Mar 8, 2017; Salt River Pima-Maricopa, AZ, USA; Mexico first baseman Adrian Gonzalez against the Arizona Diamondbacks during a 2017 World Baseball Classic exhibition game at Salt River Fields. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2017; Miami, FL, USA; Dominican Republic infielder Carlos Santana (41) slides safe at home as Colombia catcher Jorge Alfaro (38) fields a ball in the eleventh inning during the 2017 World Baseball Classic at Marlins Park. Dominican Republic 10-3. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports /
While two teams punched their tickets to the second round, the runner-up spot in Pool D is still to be determined after a chock-filled day in the World Baseball Classic.
With wins from the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, each team to finish atop their respective pools did so undefeated. Although Colombia put the Dominicans on the edge of their seats, they rallied under the extra-inning rules to win 10-3. Likewise, what began as a back-and-forth battle ended with Puerto Rico beating Italy 9-3 and wrapped up their pool-play sweep.
Italy might have lost and dropped to 1-2, but they can still reach the second round, thanks to Mexico upsetting Venezuela. Although a win would have automatically sent Venezuela to round two, by losing to Mexico they are forced to play a tiebreaker against Italy today at 6:00 p.m. PST.
Team USA found itself in a similar situation, where a loss could bring about either elimination or a tiebreaker. However, they secured their spot in the second round by shutting out Canada 8-0.
Prior to the pool action happening in North America, Japan continued the second round with an 8-6 victory over the Netherlands.
The Netherlands put Japan’s undefeated standing in jeopardy with a back-and-forth battle that lasted 11 innings. Nonetheless, the Japanese remain 4-0 in the WBC with a 8-6 victory over the Dutch.
Through the first three innings, every lead taken by Japan was immediately erased by matched scoring from the Dutch. After Japan took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second, Jonathan Schoop homered to tie the game in the bottom of the second.
Likewise, Sho Nakata’s home run helped Japan to a 5-1 lead in the top of the third. However, with already two runs scored in the inning, Wladimir Balentien hit a game-tying home run in the bottom of the third.
Even when Seiji Kobayashi put Japan in front 6-5 in the sixth, Schoop kept the Netherlands alive with a two-run RBI single in the ninth.
After a scoreless tenth inning, Nakata hit the game-tying RBI single that brought home two runs in the eleventh. As the Netherlands went down in order in the eleventh, they join Cuba in the basement of Pool E.
Colombia Puts the Dominican on Edge, but Come up Short
Team Colombia nearly turned an upset against the highly-favored Dominican Republic, but ultimately lost 10-3 in an extra inning blowout. The extra-inning rule, which puts runners on first and second automatically in the eleventh inning and beyond, worked in favor for the Dominicans as they clinched a spot to the second round.
As the Dominican Republic took a 3-1 lead with two runs in the third, Colombia’s run in the first proved the only they scored off Wily Peralta. Though four innings, Peralta held the Colombians to two hits, one walk and one run with six strikeouts.
However, in his record-breaking 14 WBC pitching appearance, Fernando Rodney allowed a home run to Jorge Alfaro that tied the game in the eighth inning. A double play, which ended the ninth inning with a tag-out at home, sent the game into extra innings.
When the game stretched into the eleventh inning, the Dominican Republic scored seventh runs to put their lead well out of reach from the Colombians. Although they too started the eleventh inning with two runners on, the Colombians were held hitless by Jeurys Familia, who slammed the door with two strikeouts and a forceout.
Following their loss, Colombia stood helpless as their longshot of reaching the second round slipped away as Team USA beat Canada.
Team USA avoided a tiebreaker and advanced to the second round of the WBC with their 8-0 victory over Canada. Danny Duffy, who pitched four scoreless innings and struck out seven, set the United State’s pitching staff on the path to 15 total strikeouts, which ties a WBC-record.
The United States wasted little time in taking the lead. Eric Hosmer doubled in two runs to give USA the lead in the first. The following inning, Nolan Arenado knocked a two-run homer over the left field wall.
After he drove in a run with a ground out in the first and a single in the second, Buster Posey put USA ahead 8-0 with a home run in the seventh. He finished the game 3-4 with one run and three RBIs.
Correa’s Swing Helps Puerto Rico to Victory over Italy
The Italians’ time as the comeback kids came to an end when Puerto Rico held them to their lowest offensive numbers thus far in the tournament. Team Puerto Rico erased their early deficit to beat Italy 9-3 with consistent offense and nearly unhittable pitching.
Although John Andreoli and Drew Butera helped Italy take a 3-1 lead with a pair of home runs after the top of the second, Puerto Rico took control of the game. After Carlos Beltran doubled in the go-ahead run in the third, Carlos Correa hit a three-run homer in the fourth to give Puerto Rico a 7-3 lead.
Two runs in the fifth inning capped the scoring for the Puerto Ricans, but their pitching dominated Italy through the entire game. The combined effort of Jose Berrios, Hiram Burgos and Miguel Mejia, Puerto Rico held Italy to three hits, three runs, two walks and struck out nine.
Regardless of their loss, because Venezuela was unable to defeat Mexico, Italy is set to play a tiebreaker against Mexico today at 6:00 p.m. PST.
Venezuela stayed alive in the tournament and eliminated Mexico from the WBC even with their 11-9 loss to the host country.
Japhet Amador doubled in the first run of the game and sparked Mexico’s five-run second inning. Following Luis Cruz’s sacrifice fly, Esteban Quiroz, who went 2-3 with two runs and three RBIs, hit a three-run homer.
Although Martin Prado put Venezuela on the board in the third, Brandon Laird’s three-run homer gave Mexico an 8-1 lead in the fifth.
From there, Venezuela came within three runs of Mexico on two separate occasions before losing the game. Singles from Robinson Chirinos and Jose Altuve brought Venezuela 9-6 behind Mexico.
After Chris Roberson put Mexico ahead 11-6 in the seventh, Victor Martinez launched a two-run homer that made the score 11-8. Later in the inning, Chirinos was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded a brought in a run.
