Pedro Lazo and Yadel Marti baffled multi-millionaire sluggers while Cuban batters pounded 12 hits off major league pitchers to book a Monday title showdown against the winner of a later game between Japan and South Korea.

"Marti and Lazo deserve full credit for shutting down this team," Dominican manager Manny Acta said. "I can see why they dominated internationally. Those are big-league pitchers. Their pitching is legit. That's why they beat us."

Facing a Dominican lineup composed entirely of major league superstars, the Communist island dynasty left no doubt that their finest players can conquer wealthy US stars.

"For all of us, it has been a matter of great pride to play against teams of this standing and top quality," Lazo said. "We're very proud of oursleves and our performance. It feels wonderful.

"For Cuban amateur baseball, all we need is to win this tournament. We're really close and we hope to win it."

In the first global tournament featuring major league talent, Cuba could add to a haul of 19 World Cup titles and three Olympic golds in an event where the American squad went 3-3 and was eliminated in the second round.

"It was a wonderful show. This is Cuban sport played at its best," Marti said. "We deserve to be here."

Cuba was only allowed to compete in the Classic after US Treasury Department officials reversed themselves in January and gave permission despite sanctions against commercial trade with their Communist island political rivals.

"We're very grateful to all those who did what they could to bring Cuba into the Classic," catcher Ariel Pestano said. "We'll do everything possible, and also the impossible, to bring this success to Latin America."

Lazo, a 32-year-old right-hander whose 209 wins lead active Cuban hurlers, struck out three and scattered five hits without allowing an earned run in 4 2/3 innings. Starter Marti allowed three hits in 4 1/3 shutout innings.

"They pitched well. If you look at our lineup, that's not easy. From the first hitter to the last, we can hit more than any other team," said Dominican slugger Albert Pujols. "No more talking about it. No excuses. They beat us badly."

Cuba had won 19 in a row before Puerto Rico ended the streak 12-2 on March 10 and the Dominicans beat Cuba 7-3 in a second-round game, but Cuba avenged both losses to oust the elite teams.

Major leaguers are preparing for the start of their season and might not be at their peak but Dominican manager Manny Acta rejected that as an excuse.

"I'd rather give them credit than make excuses. Everybody who had the desire to play prepared themselves for this tournament," Acta said. "Our guys saw enough pitches. They had enough at-bats. No excuses."

It was the first US appearance by a Cuban team since an 11-6 victory over the major-league host Baltimore Orioles in a one-off exhibition on May 3, 1999.

Bartolo Colon, the American League's best pitcher in 2005, hurled six scoreless innings but Cuba tagged four hits and three runs off three relievers in the seventh inning.

Lazo denied Dominican rally attempts after that, striking out Alfonso Soriano to end the game and spark an on-field Cuban celebration.