U.S. baseball wins 2008 Olympic entry

HAVANA, Sept. 4 (UPI) -- The U.S. Olympic baseball team has secured a berth in the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing by downing Panama 11-5 in Cuba.

Bobby Hill had three hits with an RBI and scored twice for the U.S., which fell behind 1-0 in the first inning, but scored 10 runs over the next four innings Sunday night at the Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Havana.

Billy Butler and Michael Bourn each knocked in two runs for Team USA, coached by former major league manager Davey Johnson.

Greg Smith threw the first 3 1/3 innings for the U.S., and Nic Ungs tossed the next 3 2/3 frames for the win.

Cuba gained the other 2008 spot with a 4-0 win over Mexico on Sunday, and will play Team USA Tuesday.

The U.S. team won the Olympic gold medal in 2000, but failed to qualify for the 2004 Summer Games in Athens.