(UPDATING WITH GOLD MEDAL GAME) 

*Cuba beats Aussies for baseball gold, Japan takes bronze*
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ATHENS, Greece (Ticker) -- Thanks in part to the absence of the 
United States from its national pastime, Cuba chalked up another
baseball gold medal.

Frederik Cepeda hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning and
Cuba added four more runs in the sixth to defeat pesky
Australia, 6-2, in Wednesday's title game.

The victory marked the third gold medal for Cuba in four
Olympics and brought some form of redemption after losing the
gold to the U.S. four years ago in a defeat that was considered
a national disgrace by some Cubans.

"I feel very happy," Cuba pitcher Luis Vera said.  "Baseball is
the most popular sport in Cuba and to win the gold medal is very
significant for us."

Following Cepeda's homer that gave Cuba a 2-0 lead, Australia's
Paul Gonzalez opened the fifth with a homer that chased Vera.
Adiel Palma, Cuba's third pitcher of the inning and the eventual
winner, struck out Brendan Kingman with the bases loaded,
ending further damage.

Cuba broke open the game in the sixth, scoring four times on
two-run hits by Eriel Sanchez and Eduardo Paret and knocking out
Australia starter John Stephens, who gave up six runs and 10
hits.

The Aussies put two runners on with none out in the bottom of
the ninth before Cuba turned to bullpen ace Danny Betancourt,
who retired three straight batters to preserve the win.

The game was not without its testy moments.

Australia manager Jon Deeble was ejected in the fourth after
Carlos Alberto Tabares juggled and then caught a fly ball hit by
Thomas Brice off the center field wall.

Television replays showed the ball hit the outfield wall while
being juggled, which should have nullified the catch.  The ball
never hit the ground and the batter was called out, prompting
Deeble's argument.

Plate umpire Willie Rodriguez also tossed Cuba third base coach
Carlos Cepero in the fifth for arguing balls and strikes from a
previous inning.

This was Cuba's first true gold medal of the Athens Games.
Yulileldi Cumba was awarded a gold in women's shot put after
Russia's Irina Korzhanenko, who had the longest throw in
competition, was disqualified for failing a drug test.

"It's a great victory for my country," Palma said.

Japan also picked up a medal in the Olympic baseball tournament
- just not the one it expected.

After losing to Australia in the semifinals, Japan jumped out to
an early 7-0 lead and won the bronze by crushing Canada, 11-2.

Kenji Jojima was the hitting star for Japan with three hits and
four RBI.  He belted a two-run homer off Canada starter Mike
Johnson in the first inning and an RBI double in the fourth.

"We approached this tournament and prepared for it as
professionals,"  Jojima said.  "To say we're not disappointed
with the color of our medal would be a lie.  But we wanted to go
home proud of what we achieved."

Japan brought 24 professional players to Athens.  The 1-0 loss
to Australia in the semifinals prompted a public apology Tuesday
from manager Naohiro Nakahata.

"Last night's game was very unfortunate," second baseman Shinya
Miyamoto said.  "When we woke up today, we were able to forget
about last night and came into today's game refreshed and ready
to play."

Takuya Kimura had a two-run single in a four-run third inning
for Japan, which had 13 hits off six Canadian pitchers.

Canada was on the verge of reaching the gold medal game before
allowing six runs in the eighth inning of its semifinal loss to
Cuba.  It ends up in fourth place with no medal.

"No one on the team is happy," catcher Pierre-Luc LaForest said.
"We did not come here for holidays.  That is why we are sad to
go home emptyhanded."

Canada scored on a fourth-inning grounder by Andy Stewart and a
fifth-inning homer by Jeremy Ware.

st 08-25-04 18:49 et