Follow usAlfredo Despaigne hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly and Yoelkis Guibert followed with a two-run single in three-run fifth inning in an emphatic victory over Australia.
Team Cuba reaches its first #WorldBaseballClassic semifinals since 2006. pic.twitter.com/JCdYwGvZ8O
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 15, 2023
Cuba is set to play on Sunday in Marlins Park against the winner of a quarterfinal between Venezuela and the second-place team from Group C: Canada, Colombia, Mexico or the U.S.
Former Phiadelphia Phillies player Rixon Wingrove, who led Australia with seven RBIs in the tournament, hit a go-ahead RBI single in the second and had a two-run homer in the sixth off the Chicago Cubs’ Roenis Elías. Australia got two on later in the sixth before Elías retired Milwaukee Brewers prospect Alex Hall on a flyout.
This is Cuba third straight win in the tournament, after losing their opening two games. They will be looking to overturn thei past misfortunes after the 2006 final loss to Japan as they got eliminated in the second round in all of the last three WBC’s.
Australia also advance through the group stage for the first time in history.
