SANTO DOMINGO (Dominican Republic), Aug 13: Cuba beat arch-rivals the US 3-1 on Tuesday to win the Pan American Games baseball gold medal for the ninth time running, while tempers flared on the soccer field and another gold medallist failed a dope test.

Referee Ricardo Valenzuela was escorted off the field by security staff to protect him from furious Colombian players after they lost 2-1 to a golden goal by Argentina in the soccer semifinals.

Earlier, organisers announced that US sprinter Mickey Grimes had tested positive for ephedrine after winning the 100 metres last Wednesday.

Ariel Pestana produced three hits, including a double and a home run, to set up Cuba’s win over the United States as the Caribbean islanders extended a golden run which began in Cali, Colombia, in 1971.

The US scored the first run on a sacrifice fly by Brent Lillibridge in the bottom of the second inning.

Cuba hit back with runs in the top of the sixth and seventh before Pestana whacked the ball out of the stadium for his homer in the top of the ninth.

Pitcher Norge Luis Vera gave up only two hits and a run in nine innings for Cuba.

Colombia took a second-half lead through Abel Aguilar but Argentina snatched an equaliser when Manuel Perrone headed home in the fourth minute of injury time. Franco Cangele struck the golden goal winner eight minutes into extra time.

Colombia, who also had defender Luis Gonzalez sent off in extra time, chased after the referee at the end but the official was saved by security staff.

Brazil needed an 87th minute goal by Atletico Paranaense striker Dagoberto to overcome Mexico 1-0 in the other semi.

US sprinter Grimes said in a statement that he had made a mistake after the Pan American Sports Organisation announced he had failed a doping test.

Grimes followed Surinam’s Letitia Vriedse, who was stripped of the women’s 800 metres gold medal after a test showed she was above permitted levels of caffeine.

The US won all five of Tuesday’s events in the swimming pool and set two Games records, with Benjamin Michaelson completing the 100 metres butterfly in 53.04 seconds and the men’s relay team finishing the 4x200 metres freestyle in seven minutes 18.93 seconds.

Dana Vollmer won the women’s 200 metres, Robert Margalis the men’s 400 metres medley and Alexandra Spann the women’s 200 metres breaststroke.

Tuesday’s results:

Baseball:

Bronze medal match: Mexico beat Micargua 6-2.

Final: Cuba beat United States 3-1

Swimming:

Women’s 200 metres freestyle: 1. Dana Vollmer (US) one minute 59.80 seconds; 2. Colleen Lanne (US) 2:01.98; 3. Mariana Brochado (Brazil) 2:02.08; 4. Elizabeth Collins (Canada) 2:02.26.

Men’s 400 metres individual medley: 1. Robert Margalis (US) 4:19.09; 2. Eric Ryan Donnelly (US) 4:19.65; 3. Thiago Pereira (Brazil) 4:19.89; 4. Jeremy Knowles (Bahamas) 4:22.04.

Men’s 100 metres butterfly: 1. Benjamin Michaelson (US) 53.04 seconds; 2. Jose Meolans (Argentina) 53.28; 3. Kaio Almeida (Brazil) 53.44; 4. Joshua Illika (Mexico) 53.46.

Men’s 4x200 metres freestyle relay: 1. US seven minutes 18.93 seconds; 2. Brazil 7:25.17; 3. Canada 7:27.18; 4. Mexico 7:30.20; 5. Chile 7:41.49; 6. US Virgin Islands 7:55.68; 7. Bahamas 7:58.58; 8. Dominican Republic 7:59.22.

Women’s 200 metres breaststroke: 1. Alexandra Spann (US) 2:29.76; 2. Lisa Blackburn (Canada) 2:31.52; 3. Kathleen Stoody (Canada) 2:31.93; 4. Melissa Klein (US) 2:33.63.

Squash:

Men’s singles:

Semifinals: Graham Ryding (Canada) beat Preston Quick (US) 9-0, 9-0, 9-0; Shahier Razik (Canada) beat Ronivaldo Conceicao (Brazil) 9-2, 9-1, 9-5.

Final: Razik beat Ryding 2-9, 9-0, 10-9, 1-9, 9-5.

Women’s singles:

Semifinals: Latassha Khan (US) beat Marnie Baizley (Canada) 9-5, 9-5, 6-9, 9-4; Melanie Jans (Canada) beat Samantha Teran (Mexico) 9-4, 10-8, 5-9, 2-9, 10-8.

Final: Khan beat Jans 9-2, 9-5, 3-9, 9-6.

Soccer:

Semifinals: Argentina beat Colombia 2-1 ((golden goal: score at 90 minutes: 1-1); Brazil beat Mexico 1-0.

Weightlifting:

Men’s 56 kilos clean and jerk: 1. Nelson Castro (Colombia) 145.0 kilos; 2. Tomas Aquino (Dominican Republic) 132.5; 3. David Mendoza (Honduras) 107.5.

Women’s 48 kilos: 1. Tara Nott (US) 97.5 kilos; 2. Guillermina Canderlario (Dominican Republic) 92.5; 3. Remigia Arcila (Venezuela) 92.5.

Men’s 62 kilos: 1. Diego Salazar (Colombia) 170.0 kilos; 2. Vladimir Rodriguez (Cuba) 170.0; 3. Israel Lopez (Venezuela) 150.0.

Cycling:

Men’s 1 km time trial: 1. Ahmed Lopez (Cuba) one minute 04.423 seconds (average speed 55.8792 kilometres per hour); 2. Christian Stahl (US) 1:06.751 (53.9316 kmh); 3. Benjamin Martinez (Bolivia) 1:06.862 (53.8416 kmh); 4. Maximiliano Richeze (Argentina) 1:07.584 (53.2656 kmh).

Women’s handball:

Bronze medal match: Uruguay beat US 35-21.

Final: Brazil beat Argentina 40-15.