>>> TEAM USA WINS AT WBC

In Team USA’s 4-2 win over Venezuela to open the second round of the World Baseball Classic for each country, the cliche that fits is “better late than never.”

 

For seven innings, very little went right for the USA offense.

 

Then came the eighth inning, with Venezuela holding a 2-1 lead and Hector Rondon entering the game. 

 

Adam Jones would homer to knot things up and USA would burst through the door. Christian Yelich singled. After a Nolan Arenado fly out, Eric Hosmer would come through with the big blow of the game -- a two-run home run to right-center. Luke Gregerson would close things out and USA would move to 3-1 in this tournament, with the only loss coming in a game it probably should have won against the Dominican Republic.

 

>>> AGENT-CUBAN SMUGGLING

 

Agent, trainer guilty in Cuban smuggling case

 

MIAMI (AP) - A Miami jury has convicted a Florida sports agent and a baseball trainer accused of smuggling Cuban ballplayers into the U.S.

 

The jury verdict Wednesday came after about six weeks of testimony in the trial of Bartolo Hernandez and Julio Estrada on alien smuggling and conspiracy charges.

 

Prosecution evidence included testimony from several Major League Baseball players detailing their defections from communist Cuba and signing of lucrative free-agent contracts.

 

Trial evidence included documents containing false information used to obtain players' residency in Mexico and Haiti they needed before coming to the U.S. There was also testimony about attempted kidnappings of players and illegal border crossings.

 

Several smuggled Cuban players testified, including Jose Abreu of the Chicago White Sox and Leonys Martin of the Seattle Mariners.

 

Neither Hernandez nor Estrada took the stand. Their lawyers contended prosecutors never proved they were involved in smuggling and insisted the men ran legitimate businesses.

 

St. Louis                 0

Minnesota 8

 

Kansas City 3

Chi. White Sox 7

 

Arizona 7

Chi. Cubs 3

 

Atlanta 6

Detroit 8

 

San Diego 7

Cincinnati 8

 

Baltimore      5

Pittsburgh      6

 

Cleveland 11

Texas 12

 

N.Y. Mets 2

Miami 6

 

Washington 2

Houston 8

 

L.A. Angels 4

San Francisco 7

 

Boston 3

Tampa Bay 3

 

Milwaukee 4

Colorado             5

 

Philadelphia 1

N.Y. Yankees 3

 

L.A. Dodgers 12

Seattle 7