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Netherlands downs Cuba in WBC

Mar 8, 2013 - 1:55 PM Tokyo, Japan (Sports Network) - Jonathan Schoop smacked a three-run homer and drove in four as the Netherlands surprised Cuba, 6-2, in the second round of the World Baseball Classic.

Andrelton Simmons added a pair of hits, two runs and an RBI for the Netherlands, which finished second in Pool B and will face the winner between Japan and Chinese Taipei on Sunday.

Diegomar Markwell (1-0) surrendered a run on nine hits and a walk over six innings of work in the triumph.

Alfredo Despaigne and Yulieski Gourriel drilled a solo shot apiece for Cuba, which won Pool A and will take on the loser between Japan and Chinese Taipei in an elimination game.

Ismel Jimenez (0-1) gave up two runs on five hits and two walks over just 1 2/3 innings in defeat.

Curt Smith launched a solo homer as part of a two-run second, and after Despaigne circled the bases in the bottom half to cut the deficit in half, Schoop belted a no-doubt, three-run shot to left center in the sixth to lift the Netherlands to a 5-1 edge.

Gourriel's homer made it 5-2 after seven, but the Netherlands got the run back in the eighth on Simmons' RBI single.