Protests mar Cuba's Classic victory
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-03-10 15:26

Young Cuban star Yulieski Gourriel opened up the mismatched contest with an RBI double in the first inning, his fifth RBI in two games. Then, Ariel Borrero hit a double to center, scoring Gourriel and giving Cuba a lead it would not relinquish.

The Netherlands offense was hitless through four innings thanks to the arm of Cuba starting pitcher Ormari Romero, who left in the fifth inning after only giving up two hits and no runs.

Cuba recorded 16 hits, 11 more than the Netherlands.

First baseman Randall Simon put the Netherlands on the board with a two-RBI single in the sixth inning off Cuban pitcher Adiel Palma, but the Netherlands never scored again. They meet winless Panama Friday.