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Sunday, November 9
 
Both rout opponents to clinch spots

Associated Press

PANAMA CITY, Panama -- Canada and Cuba clinched spots in the 2004 Olympics in Athens with easy wins Sunday in a baseball qualifying tournament.

Justin Morneau of the Minnesota Twins homered for Canada in an 11-1 rout of Mexico, which eliminated the defending champion U.S. team Friday. Cuba beat Puerto Rico 10-0 earlier Sunday in the Americas pre-Olympic tournament.

Both games were shortened to seven innings because of the lopsided scores. Canada and Cuba will play Monday in the final.

Morneau, who batted .226 with four homers and 16 RBIs in 106 at-bats for the Twins this season, hit a two-run homer in a four-run third inning. He has five home runs in the tournament.

Ryan Radmanovich, Pierre LaForest and Stubby Clapp also homered for Canada, which has 17 homers in the tournament. Right-hander Mike Johnson gave up seven hits in seven innings, including a home run by Luis A. Garcia in the fourth.

Mexico ended play 1-4, with the only victory coming against the United States.

The U.S. team will be at home next summer while other countries such as the Netherlands and Italy compete for an Olympic medal in Athens.

Canada went 1-2 in pool play, then advanced to the semifinals by beating Brazil 14-6 on Saturday.

Catcher Michel Enriquez gave Cuba a first-inning lead Sunday with a solo home run to left off losing pitcher Josue Matos. Left fielder Frederic Cepeda made it 2-0 in the fifth with another solo shot.

Puerto Rico then gave up five runs on four hits, a walk, an error and two wild pitches in the sixth. Cuba scored three more in the seventh.

Vicyohandri Odelin, who got his second win of the tournament, struck out six and gave up five hits while allowing only one runner to reach third base.




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