Having lost to the Dominican team in group-play already the U.S. had something to prove and boy, did they prove it.
Advertisement
Puerto Rico improved to 5-0 in the tournament as they built their early lead on Friday on six singles in an explosive four-run first inning in front of a crowd of 32,000 at Petco Park. Every starter had at least one hit, while eight starters had at least one run scored and seven had at least one RBI. The Dominican Republic won the last World Baseball Classic in 2013 and are looking to repeat while the USA has never advanced further than the semis.
With two outs in the fourth, Crawford singled to bring Stanton to the plate. The United States won 6-3.
Manager’s special: United States of America manager Jim Leyland, watching Stroman struggle to even record an out, had Jake McGee warming up in the first inning.
“There were a lot of people that respectfully declined and we’re not going to throw anybody under the bus”, Leyland said. So we’re moving forward and that’s all we’re talking about.
When these two teams took the field at Marlins Park last Saturday, the US led the game late.
Showalter wasn’t the only person to notice the bearded fan in the Yankees’ hat who threatened to interfere with Jones’s ability to make one of the greatest home run-saving catches you’ll see. He has mostly been relegated to third base duty because of the defensive wizardry of Cleveland Indians luminary Francisco Lindor, himself hitting.389 (7-for-18) with a pair of home runs in the WBC.
The game might have turned out differently had Adam Jones not robbed Manny Machado of a solo home run in the seventh inning. Jones tipped his in return.
“It’s frustrating for him, especially when you’re talking about a guy who’s been an Opening Day starter for us”, Showalter said. “I mean, off the bat I’m just like, ‘This ball’s hit really far, so just keep going, keep going”. I don’t mind running into a wall or two.
“I just tried to fill in wherever I can and do my job”. “Unfortunately, I saw it live. It was a hell of catch”, he added. Yelich led off with a walk, and Eric Hosmer was hit by a pitch to put two runners on for Andrew McCutchen.
Thus far in the 2017 WBC, the US has gone 4-2 and of course can finish no worse than fourth. A rematch is possible, but first the Dominican team will have to get past the United States. No more round-robin pool play.
Heading into the World Baseball Classic semifinals that begin on Monday at Dodger Stadium, there will be two undefeated teams: Japan, winners of the 2006 and 2009 Classics, and Puerto Rico, who finished as runner-ups in 2013. Dominican Republic World Baseball Classic Pool F finale, with the victor advancing and the loser going home, see the streaming information at the bottom of this page.
Dominican Republic Robinson Cano, in the seventh, connects for a high flyer out over the left wall to cut the U.S. lead to one. Two batters later Marlins’ outfielder Christian Yelich ripped a double to center scoring Kinsler and tying up the game for the Americans.
The Dominicans had three more scoring chances but failed each time. After allowing a leadoff hit to Machado, Pat Neshek was summoned to face Cano.
US 6 – Dominican Republic 3. Venezuela was knocked out as they lost all three of their games in the second round.
Advertisement
Team USA is sending Danny Duffy to the mound for the start in this one. Nelson Figueroa pitched six scoreless innings and J.C.Romero pitched out of a bases-loaded situation in the eighth inning of a 4-3 victory, eliminating the U.S. Puerto Rico advanced to the final round and lost to the Dominican Republic in the final game. He struck out two and walked none.
