where it lost its first game to undefeated Pool A winner Team Israel. Former Major League starting pitcher Jason Marquis (in 5.2 innings) and three Team Israel relief pitchers (including Brad Goldberg and Josh Zeid, who both threw 96 mph fastballs) kept Cuba to five hits and one run, a homer by Despaigne, who became the all-time World Baseball Classic home run leader. Pool A MVP catcher Ryan Lavarnway had two hits for Israel. Cuba went on to lose all 3 games they played and failed to advance to the championship round. Olympics Cuba has been the most successful Cuba national team at the Olympics bringing home three gold medals and two silver medals. They have the distinction of being one of two nations to compete in the first five baseball contests at the Summer Olympic Games since it has been an event that started at the [[Olympic. On June 1, 2021, Cuba was eliminated from qualification for the 2020 Olympics, marking their first failure to qualify for the games. IBAF World Cup 2009 IBAF World Cup Cuba was originally slated to host the 2009 Baseball World Cup, however, they willingly gave up the honor to Europe. In an effort to help baseball grow as a sport in Europe, the Baseball World Cup was hosted by a whole continent for the first time in history. The Baseball World Cup took place from September 9–27. Seven European countries hosted and participated in the tournament of 22 teams. The event was made up of five groups consisting of four teams each, for a total of 20 teams. Italy (Bollate, Bologna, Codogno, Florence, Macerata, Milano, Parma, Piacenza, Reggio Emilia, Rimini, San Marino, Torino, Trieste, Verona & Vicenza) and Netherlands (Rotterdam, Haarlem & Amsterdam) served as hosts of the sixteen teams of the second round (September 14–20), and therefore received first round byes. The groups are as follows: Group A (hosted by the Czech Republic in Prague): Czech Republic, Australia, Chinese Taipei & Mexico Group B (hosted by Spain in Barcelona): Spain, Cuba, Puerto Rico & South Africa Group C (hosted by Sweden in Stockholm): Sweden, Canada, Korea & Netherlands Antilles Group D (hosted by Russia in Moscow): Russia, France/Great Britain, Japan & Nicaragua Group E (hosted by Germany in Regensburg): Germany, China, U.S.A. & Venezuela International tournament results World Baseball Classic Olympics Gold: 1992, 1996, 2004 Silver: 2000, 2008 Baseball World Cup Gold: