SAN DIEGO — For the first time in half a century, a major international baseball title will be decided without Cuba.
The Cubans were eliminated in the second round of the World Baseball Classic after falling to Japan on Wednesday. The loss snapped Cuba's streak of 40 consecutive trips to the finals of international competitions.
Cuban manager Higinio Velez did not attend the postgame press conference and did not discuss the significance of the loss in the prepared statement that was read to the media.