A stirring, dramatic 1-0 win for Australia versus Japan in the other semifinal (I watched much of the first seven innings on TV before leaving for work; Chris Oxspring was marvelous) sets up Canada's semifinal against Cuba, who beat Canada 5-2 in round-robin play (after losing to Canada 9-1 in the pre-Olympic warmup tournament in Italy two weeks ago).
Shawn Hill will get the start for Canada. Canada will have to beat tough Cuban lefty Adiel Palma. In the Olympic qualifying tournament last year, Palma ran through Canada's lefty-dominated lineup like a hot knife through butter. He pitched seven innings of three-hit ball in pool play, then eight innings of a two-hit shutout in the final. Canada has been in tough against lefties so far; they have a very tough road ahead of them. Palma's your typical veteran lefty -- everything he throws has lots of movement. His out pitch is a curve and he also throws a tailing fastball and a diving forkball, and his prototypically Cuban mechanics allow him to come from unexpected and ever-changing arm angles.
Shawn Hill will get the start for Canada. Canada will have to beat tough Cuban lefty Adiel Palma. In the Olympic qualifying tournament last year, Palma ran through Canada's lefty-dominated lineup like a hot knife through butter. He pitched seven innings of three-hit ball in pool play, then eight innings of a two-hit shutout in the final. Canada has been in tough against lefties so far; they have a very tough road ahead of them. Palma's your typical veteran lefty -- everything he throws has lots of movement. His out pitch is a curve and he also throws a tailing fastball and a diving forkball, and his prototypically Cuban mechanics allow him to come from unexpected and ever-changing arm angles.
