OCHO:

Classic field narrowed to great eight (Doug Miller, 3/12/09, MLB.com)

Three more World Baseball Classic games captivated a global audience Wednesday, and we now have the octet of teams that will move on to Round 2 in Miami and San Diego.

The last nation to book its ticket to Round 2 was Mexico, which earned its spot with some sweet revenge against Australia in Pool B in Mexico City.

After losing their first game to the Aussies by mercy rule in a 17-7 rout, the Mexicans returned the favor with a 16-1 mercy-rule pasting that lasted only six innings. [...]

Mexico moves on to Round 2 but not before meeting Cuba tonight to determine the winner of Pool B at 9 p.m. ET. The winner will play Japan in San Diego on Sunday at 4 p.m. ET in the first game of Round 2's Pool 1, and the loser will meet Korea there at 11 p.m. ET. [...]

Elsewhere in the Classic on Wednesday, Venezuela closed out Pool C play in Toronto by beating the United States, 5-3, and clinching the top seed in Round 2 at Dolphin Stadium in Miami, where the Venezuelans will meet the upstart Dutch in the first game of Pool 2 on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET. [...]

And in San Juan, home team Puerto Rico remained undefeated in the Classic by knocking off the surprising Netherlands team, 5-0, to take Pool D and open up their Round 2, Pool 2 adventure against the United States at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday in Miami.