Cuba to face Aussies for baseball gold

ATHENS, Greece (Reuters) -- Cuba rallied from behind in the eighth inning to beat Canada 8-5 on Tuesday and book their fourth straight trip to the Olympic baseball gold-medal game, where they will meet Australia.

Australia pulled off their biggest baseball win ever, beating Japan 1-0 in their Olympic semi-final Tuesday, assuring themselves of their first medal in the sport. Canada and Japan will play for the bronze.

Cuba took advantage of a Peter Orr throwing error that turned what should have been a double play into first and second with no one out. After the error, Cuba exploded for six runs in the frame to take the lead and dash Canadian hopes for pulling off the second major upset of the day.

Cuban catcher Ariel Pestano put Cuba ahead with a bases loaded single that scored two.

Cuba have won two gold medals and one silver in baseball since it was reinstated as an Olympic sport. Japan and Cuba were considered the two strongest teams in the field.

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