WBC: Cuba 8, South Africa 1

Frederich Cepeda belted two of Cuba’s six homers Sunday in an 8-1 pounding of South Africa at the World Baseball Classic in Mexico City.

The contest was the opener in Pool B play.

Cepeda hit solo shots in his first two at-bats in the first and third innings.

The other homers were a two-run, second-inning blast by Alfredo Despaigne, and solos by Hector Olivera, Yoennis Cespedes, and Yulieski Gourriel.

The only hit for designated hitter Michel Enriquez was a third-inning RBI single.

Winning pitcher Norge Vera (1-0) gave up two hits in six scoreless innings with one walk and six strikeouts.

South Africa scored its only run on Jonathan Phillips’ ninth-inning RBI single.

Losing pitcher Barry Armitage (0-1) surrendered five earned runs and eight hits in three innings.

South Africa faces either Mexico or Australia in a losers bracket game Monday.