FUKUOKA, Japan: Cuba clobbered China 12-0 yesterday to improve to 2-0 in Group A of the World Baseball Classic and advance to the second round.

Infielder Jose Abreu drove in five runs, including a grand slam in the fifth inning at Fukuoka Dome. The game was called under the tournament’s mercy rule after the seventh inning.

Throughout the game, Cuba displayed the type of firepower that makes it one of the title contenders.

“We’re very happy to have two wins from two games,” Cuba manager Victor Mesa said. “But we are not 100 percent yet, we have some minor issues and I feel we are lacking something but we are happy to be 2-0.”

Alexei Bell hit a towering two-run homer to left to make it 4-0 in the fourth and Alfredo Despaigne put the result beyond doubt in the same inning when he doubled on a sharp ground ball to left, scoring Jose Fernandez and Frederich Cepeda to make it 6-0.

Fernandez singled in two more runs in the fifth before Abreu’s grand slam.

“We knew it was going to be a difficult game because Cuba is so good,” China manager John McLaren said. “They are so powerful and we had limited pitching today. I see a lot of major league talent on that Cuban team.”

Cuba starter Danny Betancourt picked up the win after striking out eight and giving up only one hit in 4-2/3 innings. China starter Li Xin gave up five runs on eight hits over 3-1/3 innings to take the loss.

Cuba next faces Japan on Wednesday. Cuba’s win over China also means that Japan advances to the March 8-12 second round at Tokyo Dome.

Bell said it will be a lot tougher to score runs against Japan’s solid pitching staff.

“Japan is always competitive,” Bell said. “Their pitching is at a very high level so it will be a lot tougher to hit against them.”

MLBl roundup: New York Yankees outfielder Ichiro Suzuki walked away from a car accident without any injuries despite saying his SUV was “totaled.”

The accident happened near the New York Yankees’ spring training facility in Tampa.

Ichiro was driving his Land Rover less than three miles (five kilometers) away from Steinbrenner Field after Saturday’s game when police said a woman attempted to cut him off while making a left turn.

Ichiro’s car collided with the woman’s vehicle, which then hit another car. However, no injuries were reported.

Ichiro wasn’t expected to play in the Yankees’ game at Fort Myers against the Boston Red Sox on Sunday, but should be available to play against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night.

The family of Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Brayan Villarreal was shaken, but unharmed after a robbery and kidnapping attempt in Villarreal’s native Venezuela.

The incident occurred on Friday in San Diego, Valencia, about 110 miles (177km) from Caracas. According to Villarreal’s agent, Hector Gomez, the incident ended in gunfire between police and the assailants.

St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Rafael Furcal has experienced a setback in his recovery from a torn elbow ligament and is discontinuing baseball activities while the team determines the next steps.

The pain in Furcal’s right elbow has persisted around the ligament and from a bone spur in the joint, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

Possible treatment options include surgery or rest. Surgery might put Furcal out for the season.

After the Los Angeles Angels renewed slugger Mike Trout’s contract for just $20,000 above the major-league minimum, the 2012 American League Rookie of the Year refused to complain.

“I mean, my time will come,” Trout said before a team meeting, according to multiple reports. “I just have to keep putting out numbers and concentrating on one thing, and that’s getting to the postseason.”

Trout’s base salary will be $510,000 in 2012. A day earlier, Trout’s agent, Craig Landis, said the contract was not fair and fell “far short” of expectations.