World Baseball Classic member Yoennis Cespedes continued his torrid play as Cuba feasted on Japanese pitching in a 12-7 first-round victory on Sunday in the 5th World University Baseball Championship at Jingu Stadium.
Cespedes hit his third home run of the tournament and finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs to help lead the Cubans, who broke open a 4-4 game with a three-run fifth inning, to the win.
Daichi Suzuki homered for Japan but it wasn't enough as the hosts lost for the first time in three games.
Japan's Kisho Kagami took the loss in a relief appearance after allowing three runs on two hits in the fifth inning. Kagami left without recording an out. Cuba's Arleys Sanchez won in relief, tossing 4 1/3 shutout innings.
Cuba raced out to a 3-0 advantage in the first inning, but Japan put together a four-run second to take a 4-3 lead. The Cubans tied the game in the third, then took the lead for good in the fifth.
Elsewhere Sunday, South Korea defeated China 13-4 at Utsumi-Shimaoka Ballpark.
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