RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — A Pan American Games silver medal earned by a bunch of college baseball players bodes well for the United States in next summer's Olympics. Of course, the gold that Cuba grabbed for the 10th straight time is a powerful reminder of who dominates the sport internationally.

The Cubans won 3-1 yesterday morning. The Americans, who went 4-0 to reach the final, were no match for the solid pitching of Adiel Palma. The U.S. team managed only four hits off Palma, who was 2-0 in Rio and struck out nine in the gold medal game.

Pedro Luis Lazo allowed one hit in getting the save with 1 1/3 innings of relief. Lazo struck out three in a row before Pedro Alvarez (Vanderbilt) doubled with two outs in the ninth. Justin Smoak (South Carolina) then flew out to center field.

"It was a tough loss, but I thought we played well," said manager Mike Weathers, who has won three silver medals against Cuba as a player (1971), assistant (2003) and manager (2007). "We couldn't solve their pitching.

"Both teams played very well. We should be very proud to win a silver medal. We overcame a lot and accomplished many things. These guys will take home a lot of memories."

Although most of these players have little chance of going to Beijing, where a team of minor leaguers not on 25-man rosters will be chosen, the Americans should get a boost from their performance in Rio.

The Cubans took a 2-0 lead in the third on a two-run double by Alexander Mayeta, and added a run in the fourth. The Americans answered with one run in the bottom of the fourth, driven in by Smoak's single.

Jacob Thompson of Virginia was the loser as the United States used five pitchers who allowed 10 hits.

"We're proud to beat a good team like the United States to win our 10th (gold) medal," said Cuban manager Rey Vicente Anglada. "It's always a great rivalry because each team gives it all out on the field."

SHARPSHOOTING

American shooters have eight gold medals and no serious rivals at the Pan American Games. And they're planning some surprises at next year's Beijing Olympics.

"The Europeans and Asians are always very strong. The Chinese are like us Americans in swimming or track and field — they always get a pile of medals," national rifle coach Dave Johnson said yesterday. "We plan to be the spoilers."

The U.S. team is a power at the hemisphere-wide games. Jason Parker of Omaha, Neb., won the 50-meter rifle three-position event for one of two golds and four overall on Thursday that gave the United States 18 medals in the sport.

And the Americans have strong candidates today in the last two events — the women's 50 meter rifle three-position finals and the men's skeet final — that they expect will raise their gold collection to 10.

SWIMMING

American swimmers earned four more gold medals, including the third of the games for Julia Swit of Mount Sinai, N.Y., when she took the 200-meter individual medley. The silver went to Emily Kukors of Auburn, Wash.

In the 200 freestyle, Ava Ohlgren (Northville, Mich.) was the gold medalist. And Caroline Burckle (Louisville, Ky.) won the 800 free.

Among the men, Brazil's Thiago Pereira won his fourth and fifth golds of these games. He won the 200 individual medley, beating Robert Margalis of Flushing, N.Y. Then Pereira was in the qualifying 400-meter freestyle relay, which earned him gold when other members of the team beat the United States in the final.

Matthew Owen, Scottsdale, Ariz., swam to gold in the men's 200 free.

JUDO

Ronda Rousey (Santa Monica, Calif.) won the 70kg judo division, defeating Brazilian Mayra Silva in the gold medal match.

WATER POLO

The U.S. women's water polo team, which already owns the world championship, qualified for the 2008 Olympics when it took the gold 6-4 over Canada. The Americans were undefeated at the Pan Ams. Cuba got the bronze.

SOCCER

Mexico rallied from a 2-0 deficit to beat the Under-20 U.S. women's soccer team 3-2, but the Americans advanced to the semifinals against Canada on Monday. Casey Nogueira (Raleigh, N.C.) scored her third goal of the tournament and Kelley O'Hara connected in the 57th. But the Mexicans stormed back with two goals inside two minutes my Juan Lopes, the Teresa Worbis scored on a penalty kick in the 79th to win it.

Brazil routed Canada 7-0 as FIFA World Player of the Year Marta had five goals. Brazil faces Mexico in the other semifinal.

BASKETBALL

The U.S. women's basketball team saw its first action and romped past Colombia 95-41 as Matee Ajavon of Rutgers scored 15 points and Tasha Humphrey of Georgia added 14. Charde Houston of UConn had 10 points and 10 rebounds.

FIELD HOCKEY

Netherlands Antilles beat the U.S. men 2-1 in field hockey, ending any medals chances for the Americans.