America shock Cuba to take baseball gold

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Sydney: The United States dethroned Cuba as Olympic baseball champions on Wednesday, toppling their arch-rivals 4-0 in a stunning upset victory to claim the gold medal.

Overpowering pitching by starter Ben Sheets, who shut the Cubans down on three hits, and a questionable pitching strategy by Cuba manager Servio Borges tipped the balance in favour of the underdog Americans.

The victory was only the fourth for a US team against 25 defeats to Cuba in official championship events. The Americans poured out of the dug-out to celebrate after leftfielder Mike Neill made a sliding catch to end the game and give the United States, birthplace of baseball, their first Olympic championship.

"I can't put the feeling into words," said centre fielder Brad Wilkerson. "It's unimaginable. I'm shocked." Sheets, a prized prospect of the Milwaukee Brewers, was raised up in the air by team-mates before the triumphant squad did a victory lap around the Olympic Park Stadium waving American flags.

The US triumph came in the first Olympics to allow professional players to compete in baseball, although the Americans were playing with a team of minor leaguers and former major league players.



(c) Reuters Limited.