2013 WBC Day 6 and 7 Recap

Day 6 of the 2013 WBC saw First Round Pools C and D begin play and the Second Round Pool 1 open up. Days 6 and 7 have featured the biggest upset and the best game of this tournament to this point.

Day 6:

Italy 6, Mexico 5

Italia pulled of an electric comeback to begin Pool D. The first inning was action packed with a total of five runs. Italy took an early lead on Alex Liddi's RBI single. Two batters later, Mike Costanzo would follow with a two out-RBI single to make it 2-0. Mexico would be quick to answer in the bottom of the first. After three out of the first four Mexican batters reached to load the bases with one out, Jorge Cantu cleared them all with a three run double to put his side up 3-2. Ramiro Pena hit an RBI double in the bottom of the second to extend the lead to 4-2. The scoring would pause for a little bit, until Drew Butera followed a Mario Chiarini single with a two run home run to tie us at four. Mexico would have a quick answer with Luis Cruz's RBI double in the bottom of the fifth to retake the lead, 5-4. For a long time it appeared that Cruz's double would hold up to be the winning hit, but we had to play a ninth inning. Italy trailed 5-4 entering the top of the ninth. After a pinch-hitter lead off with a groundout, Nick Punto would sky a double to deep left field to put his team in business. Chris Denorfia followed with a line-drive single, following a brutal battle with Mexican closer Sergio Romo. With runners on first and third and one out, Anthony Rizzo came up to bat. Rizzo delivered a deep shot to left field that would fall and score both Punto and Denorfia, giving Italy a 6-5 lead. In the bottom of the ninth Jason Grilli had Mexico down to its final strike three different times, but still had to face Jorge Cantu with the bases loaded and two outs. After a adrenhaline-filled battle Grilli got Cantu to ground out to first to end the game and give Italy a massive opening game win. Denorfia, Rizzo, and Liddi each had two hits, while all nine starters for Italy had a hit. Anthony Rizzo had the game-winning two run double in the top of the ninth to spurn the comeback. Eduardo Arredondo, Ramiro Pena, and Adrian Gonzalez each had two hits for Mexico. This was so far the craziest game of the 2013 WBC. Italy starts 1-0 and Mexico is 0-1.

Dominican Republic 9, Venezuela 3

This game was one of the most anticipated of the first week, but was far from it. The Dominicans jumped out to an early 3-0 in the bottom of the first off Robinson Cano's two run double. A couple batters later Nelson Cruz would add an RBI single. Cano and Edwin Encarnacion each would pick up an RBI in the bottom of the second to extend the Domincans' lead to 5-0. Pablo Sandaval would answer with a two run double in the top of the third to make it a 5-2 game. Venezuela would add a run in the fourth to make it 5-3. Hanley Ramirez hit a solo home run to leadoff the bottom of the fifth and would score on a Nelson Cruz RBI double in the seventh. To seal the deal, Alejandro De Aza would follow with a two run double in the bottom of the seventh to make it 9-3. The Dominican Republic flat-out dominated this game and were led by Jose Reyes (4-5, 2 Runs) and Robinson Cano (3-5, Run, and 3 RBI). Cruz had two hits with two RBI and Hanley Ramierez chipped in with a solo home run. Dominican Republic starts 1-0, while Venezuela is 0-1.

Netherlands 6, Cuba 2

The Dutch and Cubans squared off in the opening game of the second round Pool 1. The second round is a modified double elimination, making the opening game even more important. In a game that featured Cuba as the undefeated-heavy favorites, it was the Kingdom of the Netherlands who would flex their strength. The Dutch looked to threaten in the top of the first when they loaded the bases with two outs, but Xander Bogaerts would ground out to end the inning. Cuba managed a couple of hits in their half of the first, but would also fail to score. Both teams would leadoff their half of the second inning with a solo home run, Curt Smith for Netherlands and Alfredo Despaigne for Cuba, but the Dutch would have a 2-1 lead after two. Kalian Sams would follow Smith's home run with a double and would advance to third on a sac bunt. Andrelton Simmons would come through with a RBI single, scoring Sams, to make it 2-1. This would be the score until an orange and black explosion took place in the top of the sixth. Kalian Sams would start the rally with his one out-double. He would advance to third on a fly out, which was followed by an Andrelton Simmons walk. Jonathan Schoop came to the plate after a Cuban pitching change and his bat would supply the power needed to do some damage. With runners on first and third with two outs, Schoop belted one 394 feet to left field for a three run home run; breaking the game wide open for the Dutch. Diegomar Markwell started for the Netherlands and other than allowing a leadoff home run in the second he had his way with the Cuban hitters, allowing one run on nine hits and one walk in six strong innings of work. To add to his impressive outing Markewll did not record a strikeout and conducted three 1-2-3 innings en route to his second win if the tournament. Yulieski Gurriel would hit a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh to cut the defecit (5-2), but Jonathan Schoop would get the run back with his RBI double in the top of the eighth to make it 6-2. This game saw a total of 26 hits (14 for Netherlands) and the outstanding performer was Jonathan Schoop who went 3-6 with with 4 RBI. Wladimir Balentin, Andruw Jones, Sams, Smith, and Simmons each had two hits for Netherlands. Alfredo Despaigne continued his tear for Cuba as he led them going 1-4 with a solo home run. Netherlands is one win from a spot in the semifinals as they go to 1-0, while Cuba is 0-1 and will play in the 0-1 elimination game verse the loser of Chinese Taipei and Japan.

Day 7:

Japan 4, Chinese Taipei 3 F/10

An early start to Day 7 gave us the first extra inning-game of this year's Classic. The stakes for this game where as follows: the winner moves on to face Netherlands in a game to clinch a spot into the semifinals, and the loser plays Cuba in an elimination game. Chien-Ming Wang got Taipei off to another dominant start pitching six scoreless innings, only allowing six hits and a walk to go with one strikeout. His offense would come through in the bottom of the third. Yen-Wen Kuo would lead off with a double and advance to third on a sacrifice. A base on balls and hit by pitch would follow to load the bases with one out. After a foul out, Szu-Chi Chou would draw a walk to pick up and RBI and give Taipei a 1-0 lead. Cheng-Min Peng would make it 2-0 with his RBI single in the bottom of the fifth. Chinese Taipei looked to be in control but that would change when Wang left after the sixth. Japan trailed 2-0 in the top of the eighth, but their bats came alive against the Taipei bullpen. Japan started off the inning with three straight singles, which included and RBI single by Shinnosuke Abe to cut the defecit in half. With two on and two out, Hayato Sakamoto would tie the game with a RBI single. Taipei entered their half of the eighth tied at two but they would answer back with three consecutive hits of their own, capped by Szu-Chi Chou's RBI single to retake the lead. Despite the having two men on base for most of the inning Chinese Taipei was unable to add to their lead which would prove costly. Japan trailed 3-2 entering the top of the ninth and was three outs away from having to face a Cuba team who beat them in Pool A play. Takashi Toritani would draw a walk with one out, and then he stole second to put himself into scoring positon with two outs. This would pay huge as Toritani would come across to score a couple pitches later on Hirokazu Ibata's RBI single, tying the game at three. Taipei would waste a leadoff single in the bottom of the ninth and we went to extra innings. Japan would get off to another fantastic start in the top of the tenth with the first two men that came to bat both reaching base. A sacrifice would advance the runners to second and third. Sho Nakata would give Japan its first lead with a RBI sac fly to score Nobuhiro Matsuda, making it 4-3. Chinese Taipei would have back-to-back singles to make it first and second with out, but Japan's Toshiya Sugiuchi would force a game-ending double play to secure the win. Japan goes to 1-0, while Chinese Taipei is 0-1 and will face Cuba in an elimination game.

Italy 14, Canada 4 F/8

The tournament darlings continued their dominance in Arizona with another upset victory. Anthony Rizzo got things started early with a RBI groundout in the bottom of the first to make it 1-0 Italy. Pete Orr's RBI double in the second tied the game at one and Italy retook the lead in the bottom of the third on Alex Liddi's RBI single. Chris Colabello would follow with a three run home run to cap of the four run inning. All the damage for Italia came with two outs and would give them a commanding 5-1 lead. Italy and Canada would trade runs in the middle innings and Italy would take a 6-2 lead into the top of the seventh. Mike Saunders would make things interesting with a two run single to cut the defecit in half. Italy would respond with three runs in the bottom of the seventh, all coming with two outs to make it a comfortable 9-4 lead. Italy would take care of business with a five run eighth inning that had seven Italians come to bat and seven Italians reaching base. Mike Costanzo would make some noise with a two run ground-rule double and Mario Chiarini would invoke the mercy rule with his RBI single. Italy was led by Chris Colabello who went 4-5 with a home run, two doubles and four RBI. Italy scored 14 runs on 17 hits which included six Italians who each had two hits. Italy moves into the driver's seat of Pool D with a 2-0 record, Canada falls to 0-1.

Puerto Rico 3, Spain 0

This was the opening game in Pool C for each team. On paper this appeared to be a mismatch and after the first inning that's what it looked like it was going to be. Puerto Rico jumped out to an early 3-0 lead on Carlos Beltran's RBI double, Mike Aviles' RBI sac fly, and a bases loaded walk by Carlos Rivera. Puerto Rico would scatter base runners througout the game but failed to produce another run, while their pitchers simply dominated Spain. Puerto Rico's Starter Giancarlo Alvarado set the tone for the rest of the staff, throwing four scoreless innings while allowing just one hit with four strikeouts. Hiram Burgos followed, throwing 4.2 innings of four-hit ball with three strikeouts. Neither team could muster much offense as Spain finished with five hits and Puerto Rico had six hits. Puerto Rico starts 1-0, while Spain is 0-1.

Mexico 5, USA 2

The game that was highly anticipated, the opener for the U.S., it was Mexico pulling off a much-needed upset. Mexico got things started early against R.A. Dickey with their first two batters each getting a hit against the knuckleballer. Luis Cruz would have a RBI sac fly, and Adrian Gonzalez would follow with a RBI groundout to create a 2-0 lead. Yovani Gallardo dominated the Americans, allowing two hits and one run with four strikeouts in 3.1 innings and forcing the Americans to go down in order through the first three innings. Adrian Gonzalez would break it open in the top of the third with a two run home run to make it 4-0. David Wright got the U.S. on the board with a two out-RBI single in the fourth, but Luis Cruz would answer with his second RBI sac fly in the top of the fifth to make it 5-1. Eric Hosmer would have a RBI single in the eighth but it would be too little, too late for the United States. Gallardo set the tone for the Mexican pitchers and the bullpen followed by only allowing six hits and one run in 5.2 innings. Eduardo Arredondo led Mexico with three hits, Luis Cruz had two RBI, and Adrian Gonzalez would have one hit, three RBI, and three walks. Jimmy Rollins, Joe Mauer, and David Wright led America with two hits apiece. R.A. Dickey got hit as in four innings he gave up six hits and four runs while only recording two strikeouts. Mexico saves their tournament as they go to 1-1, while the U.S. starts 0-1.