2013 WBC: Day 14 Recap

Day 14 of the 2013 World Baseball Classic bosted one colossal meeting between the U.S. and Puerto Rico. This Friday night fight was a rematch from the opening game of the second round where the U.S. won 7-1. This time around the stakes were much higher, with the loser being eliminated from the tournament and the winner clinching the final spot in the semifinals.

Day 14:

Puerto Rico 4, USA 3

In this elimination game rematch the U.S. started Ryan Vogelsong to face Major League journey man, Nelson Figueroa of Puerto Rico. Angel Pagan got things started in the top of the first for Puerto Rico with a lead off single to center. He would be stranded there until Yadier Molina lined a two out-single to right, advancing Pagan to second and keeping the inning alive. Mike Aviles came to the plate and would give the Puerto Ricans an early lead with his RBI single to right, scoring Pagan to make it 1-0. Nelson Figueroa would take the mound with a one run cushion and wouldn't miss a beat all night. Figueroa flat-out dominated the American hitters, allowing just two hits and one walk in six scoreless innings to go along with two strike outs on way to earning his second victory of the tournament. Figueroa would only face three batters from the minimum forced three 1-2-3 innings to help the Puerto Ricans maintain their 1-0 lead.

Ryan Vogelsong, who didn't do that bad of a job, exited in favor of Vinnie Pestano in the top of the sixth with Carlos Beltran on first and two outs. The Puerto Ricans jumped on Pestano and put together a massive two out rally. Mike Aviles started the rally by lining a single into right. Pestano would loose his control, walking Alex Rios to load the bases and then walking Carlos Rivera to bring in Beltran to score; making it 2-0. Pestano's night wouldn't be over just yet as he stayed on the mound to face Andy Gonzalez with the bases loaded. Gonzalez would break it open with his two out-two run double in the left field corner, extending the lead to 4-0. Jeremy Affeldt would end the rally, but not before the damage had been done.

The dream for the Americans wasn't put to rest yet as the bats would come to life against Puerto Rico's bullpen in the seventh and eighth innings to create some Friday night drama. Joe Mauer crushed a ball to deep right-center for a one out triple and Giancarlo Stanton would bring him across the plate with his RBI single, ending a 14 inning-scoreless streak for the U.S. Ben Zobrist followed by ground into a fielder's choice for the second out and Jose De La Torre would get Adam Jones to strike out looking to preserve the lead. The U.S. entered the bottom of the eighth trailing 4-1, but had the top of their lineup due up for one last run at a comeback. Jimmy Rollins and Brandon Phillips would get the American rally started with back-to-back singles to bring the potetnial tying run to the plate. Ryan Braun would deliver, smacking a RBI double to left to score Rollins and cut the defecit to two. Joe Mauer would draw a walk and just like that the go-ahead run was on first. Giancarlo Stanton came up to bat with a huge opportunity to at least cut another chunk out of the Puerto Rican lead, let alone tie the game. Fernando Cabrera was the man chosen to face Stanton and would do his job, forcing him into a shallow pop up for the second out. Ben Zobrist would crack Cabrera by drawing a bases loaded-walk to score Brandon Phillips, pulling the U.S. within one.

Puerto Rico would call on J.C. Romero to get them out of a bases loaded jam. Romero saved the day by getting Eric Hosmer to ground out to second to end the American rally. Puerto Rico kept the keys in Romero's hand to protect a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the ninth and he did just that, striking out the first two batters before getting Jimmy Rollins to fly out to center for the final out to end the touranment for the United States. J.C. Romero only needed 13 pitches to record the final four outs on way to his first save in the event. Puerto Rico was led by Mike Aviles who had two hits and an RBI, Angel Pagan who also had two hits and scored a Run, and Andy Gonzalez who had the two run double in the sixth. The U.S. offense clearly struggled without David Wright, only mustering eight hits and leaving seven on base. Puerto Rico clinches the final semifinal berth with a 2-1 record and will rematch the Dominican Republic in the Pool 2 final on Saturday afternoon. The USA finishes 1-2 and is eliminated from the tournament.