TORONTO — The World Baseball Classic has been a blast so far for the United States.

Kevin Youkilis hit a two-run homer, Adam Dunn and Ryan Braun added solo shots and the United States powered its way into the second round of the WBC by beating Venezuela, 15-6, last night.

Chris Iannetta and Mark DeRosa each had four RBIs and Youkilis scored four times for Team USA, which broke it open with an eight-run sixth inning and finished with 16 hits.

"With that lineup, I don't see why we shouldn't have a few of those innings a night," Dunn said. "It was a lot of fun, but I don't think it was very unexpected on our side."

Every U.S. starter had at least one hit except for third baseman Chipper Jones, lifted in the sixth because of a mild strain on his side. Jones, 0 for 7 with five strikeouts in the WBC, will be evaluated again today.

Philadelphia's Shane Victorino, a St. Anthony High alum from Maui, was 0 for 1 with a run scored for the Americans.

Dunn was one of many U.S. players to rave about the camaraderie that has quickly forged strong bonds on a team eager to make amends for a disappointing eighth-place finish at the 2006 tournament.

"It feels like we've been together for a long time," Dunn said. "I don't know if that's the way they designed it or what. It's a bunch of great guys and everyone gets along. It's amazing."

Florida reliever Matt Lindstrom worked 1 1/3 perfect innings for the win before a crowd of 13,094.

Victor Zambrano took the loss, allowing four runs and two hits in one-plus inning.

Venezuela will play an elimination game tomorrow against the winner of today's game between Canada and Italy. The winner tomorrow advances to round two, and will face the U.S. team Wednesday night to decide first place in Group C.

Team USA will begin second-round play Saturday in Miami.

The U.S. sixth began when Youkilis reached on a wild third strike. David Wright singled and Dunn walked to load the bases for DeRosa, who drew a walk. Left-hander Carlos Vasquez replaced Zambrano, but Iannetta greeted him with a three-run double to right-center, taking third as the throw went to the plate.

Vasquez struck out Curtis Granderson and was replaced by right-hander Yoel Hernandez, who walked Derek Jeter and gave up a two-run double to Dustin Pedroia. Braun batted for Jones and grounded out, but Youkilis capped the inning with a homer to left, his second in two games.

AUSTRALIA 17, MEXICO 7

MEXICO CITY — Chris Snelling homered twice and Ben Risinger hit a three-run shot as Australia powered past Mexico.

The game was stopped after eight innings because of the 10-run mercy rule.

Risinger, Lake Hughes and Andrew Graham each drove in three runs for Australia, which has no players in the majors and was considered one of the underdogs in Pool A. The Australians will play Cuba tomorrow for a berth in the second round in San Diego.

Mexico will face South Africa in an elimination game.

CUBA 8, SOUTH AFRICA 1

MEXICO CITY — Frederich Cepeda and Cuba showed off their power in their first game of the World Baseball Classic.

Cepeda hit two of Cuba's tournament-record six homers in a victory over South Africa.

The previous home run record for the WBC was four, achieved by the Dominican Republic against Venezuela in the inaugural tournament in 2006.

Norge Luis Vera allowed two hits and struck out six in six shutout innings for Cuba, which finished second in the first WBC.

Cepeda connected against Barry Armitage with two outs in the first, Alfredo Despaigne hit a two-run shot in the second and Cepeda added his second solo drive in the third.

Hector Olivera, Youlieski Gourriel and Yoennis Cespedes also hit solo shots for Cuba, which will play Australia tomorrow.

South Africa will play Mexico today.

SOUTH KOREA 14, CHINA 0

TOKYO — Olympic champion South Korea advanced to the second round of the World Baseball Classic with a rout of China in seven innings.

South Korea put the game out of reach with five runs in the bottom of the fifth, taking advantage of two costly errors by China to take a 9-0 lead at Tokyo Dome.

South Korea starter Yoon Suk-min picked up the win after striking out four and holding China to two hits over six innings.

South Korea will meet defending champion Japan to determine the top team in Pool A. Japan booked a place in the second round with a 14-2 win over South Korea on Saturday.

China, managed by former major league manager Terry Collins, was eliminated from the 16-nation tournament, along with Taiwan, which was knocked out Saturday after a 4-1 loss to China.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 9, PANAMA 0

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Miguel Olivo homered twice and drove in five runs, and the Dominican Republic rebounded from a startling loss at the World Baseball Classic by beating Panama in an elimination.

Nelson Cruz also homered and winning pitcher Johnny Cueto struck out five in 4 2/3 innings for the Dominicans, upset by the Netherlands, 3-2, on Saturday in the opening game of Pool D play.

Panama was eliminated from the tournament after it was outscored 16-0 in two games.

Next, the Dominican Republic will play another elimination game tomorrow against the loser of today's game between Puerto Rico and the Netherlands.

Cueto gave up three hits and walked one. He got solid relief from Julian Tavarez, Rafael Perez and Tony Pena.

STEROIDS

SELIG SAYS BASEBALL HAS 'CLEANED THE GAME UP'

Baseball commissioner Bud Selig says he's proud of how far the sport has come in attempting to eliminate performance-enhancing drugs.

"It's been an interesting experience for me in the respect that we've cleaned the game up," Selig said yesterday during a spring training game between the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs in Phoenix. "I'm proud of where we are."

If there's work still to be done, Selig said, it's in being able to test for human growth hormone.

"There's not a test, regardless of what people say," Selig said. "If there's a test we'll use it. I can't wait to sit down and tell you that we now have a test for HGH."

Selig wouldn't comment on his office's interview with Alex Rodriguez following the All-Star third baseman's admission that he used steroids from 2001-03 while playing for Texas.

Selig's lone frustration stemming from the A-Rod situation is in being told that he should have known earlier that steroids were a problem.

"If I sound frustrated it's because you get into revisionism 15-20 years later and it's the wrong set of facts you're revising," Selig said. "My frustration is we started (steroid education) in 1998. Where were we sleeping?"

On the economic front, Selig said he and his staff receive frequent updates from all 30 franchises regarding their financial situation.

"We have some clubs that are doing remarkable business and we have some clubs that are struggling," Selig said. "Are we monitoring things? You bet."

BREWERS

MILWAUKEE RELEASES RELIEVER GAGNE

Milwaukee has released reliever Eric Gagne so he can rehab his sore shoulder in Tempe, Ariz., at a private facility.

Gagne was in the Brewers camp as a non-roster invitee on a minor league contract.

Gagne had not pitched in a game in spring training before developing shoulder soreness. An MRI detected damage to the rotator cuff and labrum. Dr. Lewis Yocum recommended Gagne receive a cortisone injection and rehab as an option to surgery.

He finished last season with 10 saves in 17 chances, a 5.41 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 46 innings.