Italy’s victory over the Netherlands confirmed Cuba’s place in the quarterfinals as the top of Group A. After a two-loss, winless start in the World Baseball Classic, the island’s team regrouped and will now face, possibly , to the Australian team in Tokyo.
Cuba wins Pool A! #WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/NdhfDmWeHv
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 12, 2023
In the case of Cuba, all the combinations that should have been given were given. Italy, who was looking for their qualification to the next phase, showed no mercy against the Netherlands and “entangled” the key based in Taichung. All the teams in Group A finished with a 2-2 record: Cuba, Italy, the Netherlands, Panama and Taipei. That put into effect WBC tie-break procedures.
In this way, this is how the tiebreaker criteria remained:
Cuba (2-2) — 15 runs allowed / 108 putouts = .139 runs/out
Italy (2-2) — 17 runs allowed / 108 putouts = .157 runs/out
Netherlands (2-2) — 19 runs allowed / 102 putouts = .186 runs/out
Panama (2-2) — 21 runs allowed / 105 putouts = .200 runs/out
Chinese Taipei (2-2) — 31 runs allowed / 105 putouts = .295 runs/out
Cuba complies and defeats Taipei, after a historic game
After being practically eliminated, the Cuba team passed as the group leader and is apparently waiting for Australia, which could finish second in group B. If that duel materializes, on March 15 the Cubans and Australians will be fighting to access a of the semifinals in Miami.
Australia’s game against the Czech Republic now takes on greater importance on Monday. The team still controls its own destiny: a win and advance to the second round for the first time in World Baseball Classic history.
One loss, however, and they would be level with the Czech Republic. If Korea also defeats China, tiebreaker rules would be in place to determine which country advances and which nations must wait until 2026.
The Classic began in America: Colombia and Venezuela surprise, the US complies
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Image courtesy of World Baseball Classic
