Canada's starting pitcher Shawn Hill reacts at the end of the 8-2 loss to Cuba in the Baseball World Cup second round game in Panama City, Friday Oct. 14, 2011. Cuba advanced to the final to face the Netherlands on Saturday. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton)Andres Leighton/The Associated Press
Canada's gold-medal hopes at the Baseball World Cup disappeared Friday following an 8-2 loss to Cuba.
After scoring three runs in the first inning, Cuba never looked back to book its ticket to Sunday's final. Canada, meanwhile, will play in Saturday's bronze-medal game against the United States.
"(Cuba) are a tough team, there's no question," Canadian manager Ernie Whitt said. "They swung the bats very well, got a lead on us and we just couldn't come back."
Canadian starter Shawn Hill allowed a triple, a single and a double to start the game as Cuba quickly jumped in front by two. After a fly out, another double brought in a third run.
Hill was touched up for two more runs in the third and was removed from the game in favour of Jay Johnson.
"Shawn didn't have his best stuff tonight," Whitt said. "You can't take away anything from Cuba, they played very well."
For the second consecutive game, both teams were forced to sit through a lengthy delay as heavy rain, thunder and lightning blanketed Rod Carew Stadium. The rain delay lasted nearly an hour before play resumed in the top of the fifth inning.
Cuba had a seven-run lead before Canada broke the shutout bid in the fifth. Shawn Bowman led the inning off with a double to right field and Brock Kjeldgaard followed with a single.
Cole Armstrong then lifted a towering fly ball to centre field that got lost in the lights, allowing Bowman to score Canada's first run. Jonathan Malo laced a single into right field to score Kjeldgaard for Canada's other run.
Canada will look to repeat its bronze-medal victory at the World Cup in Italy two years when it meets the U.S. for the second time at this year's tournament. Canada came away with a 6-1 victory last Sunday.
"I think our guys will rebound and come out ready to play," Whitt said. "There's a medal on the line and that's the bottom line.
"We wanted to come here and win a medal. Obviously we're disappointed it's not gold or silver but it is a medal."