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Cuba routs China to clinch second-round berth in WBC

Mar 4, 2013 - 1:27 PM Fukuoka, Japan (Sports Network) - Jose Abreu clubbed a grand slam and Alexei Bell added a two-run homer, as Cuba rolled to a 12-0 victory over China at the World Baseball Classic.

Jose Fernandez went 3-for-4 with four runs scored and a pair of runs driven in, as Cuba earned its second win in Pool A and clinched a berth in the second round. Abreu also doubled in a run, while Alfredo Despaigne chipped in a pair of hits with a two-run double.

The game was stopped after seven innings for the mercy rule.

Cuban starter Danny Betancourt (1-0) struck out eight and allowed just one hit over the first 4 2/3 innings for the win.

China's Xin Li (0-1) was roughed up for five runs -- four earned -- on eight hits in 3 1/3 innings to absorb the loss.

The Cubans opened the scoring with an unearned run, as Fernandez reached on an error in the first and scored on a triple by Frederich Cepeda. Fernandez singled to start the third and scored the second run on Abreu's double.

Bell's two-run homer and Despaigne's two-run double extended the lead to 6-0 in the fourth. Fernandez singled home two in the fifth before Abreu's grand slam later in the inning capped the scoring.

The Cubans will face fellow unbeaten Japan on Wednesday for first place in the group.