Santo Domingo.
The duels between the Dominican Republic and the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic have forged memorable moments, despite not being a traditional rivalry.
First Encounters
The first encounter dates back to the 2009 edition. The Dominican selection, with stellar figures like Albert Pujols, David Ortiz, and Hanley Ramírez, was surprised by the Dutch team. The Netherlands achieved two consecutive victories with scores of 3-2 and 2-1, the latter in an exciting match that extended to eleven innings, which meant the elimination of the Dominican Republic in the first round.
Dominican Revenge
In the 2013 World Baseball Classic, the Dominican Republic sought revenge. Led by Robinson Canó, Nelson Cruz, and José Bautista, the Dominicans defeated the Netherlands on two occasions, both with a score of 4-1. The first victory came in the second round and the second in the semi-final in San Francisco, where a home run by Nelson Cruz was key to securing the victory.
Statistics and Meaning
The history between both teams shows a tie with two victories for each in the World Baseball Classic. In total, the Dominican Republic has scored 11 runs, compared to the 7 of the Netherlands in these matchups.
Despite their short history, these duels have been important for international baseball. The Netherlands’ victory in 2009 highlighted the growth of baseball in territories such as Curaçao and Aruba. For their part, the Dominican Republic’s response in 2013 was part of the path to an undefeated championship, one of the most outstanding in the history of the tournament.
