Surprise setback for US baseball team

In what could be the sport's final appearance at the Olympic Games, the United States baseball team received an unexpected setback in their opening contest of the 2008 Games.

After nearly pulling out a comeback victory by rallying for three runs in the ninth inning, the Americans suffered an 8-7 upset loss to South Korea on Wednesday in a preliminary game.

The United States entered the ninth trailing 6-4, but Mike Hessman hit a solo home run and Matt Brown delivered a two-run single to give their side a 7-6 edge. But it was not enough.

The Koreans won after plating a pair of runs on Taekkeun Lee's RBI groundout and Jongwook Lee's walk-off hit.

The gold medal winners in 2000, Team USA jumped out to an early lead as Brown hit an RBI single in the first but Daeho Lee blasted a two-run shot in the second for Korea, who added another run in the third.

Brian Barden and Terry Tiffee hit RBI singles in the fifth as the United States tied the contest at 3-3, but Korea struck for three runs in the bottom half of the frame.

Nate Schierholtz connected on a solo home run in the sixth to cut the deficit to 6-4, but the Americans could not muster any more offence until the ninth.

US starter Brandon Knight was roughed up for six runs and eight hits with two walks and two strikeouts over four and a third innings.

It could be the United States' final opportunity to win Olympic gold in baseball because the event, along with softball, has been scratched from the 2012 Games in London.

Cuba enjoyed a successful start to their gold medal defence on Wednesday.

Alfredo Despaigne had three hits and three RBI, leading the Cubans to a 4-2 victory over Japan in a rematch of the World Baseball Classic final in 2006.

Cuba, which has won three of the four Olympic gold medals in the sport, belted nine hits and drew six walks as they emerged as the early favourites to win the gold.

Chinese Taipei enjoyed a nice start to the 2008 Games, cruising to a 5-0 victory over the Netherlands on Wednesday.

Taiwanese starter Wei-Yin Chen pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing just three hits with seven strikeouts.

Chien-Ming Chang collected two hits and drove in a pair of runs for Chinese Taipei, who face Japan on Thursday.

Canada cruised past China in their opening contest, defeating the host country, 10-0, in eight innings.

Canadian starter Chris Begg tossed six and two thirds scoreless frames, giving up six hits with no walks and nine strikeouts.

Scott Thorman helped end China's night when the slugger blasted a three-run homer in the eighth for Canada, who battle Cuba on Thursday.