Day 8:
Cuba 14, Chinese Taipei 0 F/7
This Pool 1 elimination game was the first of five games on Saturday. Chinese Taipei blew a late lead and fell to Japan in ten innings, while the Cubans were stunned by the Netherlands in their second round opener. The stakes were pretty simple in this one, win or go home. Cuba didn't waste much time, as in the bottom of the first Jose Fernandez reached with a scorching two out-single and Frederich Cepeda would follow with a two run home run to make it 2-0. Things settled for a little, until Cuba put together a four run-fourth inning to break the game open. In the inning Cuba strung together four consecutive hits, highlighted by Alfredo Despaigne's RBI single and a three run home run by Yasmany Tomas. Danny Betancourt shut down the Taipei bats, only allowing three hits and two walks, along with three strikeouts in five scoreless innings. This one got really ugly in the bottom of the sixth when Cuba fully flexed their muscle. With the bases loaded and one out, Yulieski Gurriel started the explosion with a RBI single. Jose Fernandez would follow with a three run double to make it 10-0. In sequence, Frederich Cepeda would have a RBI double and then Jose Abreu would crush one 427 feet to center to make it 13-0. Alfredo Despaigne would cap off the inning with a solo home run that traveled 421 feet to center. In the bottom of the sixth Cuba scored eight runs on five consecutive RBI hits. This game would mercifully end after seven innings, ending the tournament for Chinese Taipei. Cuba would jack four home runs on the nights and was led by four men: Jose Fernandez went 2-4 with a Run and three RBI, Alfredo Despaigne and Jose Abreu would each have two hits, two RBI, and two Runs, and Frederich Cepeda also had two hits, but scored three Runs and had three RBI. Cuba moves to 1-1 and will face the loser of Japan/Netherlands in another elimination game, Chinese Taipei is eliminated at 0-2. Dominican Republic 6, Spain 3
The second game of the day didn't get as out of hand, as Spain held their own against the mighty Dominicans. In the top of the second Nelson Cruz gave the Dominican Republic an early lead with a RBI single and would score on Ricardo Nanita's RBI single to make it 2-0. Robinson Cano's RBI double gave the Domincans a 3-0 lead in the top of the third. Cano would score on Nelson Cruz's RBI single to left and Carlos Santana would cap of the inning with an RBI groundout. The Dominicans would hold on a 5-0 advantage until Spain scored an unearned in the seventh. Spain trailed 6-1 in the bottom of the ninth, but would find a way to bring the tying and winning runs at bat. Barbaro Canizares would draw a bases loaded-walk to bring up the potential winning run, but Fernando Rodney would settle down and strike him out looking to save the win for the Dominicans. Engel Beltre and Salomon Manriquez each had two hits and a Run, while Yunesky Sanchez went 3-4 to lead Spain. Robinson Cano went 3-5 with a Run and a RBI, and Nelson Cruz had two hits and two RBI to lead the Dominican Republic. Both pitching staffs did a solid job, as each side had nine hits. The Dominican Republic is in the Pool C driver's seat with a 2-0 record, while Spain falls to 0-2.Canada 10, Mexico 3
Canada's offensive attack gave the country its first win of the 2013 World
Baseball Classic, but the story of the game was the benches-clearing brawl that
happened in the top of the ninth inning. Canada jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first, highlighted by Justin Morneau's RBI double, Mike Saunders' two run single, and Chris Robinson's RBI single. Adrian Gonzalez would drive in a run in the bottom half of the inning to get Mexico on the board. Mexico got within one in the bottom of the fourth, but that's all the closer they would get. Pete Orr would add to the lead with a RBI single in the top of the sixth and two runs would be scored in the top of the seventh to give Canada a comfortable 7-3 lead. Justin Morneau and Mike Saunders would each have RBI singles in the eighth to extend the lead to 9-3. The biggest highlight of the afternoon, which unfortunately overshadows Canada's powerful offensive performance, was the ninth inning brawl. Things got heated when Chris Robinson laid down a bunt single, with a six run lead, to begin the ninth. The Mexico third baseman Luis Cruz apparently told pitcher Arnold Leon to retaliate by hitting Alex Tosoni, who was the next hitter. Leon's first two pitches were both inside, which earned a warning from the home plate umpire. The third pitch drilled Tosoni in the back which caused both benches to clear. A ten minute brawl engaged, as both benches cleared with several brawls breaking out on the field, fans in the stands
started throwing things onto the field and at players, and seven players got ejected. If you want to see it for yourself go to youtube to check it out. Canada would eventually score another run to cement a 10-3 victory. Justin Morneau and Mike Saunders would each have four hits, two Runs, and three RBI to lead Canada. Canada gets their first win to go to 1-1 and Mexico finishes 1-2.Puerto Rico 6, Venezuela 3
The host team would make a statement by eliminating one of the tournament favorites in dominant fashion. Venezuela would strike first, in the bottom of the third with Marco Scutaro and Pablo Sandoval each picking up a RBI. The 2-0 lead wouldn't last for long, as in the top of the fourth Mike Aviles would have a two run single to tie the game at two. Carlos Zambrano would start and had a clean run throught the Puerto Rican order until the fourth inning. Angel Pagan's two out-RBI single in the top of the fifth would give Puerto Rico the lead for good. It would stay 3-2 until the top of the eighth when Mike Aviles had a RBI sac fly and Luis Figueroa had a two run double with two outs to highlight a three run inning for Puerto Rico. Venezuela would score a run in the ninth, but it wouldn't be enough as Puerto Rico pulls out a strong 6-3 win. Mike Aviles led Puerto Rico going 1-3 with three RBI, Angel Pagan also had three hits and a RBI. Puerto Rico's bullpen shut down the Venzuelan attack, only allowing two hits and one run to go along with five strikeouts in five innings. Martin Prado would have two hits and a RBI for Venezuela. Puerto Rico goes to 2-0 and the win clinches them and the Dominican Republic a spot in the second round, while Venezuela falls to 0-2 and their loss eliminates them and Spain from advancing. USA 6, Italy 2
Any possibility of the low dog of the group, Italy, going through the first round undefeated and USA losing their first two games went out the door with David Wright's fifth inning grand slam. Italy would take an early 2-0 lead thanks to Nick Punto scoring on a wild pitch in the first and Anthony Granato's RBI double in the second, both coming with two outs. Ryan Braun would lead off the top of the fourth with a single and would score on Joe Mauer's RBI double to get America on the board. The U.S. would take over in the top of the fifth. Adam Jones would draw a lead off walk and Jonathan Lucroy would follow with a single to left. With runners on first and second with one out, Brandon Phillips would come through with a RBI single to score Braun and tie the game at two. David Wright would come to bat with the bases loaded and two outs. On the fifth pitch of the at-bat, David Wright would send it 410 feet to the left-center bleachers to give the U.S. a commanding 6-2 lead, their first of the tournament. Ross Detwiler would hold down the fort for the U.S., only allowing one hit and one walk to go along with three strikeouts in four strong innings of work. Four different Americans would have two hits, but David Wright stole the show with his grand slam in the fifth. Anthony Granato and Nick Punto were responsible for Italy's two runs and each had two hits. Italy finishes 2-1 and clinched a spot into the second round because of Canada's win over Mexico, while USA goes to 1-1.
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