World Baseball Classic Day 3: Netherlands Clinch, Israel Remains Undefeated
By Keaton Moore
After an active day in the World Baseball Classic, the undefeated Israel steals the spotlight with their victory over the Netherlands.
Despite being pegged as one of the underdogs in Pool A, Israel completed their sweep of pool play with a 4-2 victory over the Netherlands. As Chinese Taipei fell 5-4 to the Dutch, they are in danger of finishing the WBC without a win.
Meanwhile in Pool B, Australia was rudely welcomed in their tournament opener by Japan, who won the game 4-1.
Japan Continues Strong Start
Australia and Japan made the Tokyo Dome look incredibly small as they combined for three home runs in their game. Despite an early lead, Australia came up empty in the late innings as Japan rallied to a 4-1 victory.
Allan de San Miguel hit a home run over the right field wall to give Australia a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Their lead lasted until Japan tied the game 1-1 in the top of the fifth.
Shortly after Sho Nakata put Japan ahead with a solo home run in the seventh, Yoshitomo Tsutsugoh smacked a two-run homer in the eighth.
As their bullpen retired the final 10 Australian batters in order, Japan improved to 2-0 and clinched spot in the second round.
Netherlands Walk Off, Literally
In walk-off fashion, the Netherlands caught up with Israel in Pool A with a 6-5 victory over Chinese Taipei. Their back-and-forth battle ended with the Dutch clinching a spot in the second round.
Trailing 2-1, Didi Gregorious brought an end to Chinese Taipei’s short-lived lead in the bottom of the fourth. Bound to finish the game 3-for-4 with 2 runs and 3 RBI, Gregorious smacked a two-run double that put the Netherlands ahead 3-2.
Although the Dutch scored once more in the fourth, Chinese Taipei quickly regained the lead in the fifth. Chih-Hao Chang’s two-run homer sparked a three-run rally in the fifth, where Chinese Taipei shot ahead on an RBI forceout.
Nearing defeat, Gregorious hit his third double to tie the game 5-5 in the eighth. In the ninth, the Netherlands loaded the bases and set the stage for Jurickson Profar. After some confusion between the umpires, Profar coaxed a bases-loaded walk to complete the Netherland’s comeback.
The Promised Team
Without any concern of not reaching the second round, the Netherlands squared off against Israel to determine which team is seated where. Israel, the Pool A winner, rode a three-run first inning to a 4-2 victory over the Dutch.
With one out in the first inning, Nate Freiman began Israel’s offensive onslaught with an RBI double. One batter later, Zach Borenstein grounded out and brought another run across the plate. Ryan Lavarnway singled in the final run of the inning that put Israel ahead 3-0.
The Netherlands reached the scoreboard with an RBI groundout in the third that cut Israel’s lead to 3-1. However, Israel retired the next seven batters in order after the Dutch scored.
Although an error made by Israel shortstop Tyler Krieger allowed the Netherlands to score in the eighth, he redeemed himself by beginning an inning-ending double play that kept Israel ahead 4-2. That proved to be the Netherlands’ last serious threat of the game as Josh Zeid shut the door with a three-up-three down ninth.
As a whole, Israel’s pitching staff held the Netherlands to only five hits and two runs, the Dutch’s lowest offensive productive thus far in the WBC.
These two teams are scheduled to meet again in the second round, which begins on Saturday, March 11.
Next: WBC Day 4: New Pools Begin, Australia Eliminated
What’s Next
On top of the final game in Pool A between Korea and Chinese Taipei, Pools C and D begin on Thursday, March 9. While Australia plays against China and Cuba, Canada opens up Pool C with a game against the Dominican Republic and Mexico takes on Pool-D rival Italy.