Cuba Defeats Japan in Round One of the World Baseball Classic

Cuba pulled off a win against two-time defending champion Japan as they completed round 1 at the World Baseball Classic. Yasmany Tomas knocked out a home run during the third inning followed by a three run homer during the eighth inning by Alfredo Despaigne at the Japan Dome in Fukuoka. Cuba is scheduled to play Netherlands in Tokyo on Thursday as Japan goes up against Taiwan. The next round plays in a double-elimination format so both teams could see each other again on Sunday, March 10th is they're successful in their Thursday games. The US team plays against Mexico in Phoenix next. Toronto Blue Jays' R.A. Dickey, the reigning National League Cy Young Award-winner, will be the starting pitcher for the US team and Ryan Vogelsong of the San Francisco Giants and Derek Holland of the Texas Rangers will pitch the following two games. Pool C play starts tomorrow in San Juan, Puerto Rico and is comprised of players from Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Spain and Puerto Rico. Brazil and China were eliminated from the first group while Australia and South Korea were knocked out in the second group