by Jim Henry
PONCE, Puerto Rico -- The baseball rivalry between Cuba and Team USA is well-documented. Chris Archer has read and heard about it; Brian Barden has lived it.On Monday night at Paquito Montaner Stadium, both shared the feeling of beating Cuba, even if it was potentially a dress rehearsal for Wednesday's gold medal game in the Pan Am Qualifying Tournament.
Archer, named the Chicago Cubs 2010 Minor League Pitcher of the Year, tossed six scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts as undefeated Team USA stifled Cuba, 4-1, to earn the top seed in the four-team medal round that opens Tuesday.
Barden, a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Baseball Team that won bronze but lost twice to Cuba in the Beijing Games, extended his hit streak here to six games with an infield single in the first inning.
While it represented Team USA's ninth consecutive victory in the 12-team tourney that opened Oct. 1, players tempered their enthusiasm. More work remains, and Cuba (7-2) is, well, Cuba.
A second meeting would occur if Team USA beats the Dominican Republic and Cuba upends Venezuela in the semifinals.
"This is a great way for me to head into the off-season, but we are not there yet," said Archer, 22, who surrendered just two hits and did not allow a runner past first base in his final four innings.
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