Japan and Cuba should be getting underway in a few minutes. Of course, Notre Dame and Michigan will probably go into triple overtime and we'll miss the first third of the game. :(

Matsuzaka pitches against Romero. Daisuke pitched nine innings so far, allowing just four hits. Omari won both his starts, and has nine strikeouts in 8 1/3 innings. Both pitchers allowed just one run.

Update: I knew the basketball game was going to overtime. I'm going to miss the start of the game due to second-rate college basketball.

Update: It's double overtime in the basketball game. Japan and Cuba are underway, and number two hitter Nishioka singles with one out for the game's first hit.

Update: ESPN only has 1,000,000 channels, you'd think they could put the game on one of them.

Update: A stolen base and a walk to Ichiro put men on first and second for Matsunaka, the DH.

Update: Matsunaka gets an infield single to load the bases with one out. Romero is having control problems, only 12 of his 23 pitches have gone for strikes.

Update: That's in for Romero. Odelin relieves for Cuba.

Update: Tamura is hit by a pitch. Japan takes the early 1-0 lead.

Update: YES! It's a buzzer beater! I love Michigan! Get to the baseball game already.

Update: Odelin gets a strikeout for the second out.

Update: Odelin walks in another run. It's 2-0 Japan, and they're showing good selectivity versus Cuba so far.

Update: Imae gets a phat pitch and drives it up the middle for a two run single. It's the first ball out of the infield in the inning. Japan leads 4-0, and Cuba goes to the bullpen again.

Update: They're showing a replay of the early part of the inning. I don't understand why Romero was removed. It's not like Japan hit him hard. There was a slow roller and an infield hit with the runners moving, so the shortstop was out of position. Noberto Gonzalez is pitching for Cuba now.

Update: Cuba gets out of the inning on a grounder to second, but Japan bats around and leads 4-0 at the end of one.

Update: Paret gets one back right away with a home run into the left field stands. It's 4-1 Japan in the bottom of the fourth.

Update: That's it for Cuba in the first. Matsuzaka was getting his pitches up early, but regained control for two ground outs and a strike out. It's 4-1 Japan after one inning.

Update: We keep seeing great defense in this tournament. The Japanese shortstop Kawasaki made a great play in the hole in the bottom of the first, and the Cuban catcher Pestano just made a great play a Kawasaki bunt leading off the second. I'd love to see both of them in the majors.

Update: Another nice play to retire Ichiro. Paret makes a leaping catch of a line drive to retire the side in order in the top of the second.

Update: ESPN has a camera in Havana. Why don't they have one in Tokyo?

Update: Matsuzaka strikes out the first two batters, then gives up a single to Garlobo.

Update: Matsuzaka strikes out Pestano to end the inning. He's struck out four of the last five batters. Daisuke struck out five in his first nine innings of the tournament.

Update: Japan puts two on but doesn't score in top of the third. The Cuban pitchers walked three and hit a batter so far.

Update: Alexei Ramirez starts off the bottom of the third with a double off the left field wall.

Update: Despite striking out Paret, Matsuzaka is wild high this inning.

Update: Ramirez stays at second. Matsuzaka gets two fly outs to end the inning. Matsuzaka was throwing inside and up a lot in that inning. He's not afraid to try to intimidate batters.

Update: For all intents and purposes a 1-2-3 inning. Gonzalez issues a two out walk, but immediately catches the runner stealing on a pickoff.

Update: Another great play by Kawasaki. A ground smash up the middle grazes the pitcher, and Kawasaki has to adjust to make the dive, catch the ball, then come up and throw to get the batter. Well done. Kawasaki makes all his plays look easy.

Update: The Cuban swing early in that inning, but only get a single out of it. At the end of four, it's still 4-1 Japan. Matsuzaka has thrown 62 pitches so far, 43 of them for strikes.

Update: Ichiro Suzuki doubles down the left field line to start the fifth inning for Japan. It's followed by a single by Matsunaka to put runners at first and third with none out.

Update: Cuba is making a pitching change. Pedroso comes in to face Tamura.

Update: A hot smash to the hot corner is snared by Enriquez. However, he looked home to try to get Ichiro, can't, then doesn't have time to get the runner at first. Japan leads 5-1 and still have two on with none out.

Update: Satozaki bunts to move the runners to second and third with one out.

Update: Another pitching change for Cuba. They're bringing in a left vs. the left batter Ogasawara.

Update: Ogasawara hits a sacrifice fly to extend the Japanese lead to 6-1.

Update: A groundout to shortstop end the inning. But Cuba has its work cut out, needing at least five runs in the final five innings against a tough Japanese pitching staff.

Update: Watanabe enters in relief in the bottom of the fifth. Matsuzaka threw four brilliant innings, walking none and striking out five. His one mistake was the homerun to the leadoff batter Paret.

Update: Watanabe pitches like Chad Bradford, almost dragging his knuckles on the ground. The Cubans have a tough time picking up his pitches and are retired in order in the fifth.

Update: The Cuban pitcher Palma injured his left hamstring going after a bunt. He's still in the game, but he appears to be limping after each pitch.

Update: Palma gets out of the inning. Japan is 12 outs away from the Championship.

Update: Kawasaki makes a rare mistake, bobbling a ball on the speedy Gourriel. A single follows putting men on first and second with one out.

Update: Cepeda doubles down the left field line, driving in the second Cuban run. The Cubans certainly take advantages of errors.

Update: Another single and Cuba cuts the lead in half, 6-3. The runner at second started back to the bag, so he didn't score.

Garlobo swings at the first pitch and grounds into a double play to end the inning. It looks like Cuba figured out Watanabe in that inning. I doubt he'll come out for the seventh.

Update: Palma is back out for the seventh. I guess he didn't hurt the hamstring too badly.

Update: A gutsy inning by Palma. He strikes out two, retiring the side in order.

Update: Kawasaki makes the same mistake again, taking his eye off the ball as he catches it. The error puts the leadoff man on for Cuba.

Update: Kawasaki makes up for it by starting a double play on the next pitch. The Cuban strategy late seems to be to try to put the first pitch in play.

Update: On the next pitch, Watanabe takes his eye off the ball covering first and drops the throw from the first baseman. Ichrio makes the final out on a fly to right, but the lack of concentration by Japan is surprising.

Update: Palma gets the side in order in the 8th. Cuba has six outs to get three runs.

Update: Gourriel leads off the eighth inning with an infield single, and Japan is making a pitching change. I'm surprised they stayed with Watanabe as long as they did. Cuba was hitting the ball hard the last couple of innings, just at fielders.

Update: The lefty Fujita comes in to face the two Cuban lefties, who bat back to back.

Update: Fujita gets a fly to shallow left for the first out.

Update: Cepeda blasts one out to left field to make this a one-run ballgame. Cuba's the team that found the power tonight. The bases are empty with one out in the 8th, and Japan is making a pitching change.

Update: Closer Otsuka comes in to try to finish the game. He's back at his old ballpark in San Diego. He gets the first batter he faces on the first pitch.

Update: Garlobo flies out to right to end the inning. Japan needs to get three outs to win the championship. They'll try to re-insure themselves in the top of the ninth.

Update: Cuba makes their first error of the game, with Enriquez making a short throw to first. Japan has the leadoff man on first in the top of the ninth.

Update: Kawasaki bunts hard and right at the third baseman and they cut down the runner at second.

Update: Nishioka pushes a bunt past the pitcher to the second baseman for a base hit. Japan has runners on first and second with one out. And Ichiro is up.

Update: Ichiro singles to right to drive in Kawasaki. The play at the plate was close but Kawasaki got his hand in right under the catcher to score. You had to see it in slow motion to see that indeed he was safe. The score is now 7-5 Japan.

Update: The runners advanced on the throw, and an intentional walk loads the bases. I'm a little surprised Palma isn't coming out.

Update: Maya is coming in to pitch. They just took their time making the change.

Update: Fukudome pinch hits, and just like Saturday gets a big hit. He singles in two to make the score 9-5. They answer the two in the bottom of the eighth with three of their own.

Update: Maya walks Satozaki to load the bases again. Still just one out.

Update: Y. Gonzalez comes on to try to get out of the inning.

Update: Another sacrifice fly, and Japan doubles the Cuban score. It's 10-5.

Update: Jonder Martinez gets Cuba out of the inning. They need a big inning. Japan just needs three outs.

Update: Cuba does not go quitely in the ninth as Pestano starts the inning with a double.

Update: Ichiro makes the first out on a Fly Ball A.

Update: Paret singles in the whole to drive in a run and make the score 10-6.

Update: Otsuka strikes out Enriquez to put Japan one out away from the win.

Update: Gourriel strikes out to end the game and Japan is champion of the first World Baseball Classic. Congratulations to Saraharu Oh who managed the last two games very well to lead his team and his country to this win. A great game by Ichiro and Otsuka, the two major leaguers left in the tournament.

It's late, so more tomorrow.

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