Day 9:
Japan 16, Netherlands 4 F/7
We all thought Japan's offense wasn't good enough to possibly three-peat, we all thought wrong about Japan's offense. Japan flexed their muscles in this second round, Pool 1 1-0 game where a spot in the semifinals was on the line. The Japanese didn't waste anytime making it loud and clear that they brought their bats as Takashi Toritani lead the game off with a solo home run, which was the first homer hit by Japan in the five games of this tournament. Between a massive Japan power surge and Kenta Maeda's dominance on the mound the Netherlands didn't have much of a chance. Maeda cruised through the Dutch lineup, only allowing one hit in five scorless innings to go along with nine strikeouts and four 1-2-3 innings. Japan used its home run power to spark a five run-second inning, highlighted by Nobuhiro Matsuda's two run home run and a three run home run by Seiichi Uchikawa to make it 6-0. The game went on, strikeouts by Maeda continued, and the homers kept on coming. Atsunori Inaba had a solo home run in the third and Yoshio Itoi hit a three run home run in the fourth to make it 10-0. Japan would add a run in the fifth and sixth innings to take a 12-0 lead into the bottom of the sixth, where the Netherlands would finally find their bats. The Dutch scored all four of their runs with two outs, highlighted by Wladimir Balentien's three run double and a RBI single by Andruw Jones. Japan would answer in the top of the seventh with Hayato Sakamoto's grand slam to restore and enforce the mercy rule. After hitting zero home runs in their first four games, Japan exploded with six homers to run-rule the Dutch and clinch a spot in the semifinals. Japan scored 16 runs on 17 hits, 14 of their runs came on six home runs. Japan moves to 2-0 in Pool 1 and clinches a spot in the semifinals, while Netherlands falls to 1-1 and will play Cuba in an elimination game.Venezuela 11, Spain 6
Even though both of these teams entered this one already eliminated, there was still a lot to play for: pride and a spot in the 2017 Classic. The Venezuelan offense that we all expected to see finally showed up, just a couple games to late. Spain jumped out to an early 3-0 lead on a RBI double by Yunesky Sanchez and Barbaro Canizares's two run home run. It would stay 3-0 until the bottom of the fourth when Venezuela exploded for six runs, all coming with two outs. With two runs already across Elvis Andrus lined a two run single to right to give Venezuela its first lead, Miguel Cabrera and Carlos Gonzlez would each follow with RBI singles. Spain would respond with two runs in the top of the fifth, but Venezuela answered with two of their own in the bottom of the sixth to regain a three run lead. Venezuela would put it away in the bottom of the eighth with Miguel Cabrera's and Pablo Sandoval's back-to-back home runs and Martin Prado's RBI double. Engel Beltre would hit a solo home run in the ninth, but it would not be enough as Venezuela wins 11-6. Miguel Cabrera went 3-5 with three RBI and three Runs to lead Venzuela. Venezuela finishes 1-2, while Spain finishes 0-3 as both of these teams are eliminated.USA 9, Canada 4
This was a true elimination game between two border foes. The U.S. and Canada each entered with one win and one loss, both needing a win to advance to the second round. Despite the final score, this game was a back-and-forth battle that was great to watch regardless who you were rooting for. Canada would strike first via a two run home run by Mike Saunders in the bottom of the second. The U.S. would fight back to tie it with a two run-fourth. It would stay tied until Adam Loewen's RBI single in the bottom of the sixth, giving Canada a 3-2 advantage. Things were looking bad for the red, white, and blue; especially when they squandered having two runners in scoring postion with one out in the seventh, but the top of the eighth was much better. With runners on first and second with one Adam Jones crushed a ball to deep center, driving in two runs to give the U.S. its first lead. Jones would score on Shane Victorino's RBI single and The U.S. would lead 5-3 going into the bottom of the eighth, but Canada was done just yet. Joey Votto reached on an infield single, Mike Saunders would leg out a bunt single, and Chris Robinson would follow with single to load the bases with one out. Adam Loewen would cut the U.S. lead in half with an RBI groundout. After an intentional walk to reload the bases, Steve Cishek would force a ground out to end the inning. Eric Hosmer's three run double in the top of the ninth and Craig Kimbrel would set down the Canadians in order in the bottom half to secure the victory for the U.S. Adam Jones and Eric Hosmer each had three RBI to lead the U.S., while Canada was led by Mike Saunders who went 2-4 with two RBI and a Run. USA goes to 2-1 and based on the head-to-head tiebreaker wins Pool D. Italy, who already clinched, is the runner-up, and Canada is eliminated at 1-2.Dominican Republic 4, Puerto Rico 2
The biggest rivalry in the Caribbean took the stage Sunday night to determine the Pool C winner. As expected, the atmosphere was electric for this marquee matchup between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Edwin Encarnacion would give the Dominicans an early lead with his RBI single in the top of the first. The score stayed 1-0, until the bottom of the fourth when Mike Aviles sent the home fans into a frenzy with his two run-home run to give Puerto Rico a 2-1 lead. This lead would be short-lived as Robinson Cano led-off the fifth inning with a solo home run to tie it at two. The Dominicans would retake the lead in the next inning on a RBI double by Alejandro De Aza. They would score a run for the third consecutive inning to take a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the eighth. Down to theire last six outs and trailing by two, Puerto Rico needed a rally and it looked like they might have one when Angel Pagan led-off the bottom of the eighth with a triple to center. But the opportunity would be squandered when the Dominican's Santiago Casilla recorded back-to-back strikeouts and got Carlos Beltran to fly out to end the inning. Fernando Rodney would get his second save of the Classic by setting down the Puerto Ricans in order in the ninth to secure the 4-2 victory for the Dominican Republic. With the win, the Dominican Republic wins Pool C with a 3-0 record, while Puerto Rico's 2-1 record is good enough to advance into the second round as the runner-up.First Round: Pools C and D Final Standings
Pool C Pool D
*Dominican Republic 3-0 *USA 2-1
Puerto Rico 2-1 Italy 2-1
x-Venezuela 1-2 x-Canada 1-2
x-Spain 0-3 x-Mexico 1-2
* denotes Pool winner, teams in color advance to second round.
Second Round Pool 2
The second round is a modified double elimination format that will send the last two teams from Pool 1 and Pool 2 to the semifinals. Pool 2 will be held from March 12th to March 16th at Marlins Park in Miami, Florida.
The opening round games are Dominican Republic (Pool C winner) vs. Italy (Pool D runner-up) and USA (Pool D winner) vs. Puerto Rico (Pool C runner-up). The losers will play in an elimination game on March 13th, and the winners will play on March 14th. The loser on the 13th will be eliminated, while the winner on the 13th will play whoever loses on the 14th on March 15th. The winner of the March 14th and March 15th games will both advance to the semis, but will play one game to determine who wins the pool and who is the runner-up. Basically two wins are needed to advance to the semis, the team that wins three games will win the pool, and if you loose twice you are eliminated.
Day 10:
Netherlands 7, Cuba 6
Day 10 only had one game, but it was one great one. In an elimination game where the loser goes home and a semifinal spot awaits the winner you would expect to see both teams to give everything they had, abd both of these clubs did just that. Through the first two and a half innings there would be no score, until a two out-RBI sac fly by Andruw Jones. Curt Smith would follow with a RBI single to give the Dutch a 2-0 lead. Cuba would answer with two of their own in the top of the fourth, on a RBI single by Jose Fernandez and Jose Abreu's solo home run. The string of two run-innings would continue as the Netherlands would score two runs in the bottom of the fourth to retake the lead. Cuba would answer in the top of the fifth with Yulieski Gurriel's two run double to tie it at four. This one would stay tied until Cuba took their first lead in the top of the eighth. Frederich Cepeda and Jose Fernandez would both reach base to start the inning. Alfredo Despaigne flew out to right, but advanced Cepeda to third. Yasmany Tomas would belt a RBI single to right to score Cepeda and give Cuba their first lead. Abreu would score on a sac fly to make it a 6-4 game. The Dutch weren't done just yet, as they quickly responded in the bottom of the eighth. Kalian Sams drew a lead off walk and would score on Andrelton Simmons' two run home run, which came with two outs and two strikes, to tie it at six. In the top of the ninth Cuba would have runners on the corners with one out, but was unable to score. The bottom of the ninth was setup for drama and received nothing short of it. Andruw Jones reached on a error and both, Curt Smith and Xander Bogaerts reached on singles to load the bases with one out. Kalian Sams would be the hero, as he would crush a ball to deep center that was caught, but deep enough to allow Andruw Jones to score the winning run uncontested; sending the Netherlands to the semifinals. Five different Cubans batted in a run, while Andrelton Simmons led the Netherlands with two hits, two Runs, and three RBI. The Netherlands goes to 2-1 which clinches a spot in the semifinals and earns them a rematch with Japan to decide the Pool 1 winner. Cuba falls to 1-2 and is eliminated.
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