Classic on Monday.

Felix Hernandez (1-0) allowed four hits and four walks but struck out seven in 4 2/3 scoreless innings for Venezuela (2-0), which booked a spot in the semifinals after beating the Netherlands, 3-1, on Saturday.

Ramon Hernandez finished with three hits in four at-bats, including his first blast of the tournament in the seventh inning off reliever Giancarlo Alvarado. The hit was initially deemed to have bounced back into play, but video replay overturned the ruling and awarded Venezuela's catcher the homer.

Guillen opened the scoring in the third with an RBI single that plated Bobby Abreu, who was walked by Puerto Rico starter Ian Snell (0-1) with one out in the frame before stealing second base.

Snell surrendered only one run in four innings, yielding five hits and two walks while striking out five.

Alex Rios had two hits for Puerto Rico (1-1), which will play the United States in an elimination game on Tuesday.

CUBA 7, MEXICO 4

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SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- Frederich Cepeda drove in four runs as Cuba forged a 7-4 victory over Mexico in a Pool 1 elimination game.

Yoennis Cespedes added a two-run triple in the seventh inning and Yulieski Gourriel drove in the other run for Cuba (1-1), which staved off elimination and next will face the loser of Tuesday's Japan-Korea matchup on Wednesday.

Norge Vera (1-0) allowed two runs and three hits while striking out five in 4 2/3 innings, earning the win after Cuba struck for three runs in the fifth inning to push the lead to 5-2.

Following back-to-back singles by Leyones Martin and Hector Olivia to start the decisive frame, Mexico starter Jorge Campillo (0-1) walked Michel Enriquez to load the bases before Cepeda stroked a three-run double to center field.

Pedro Luis Lazo sealed Mexico's fate by registering his first save of the tournament after relieving Vera. Lazo surrendered only two runs on a pair of solo homers by Jorge Cantu and Cristhian Presichi in 4 1/3 innings while allowing four hits and striking out six.