01:00 AM EST on Tuesday, March 14, 2006

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- On a day when opponents of Fidel Castro caused turmoil in and above the stands, David Ortiz powered the Dominican Republic to a key victory over Cuba.

Ortiz hit his third home run of the tournament and walked with the bases loaded in a 7-3 victory yesterday that kept alive the Dominicans' hopes of advancing to the World Baseball Classic semifinals.

A group of fans caused a scuffle at Hiram Bithorn Stadium, spelling "Abajo Fidel (Down With Fidel)" with the letters on their shirts.

The fans also had a small sign with the same message about the Cuban president, as did an airplane pulling a sign that appeared over the ballpark.

Tournament organizers banned signs with political messages to comply with an agreement made with Cuba for the team's participation in the Classic.

Other spectators chanted "Fuera! (Take them out!)" and security guards took the sign away and asked the fans with the anti-Castro message to change shirts or leave leave the ballpark.

Cuba refused to attend the postgame news conference for the second time in the tournament.

Cuba and the Dominicans are both 1-1 in Group Two. The Dominicans play Venezuela today, and Cuba meets Puerto Rico tomorrow.

"I think we could play a lot better than what we played," Dominican manager Manny Acta said. "I think we should have scored at least 12 runs."

The Dominican Republic led, 7-0, after six innings in this one, then coasted. Starter Odalis Perez (2-0) struck out three in 4 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing three hits and one walk.

Winning "was very important because I understand if we would have lost today, we would have gone home tomorrow. . . . If we can go back out tomorrow and we can score at least eight or nine runs, we might go to the final," Perez said.

Miguel Tejada hit a go-ahead, two-run double in a four-run third, chasing starter Vicyohandry Odelin (0-1). Yadier Pedroso relieved, walked Albert Pujols, then retired Ortiz on a flyout as Tejada moved to third.

Moises Alou followed with a grounder to third that should have ended the inning, but Michel Enriquez threw wildly to first as Tejada and Pujols scored for a 4-0 lead.

An error by first baseman Ariel Borrero on Placido Polanco's grounder allowed another run to score in the fourth, and Ortiz hit a no-doubt homer off Yonder Martinez in the fifth, flipping his bat as soon as he finished his follow-through. Norberto Gonzalez relieved with the bases loaded in the sixth and walked Ortiz on a 3-1 pitch.

Yuliesky Gourriel homered in the seventh off Jorge Sosa. After Cuba scored twice in the ninth on right fielder Juan Encarnacion's error and Alexei Ramirez's RBI single, Fernando Rodney relieved with two on and one out. He struck out Eduardo Paret, loaded the bases with a walk to Enriquez, then struck out Joan Pedroso on a checked swing.

OTHER GAME

VENEZUELA 6, PUERTO RICO 0: At San Juan, Puerto Rico, Victor Martinez hit a grand slam, Carlos Zambrano combined with six pitchers on a seven-hitter and Venezuela defeated Puerto Rico. Zambrano struck out five in four innings, giving up two hits and two walks. Carlos Silva, Rafael Betancourt, Gustavo Chacin, Victor Zambrano, Jorge Julio and Francisco Rodriguez allowed five hits over the final five innings. Endy Chavez hit a two-run homer off Joel Pineiro in the fifth and Martinez extended Venezuela's lead to 6-0 with a grand slam in the eighth as Puerto Rico lost for the first time in the tournament. Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Cuba and the Dominican Republic are now tied with a 1-1 record.