Cuba Castro take lumps at WBC

Cuba, Castro take lumps at WBC
Associated Press

On a day when opponents of Fidel Castro caused turmoil in and above the
stands, David Ortiz powered the Dominican Republic to a key victory over
Cuba in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Ortiz hit his third home run of the tournament and walked with the bases
loaded in a 7-3 victory Monday that kept alive the Dominicans' hopes of
advancing to the World Baseball Classic semifinals.

A group of fans caused a scuffle at Hiram Bithorn Stadium, spelling
"Abajo Fidel (Down With Fidel)" with the letters on their shirts.

The fans also had a small sign with the same message about the Cuban
president, as did an airplane pulling a sign that appeared over the
ballpark.

Tournament organizers banned signs with political messages to comply
with an agreement made with Cuba for the team's participation in the
Classic.

Other spectators chanted "Fuera! (Take them out!)" and security guards
took the sign away and asked the fans with the anti-Castro message to
change shirts or leave ballpark. The anti-Castro fans wore two shirts to
hide the letters when they entered the stadium, and they put their
second shirts back on after an inning-long confrontation in the fifth.

Cuba refused to attend the postgame news conference for the second time
in the tournament. Cuba did not speak to journalists after last
Thursday's game between Cuba and the Netherlands, when a spectator
behind home plate raised a sign saying: "Down with Fidel."

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