Dominican Republic Crushes Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic
Miami – The Dominican Republic demonstrated its offensive power by defeating the Netherlands with a resounding score of 12-1 in just seven innings, securing its undefeated status in Group D of the World Baseball Classic.
The game, marked by the mercy rule, ended after a two-run home run by Juan Soto in the bottom of the seventh inning, extending the Dominican advantage to double digits.
The Dominican offensive has been relentless, outscoring their opponents 24-4 in the first two games played at loanDepot Park.
Juan Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Junior Caminero, and Austin Wells were the architects of the attack, hitting home runs that drove the victory. Fernando Tatis Jr. and Ketel Marte contributed with three walks each.
Starting pitcher Luis Severino had an outstanding performance, allowing one run and three hits, with five strikeouts in four innings.
The Dominican offense exploded in the fifth inning, scoring six runs, with a three-run homer by Caminero and a two-run homer by Wells. A sacrifice fly by Marte extended the lead.
Caminero’s second home run in the tournament had an exit velocity of 115.8 mph.
The Dominican Republic started the game strong, scoring two runs in the first inning against Arij Fransen, who took the loss. Guerrero drove in a run with a single, and Marte scored from third base after an error by shortstop Xander Bogaerts.
Didi Gregorius cut the deficit for the Netherlands with a solo home run in the second inning, before Guerrero hit a two-run home run in the third, making the score 4-1.Panama 4, Canada 3: In San Juan, Puerto Rico, Rubén Tejada drove in two runs with a pinch-hit single in the sixth inning, giving Panama its first victory in Group A. Enrique Bradfield Jr. had three hits for Panama, including a run-scoring single. Luis Castillo also drove in a run with a single, and Miguel Cienfuegos pitched 2 1/3 hitless innings in relief in the rain-delayed victory.
Panama had suffered tough defeats against Cuba and Puerto Rico. Now they will face Colombia in their last group game.
Abraham Toro drove in a run with a double for Canada, which fell to 1-1. Jameson Taillon pitched 3 2/3 innings, allowing one run.
Panama scored three unearned runs in the sixth inning, thanks to errors by first baseman Josh Naylor and losing pitcher James Paxton.
With two outs and the bases loaded, Tejada hit a soft ground ball to center. Canada’s shortstop, Otto Lopez, got to the ball, but couldn’t make the play. Jose Ramos and Christian Bethancourt scored, giving Panama a 3-2 lead. Bradfield followed with a bunt to drive in Miguel Amaya.
Canada scored a run in the eighth thanks to a double by Owen Caissie, but Humberto Mejía struck out pinch hitter Tyler Black for the last out of the inning. Dario Agrazal struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning for the save.Mexico 16, Brazil 0 (6 innings): In Houston, Alejandro Kirk, Jarren Duran, Alek Thomas, and Julian Ornelas hit home runs, as Mexico dominated in another game shortened by the mercy rule.
Mexico also defeated Great Britain in its first game and will face the United States on Monday night. Mexico led by five runs before a big fourth inning. Duran drove in two runs with a double before Kirk hit a three-run home run that put the score at 10-0.
Kirk hit a two-run double in Mexico’s four-run first inning. Duran hit a home run on Eric Pardinho’s first pitch in the second, putting the score at 5-0.
The Mexico manager, Benji Gil, used pinch hitters in the fifth with his team up 11-0. The team added a run in the fifth before a two-run homer by Thomas extended the lead to 14-0 in the sixth.
Ornelas’ two-run homer put the score at 16-0.
Mexico’s opener, Taijuan Walker, struck out three and gave up two walks in 3 1/3 innings. Brazil didn’t get a hit until Gabriel Maciel singled against Roel Ramírez in the fifth.
Brazil was eliminated from the tournament.Cuba 7, Colombia 4: In San Juan, Puerto Rico, Ariel Martínez and Erisbel Arruebarrena hit home runs in a four-run first inning, helping Cuba improve to 2-0 in Group A.
Yiddi Cappe added a two-run triple in the sixth. Yoelkis Guibert hit two of Cuba’s eight hits, and Denny Larrondo pitched two innings for the win.
Cuba will face Puerto Rico on Monday night. Tito Polo drove in two runs for Colombia, who has not won.
Martínez hit a three-run homer to right field. Arruebarrena drove in a run with a home run.
Raidel Martínez pitched the ninth inning for his second save for Cuba.Italy 7, Great Britain 4: In Houston, Andrew Fischer hit a home run and drove in two runs, and J.J. D’Orazio also hit a home run to lead Italy over Great Britain.
Italy improved to 2-0, while Great Britain was eliminated.
Fischer cut the deficit to 2-1 when he opened the third inning with a home run for Italy. D’Orazio followed with his home run to tie the game.
Tied 2-2 in the fourth, Zach Dezenzo doubled and scored on a Fischer RBI single. D’Orazio reached on an error before a double by Miles Mastrobuoni and an RBI single by Dante Nori.
Dezenzo walked with an out in the fifth and scored with a triple by Sam Antonacci. A missed shot by Jazz Chisholm Jr. allowed Antonacci to score.Israel 5, Nicaragua 0: In Miami, Noah Mendlinger had three hits and drove in a run, as Israel improved to 1-1 in Group D.
Dean Kremer pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing two hits and striking out four. Nicaragua fell to 0-3 and was the first team to be eliminated. The Nicaraguans are still winless in the history of the tournament.
Zach Levenson’s two singles and singles by Cole Carrigg and Harrison Bader in the fifth put the score at 5-0. Four Israeli relievers followed Kremer and held Nicaragua hitless.
Mendlinger gave Israel an early lead with his run-scoring single in the second.
Mark Vientos and Omar Mendoza walked against Kremer to start the fifth. Kremer then finished his 63-pitch outing by striking out Juan Montes.
Josh Mallitz relieved Kremer and, after walking Melvin Novoa, retired Freddy Zamora with a double play.
Nicaragua’s opener, Carlos Rodríguez, allowed one run and four hits in four innings.
