United States Beats Cuban Baseball Team

MILLINGTON, Tenn. —  Tom Goodwin’s double snapped an eighth-inning tie, and Tino Martinez hit two home runs Saturday night as the United States Olympic team beat Cuba, 13-8, in the opener of a seven-game series.

Robin Ventura added a three-run homer in the five-run eighth as the United States improved its exhibition record to 20-3.

Mike Milchin, the third U.S. pitcher, allowed 1 hit in the final 1 innings to earn the victory. Jim Abbott, the first-round draft pick of the Angels, started. He yielded 6 runs and 5 hits in 7-plus innings.

Jose Baez, the third Cuban pitcher, was the loser, allowing 4 hits and 5 runs in 1 innings.

With the scored tied, 8-8, Ted Wood singled with two outs in the eighth, Ty Griffin walked and Goodwin hit a run-scoring double. Ventura followed with his three-run homer, and Martinez hit his second home run.

Cuba, the defending world amateur champion, had scored three runs in the top of the eighth to tie the score. Luis Casanova hit an RBI double and Pedro Rodriguez a two-run single.

The United States scored four runs in the seventh, taking an 8-5 lead on Goodwin’s run-scoring ground-out, Ventura’s RBI single and Martinez’s two-run homer.

Cuba, which has won 19 world championships, and the United States meet again here today. The series moves to Indianapolis Tuesday.