Americans reach Baseball World Cup final for first time since '01
TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Colby Rasmus homered leading off the bottom of the first inning, and the United States beat the Netherlands 5-0 Saturday to advance to the final of the Baseball World Cup.
The Americans will play Sunday against Cuba, which defeated Japan 5-3.
Matt Wright (2-0) allowed four hits in six innings, struck out six and walked two for the Americans. Neal Musser, Lee Gronkiewicz and Chris Booker followed with an inning each, completing a six-hitter that put the United States in the final for the first time since 2001.
Rasmus homered off David Bergman (1-1). The United States didn't score again until the eighth, when Brian Bixler walked leading off, Jayson Nix chased Bergman with an RBI single, Steve Pearce hit a two-run single and Justin Ruggiano added a sacrifice fly.
The Dutch are managed by former major leaguer Robert Eenhorn.
In the other game, Aroldis Chapman allowed three hits in eight innings for Cuba.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
