Japan beat Cuba to claim last SF spot

SAN DIEGO: Defending champion Japan claimed the last remaining World Baseball Classic semifinals spot with a 5-0 win over Cuba, while Venezuela finished top of its second round group with a 10-6 win over the United States on Wednesday.

Japan scored two unearned runs with two outs in the fourth inning on a foggy night at Petco Park when Cuban center fielder Yoennis Cespedes committed a two-base error on Michihiro Ogasawara's high fly ball.

Even though it was hit into heavy fog and Cespedes had a long run, he seemed to see the ball and had it in his glove before it popped out, glanced off his cap and rolled to the wall.