World Baseball Classic results

Monday, March 09, 2009 1:10:00 AM
Team USA advances behind big sixth
Iannetta, Pedroia, Youkilis deliver key hits vs. Venezuela's 'pen

By Ed Eagle / MLB.com

Box score >

TORONTO -- For the first five innings on Sunday, Team USA seemed destined for its second nail-biter in as many nights in the World Baseball Classic.

A big sixth inning allayed those concerns, however, as the U.S. used an eight-run outburst to blow past Team Venezuela, 15-6, before a crowd of 13,094 at Rogers Centre. The victory assured the Americans of a spot in the finals of Pool C and a ticket to the second round of the Classic next weekend in Miami.

Team USA first baseman Kevin Youkilis started the big rally by, of all things, striking out and reaching on a Victor Zambrano wild pitch. He scored the tying run at 3-3 three batters later when Zambrano walked Mark DeRosa with the bases loaded.

After catcher Chris Iannetta gave the U.S. some breathing room with a bases-clearing double, second baseman Dustin Pedroia opened up the floodgates with a two-run double down the third-base line.

"We had some huge hits at the right time to kind of blow the game open," Pedroia said. "It seemed like we strung a lot of at-bats together, quality at-bats. When you do that, you're going to score a lot of runs."

Youkilis capped off the sixth with a two-run home run off Venezuelan reliever Yoel Hernandez.

The U.S. tacked on five more runs over the final three frames, including solo home runs by Adam Dunn and Ryan Braun, whose shot down the left-field line in the ninth might have been challenged by instant replay if not for the lopsided score.

"That's kind of what I expected from the get-go," Dunn said. "With that lineup, I don't see why we shouldn't have a few of those [big] innings a night. It was a lot of fun, but I don't think it was very unexpected on our side."

The Venezuelan team, which features such big league All-Stars as Melvin Mora, Bobby Abreu, Miguel Cabrera, Magglio Ordonez, Carlos Guillen and Jose Lopez, could not overcome a bullpen that was touched up for 13 runs in five innings.

"You want the bullpen to execute, but that wasn't the case this time," Venezuelan manager Luis Sojo said.

The struggles of the Venezuelan bullpen wasted a solid outing by starter Armando Galarraga, who outpitched his better-known counterpart, Astros ace Roy Oswalt. The Tigers right-hander limited the Americans to two runs on five hits and one walk in four innings.

After Oswalt allowed three runs in 3 2/3 innings, six U.S. relievers combined to limit the powerful Venezuelans to three runs in the final 5 1/3 innings.

"I thought I threw pretty well the first two innings, then I kind of hit a wall," Oswalt said.

Thanks to their win on Sunday, the Americans no longer have the pressure of having to win to advance, but they don't plan on taking their foot of the gas Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. ET in the Pool C finale.

"You definitely don't want to have to win to get in," said Dunn. "There is a lot of pressure taken off. But we don't want to lose, either. We'll prepare and see what happens on Wednesday."

Ed Eagle is an editorial producer for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

I still don't like the format for this. The winner and runner-up from the pool advance to the same pool. Theoretically the United States could play/beat Canada/Venezuela again in their initial pool. In the second round they could beat that same team again twice but have them both move on once again. The US could then lose to that same team in the single-elimination and end up going 4-1 to a team but doing worse than them in the tournament.

A similar thing happened last time with Japan vs. Korea.

The winner of pool A should move to pool A of round 2 while the loser moves to pool B of round 2 so they can't meat again until the elimination round.

In soccer's world cup you can't meet a team from your opening pool again until the championship game.

I don't care what you people say, Ichiro is in my top 10 favorite players. All time.

bobrob2004 wrote:

I don't care what you people say, Ichiro is in my top 10 favorite players. All time.

I agree, he is a very good player.

Monday, March 09, 2009 9:57:00 AM
Korea edges rival Japan, wins Pool A
Kim's RBI single in the fourth holds up as lone run of contest

By Wayne Graczyk / Special to MLB.com

Box score >

TOKYO -- Team Korea came back from a devastating 14-2 loss to Japan on Saturday to turn the tables and win the final game of the 2009 World Baseball Classic Asia Round, Pool A, 1-0, in a pitchers' battle at Tokyo Dome on Monday night.

Korea shocked the Japanese home crowd and finished the Asia Round with a 3-1 record, having defeated Chinese Taipei and China and splitting two games with Japan to claim the title. Japan, the runner-up, was 2-1, with victories over China and Korea.

Both teams now move on to Round 2 in San Diego, which begins on March 15.

Korean starting pitcher Jung Keun Bong was highly effective, allowing only three hits over 5 1/3 innings -- a pair of singles by Kenji Johjima and one by Hiroyuki Nakajima. Bong struck out two and did not walk a batter in using 69 pitches, one under the maximum 70 allowed by World Baseball Classic rules.

Japan starter Hisashi Iwakuma retired the first nine batters he faced but got himself into a jam in the top of the fourth inning. After walking leadoff man Jong Wook Lee, Iwakuma gave up a single to Keun Woo Jeong before Tae Kyun Kim singled home Lee for the 1-0 lead.

Iwakuma left the game in the top of the sixth, having also thrown 69 pitches over 5 1/3 innings, giving up the one run and two hits. He struck out five and walked three.

Korea missed a golden opportunity in the top of the seventh with runners on second and third and no outs. But Japan turned an unusual 6-2-5 double play, preventing Korea from scoring.

Closer Chang Yong Lim, who plays for Japan's Yakult Swallows, worked the last 1 2/3 innings to pick up a save.

"I am very happy about this," Korean manager In Sik Kim said afterward. "This is a huge win for us, and we look forward to going to America and winning there."

Kim credited his team's pitching as the key to victory on Monday.

"Today, everyone can recognize the importance of pitching," he said. "Baseball is 95-percent pitching. Today our starter, closer and middle relievers all did so great."

About selecting Bong as his starter, Kim said, "Bong told me two days ago he wanted to pitch against Japan, and I liked his attitude, so I decided to give him the ball."

A disappointed Japan manager Tatsunori Hara said, "A shutout loss after scoring 14 runs -- that's baseball. Today was a pitchers' game, and our pitchers did a good job. We lost, but I am proud of them, and we will head for the U.S. with that pride.

"Korea and Japan will go to the next round and, together, we will be showing the world how good Asian baseball is."

The highly anticipated rematch of Saturday night's game had an advance sale of more than 40,000 tickets, and organizers announced a sellout at 7:47 p.m., a little more than an hour after the contest began. The announced crowd was 42,879.

Both teams left after the game for workouts in Arizona, and will join the winner and runner-up of Pool B (consisting of Australia, Cuba, Mexico and South Africa) to form Pool 1 and play at Petco Park in San Diego.

Wayne Graczyk is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Monday, March 09, 2009 10:15:00 PM
Bravissimo: Italy boots out Canada
Denorfia's 4-for-4 night, Cooper's strong 'pen work carry Italians

By David Singh / Special to MLB.com

BOX>

TORONTO -- In the first upset of the Pool C bracket at the 2009 World Baseball Classic, Team Italy defeated the Canadians, 6-2, at Rogers Centre on Monday. The loss eliminated Canada from the tournament, while setting up an elimination matchup between Italy and Venezuela on Tuesday at 5 p.m. ET.

The Italian lineup -- consisting of largely unknown hitters, compared to Canada's bevy of All-Stars -- struck early and often at the start of the contest, scoring lone runs in each of the first four innings.

Wielding a hot bat, Italy center fielder Chris Denorfia helped to send the largely pro-Canadian crowd of 12,411 home disappointed, going 4-for-4 with three doubles and two RBIs. The Oakland Athletic also provided stellar defense in the outfield, robbing Canada's Joey Votto of a hit with a diving snag in the seventh inning.

Denorfia and his countrymen were able to chase Canadian starter Vince Perkins from the game by the third inning. Exhausting 52 pitches out of the right-hander, Italy drew four walks, notched three hits and scored three runs (two earned) against Perkins.

Meanwhile, Italian starter Dan Serafini did not have quite as difficult a time as his counterpart on the mound. The left-hander breezed through the first three innings before running into a bit of trouble. In the fourth inning, Serafini allowed three consecutive doubles to Votto, Justin Morneau and Jason Bay, which cut the score to 4-2. But that was as close as Canada would get in the game.

A pair of Italian relievers -- Chris Cooper and Jason Grilli -- managed to lock down the Canadian lineup the rest of the way, combining to allow just three hits and no runs. Much was made of the potent Canadian offense heading into the Classic, yet the lineup left 11 runners on base on Monday, as well as nine in Saturday's Game 1.

David Singh is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Monday, March 09, 2009 9:50:00 PM
Upset thwarted, Puerto Rico moves on
Offense breaks out late against Netherlands squad for victory

By Will Gonzalez / Special to MLB.com

BOX>

SAN JUAN, P.R. -- Puerto Rico beat the Netherlands, 3-1, in Game 4 of Pool D play in the World Baseball Classic on Monday, in a battle that the Dutch almost pulled out victorious.

Yadier Molina hit a two-run double in the bottom of the eighth inning to put Puerto Rico on the board after several futile attempts. It was followed by an RBI single by Jesus Feliciano, who got Michael Aviles to score Puerto Rico's third run of the game.

The Netherlands scored their only run of the game in the top of the first inning, when Greg Holman led off the second inning with a double and was quickly brought home by a single off Yurendell de Caster's bat.

Puerto Rico tried to respond immediately to the Dutch threat and the Netherlands' catcher, Kenley Jansen, almost helped them do it. Jansen dropped a foul popup off the bat of Carlos Delgado, the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the second. Delgado took advantage of the miscue and hit a double down the left-field line. The self-induced wound did not perturb starter Rick VandenHurk and Jansen. VandenHurk, 23, proceeded to strike out Alex Rios and Ivan Rodriguez and induce Aviles to hit a popup to the second baseman.

Right-hander David Bergman relieved VandenHurk and made Aviles hit into an inning-ending double play. VandenHurk allowed three hits and three walks in his 3 1/3 innings of work, striking out two batters.

Left-hander Pedro Feliciano relieved Puerto Rico starter Ian Snell in the fifth inning. Snell allowed three hits and one walk in his four innings of work. He allowed a run, but he struck out five batters.

Puerto Rico mounted its successful counterattack in the bottom of the eighth inning, after the Netherlands bought in reliever Dennis Neuman to start the inning. He walked the first batter he faced -- Delgado -- and was relieved by right-handed submariner Michiel Van Kampen, who walked Rios, struck out Rodriguez and walked Aviles to load the bases for Molina.

The Netherlands will face the Dominican Republic on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. ET in Game 5 of Pool D play. The Puerto Rico squad will battle the winner of Game 5 on Wednesday at 5 p.m. to determine the top seed in Pool D.

Will Gonzalez is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Back to complaining about the format....

Why is it that South Korea, Japan, The Republic of China (Chinese Taipei), and the People's Republic of China in the same group? Don't say it's based on geography (which of course it is). This type of tournament should not be like that. The World Cup doesn't put 3 CONCACAF (North American) teams in the same group.


Also, why is there no qualification for this tournament? There are teams that play much better baseball than Italy, The Republic of China, etc.

catbox_9 wrote:

Back to complaining about the format....

Why is it that South Korea, Japan, The Republic of China (Chinese Taipei), and the People's Republic of China in the same group? Don't say it's based on geography (which of course it is). This type of tournament should not be like that. The World Cup doesn't put 3 CONCACAF (North American) teams in the same group.


Also, why is there no qualification for this tournament? There are teams that play much better baseball than Italy, The Republic of China, etc.

I agree, and to have Korea win pool A in the last game, even though Japan had beaten them earlier and was undefeated, It would be like the USA being undefeated at this point, then having to play Ven. again and losing! That sucks!

Quote :

Korea shocked the Japanese home crowd and
finished the Asia Round with a 3-1 record, having defeated Chinese
Taipei and China and splitting two games with Japan to claim the title.
Japan, the runner-up, was 2-1, with victories over China and Korea.

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

Chinese
Taipei

Damn reporters giving into China's demands

If the United States decided we wanted Canada to be known as American Taipei do you think other countries would go for it? Of course not.

China won't participate in an event with The Republic of China (AKA Taiwan) unless they are known as Chinese Taipei. I say that's too damn bad. Countries get to name themselves.

Spoiler:

Myself, privately,I still call them Taiwan! Not even The Republic of China!

Puerto Rico may have won, but Pudge struck out at least twice!

Spoiler:

50 years is long enough!

catbox_9 wrote:

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

Chinese
Taipei

Damn reporters giving into China's demands

If the United States decided we wanted Canada to be known as American Taipei do you think other countries would go for it? Of course not.

China won't participate in an event with The Republic of China (AKA Taiwan) unless they are known as Chinese Taipei. I say that's too damn bad. Countries get to name themselves.

Spoiler:

You got that right

Same goes for the city of Saigon Vietnam


I refuse to call it Ho Chi Minh City


Fuck that Communist prick


It is Saigon

Tuesday, March 10, 2009 10:47:00 PM
Venezuela rides over Italy to next round
Four-run fourth, four homers in fifth more than enough for easy win

By David Singh / Special to MLB.com

Box score >

TORONTO -- After just three games in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, it has become evident that Team Venezuela's offense is a world away from where it stood during the inaugural tournament in '06.

On Tuesday at Rogers Centre, the Venezuelans cemented that thought, as they belted a record four home runs in the fifth inning en route to a dominating 10-1 win over the Italians. The victory not only guaranteed Venezuela a spot in the second round of the Classic, but it also set up a rematch against the U.S. on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. ET to determine the Pool C winner.

In the fifth inning of Tuesday's contest, Venezuela made Classic history, as Bobby Abreu and Miguel Cabrera launched back-to-back home runs, followed later by Jose Lopez and Ramon Hernandez, who did the very same.

The four home runs, which ignited the Venezuelan crowd in attendance, were the most in an inning during Classic play.

Abreu said that he had never seen such a display of power, noting that it certainly was a special sight.

"It is, especially in this kind of competition," Abreu said. "You're just looking to win the games, but you never expect something to happen like it happened tonight."

In all reality, the home runs were just the icing on the cake for a Venezuelan squad that is tearing the cover off the ball. In its three Classic games this year, Venezuela has batted a combined .355 (38-for-107) and scored a total of 23 runs.

Such figures are a colossal improvement over Venezuela's hitting during the '06 Classic, when it struggled to a collective .186 average over six games.

"The last Classic, we didn't really hit, and our pitchers were doing such a good job," said Abreu. "In this one, we've scored a lot of runs every game.

"In these short competitions, you need to score runs, you need to help your pitchers. ... When we score runs, they feel more comfortable on the mound and anything can happen."

On Tuesday, the Venezuelan pitchers certainly were comfortable. Starter Enrique Gonzalez was masterful in retiring nine of the 12 batters he faced. Besides hitting a batter, the 26-year-old, who is currently in the Red Sox organization, allowed just two hits over his four innings.

The Venezuelan bullpen followed suit, posting five innings of solid relief. Ramon Ramirez, Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez and Victor Moreno combined to allow just four hits and one run.

In its batting order, eight of Venezuela's nine starters notched hits, while six different players collected RBIs. However, according to Venezuelan manager Luis Sojo, the offensive surge was vital, because it seemed to get Cabrera (3-for-4, one double and one homer) and Magglio Ordonez (2-for-4, one double) on the right track. The sluggers had been hitless during the first two games of the tournament.

"[Cabrera] came through today," Sojo said. "I mean, that's one of the guys we need to have ready for the second round, and he came through today, along with Magglio.

"In '06, I don't remember how many homers we hit, because we weren't ready. Now, these guys are dangerous. We just want Miguel and Magglio to come through at any particular time, and they did tonight. I think in the second round, it's going be dangerous for the pitchers."

David Singh is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009 10:45:00 PM
Dutch pull off second upset to advance
Come-from-behind victory in extras eliminates Dominican Republic

By Will Gonzalez / Special to MLB.com

BOX SCORE >

SAN JUAN, P.R. -- A fielding error by first baseman Willy Aybar allowed the Netherlands to come from behind in the bottom of the 11th inning and beat the Dominican Republic, 2-1, in Game 5 of Pool D play in the World Baseball Classic on Tuesday night.

Aybar was unable to field a sharply-hit ground ball by Yurrendell de Caster after Eugene Kingsale had reached third base. Kingsale reached third when Carlos Marmol threw away an attempted pickoff while Kingsale was at first base after reaching on a single, which had scored pinch-hitter Sidney De Jong to tie the game at 1.

In the top of the 11th, a fielding error by Kingsale allowed Jose Reyes to score for the Dominican squad from first base, breaking a scoreless tie. Jose Bautista hit the ball to Kingsdale, who dove to try to catch it, but the ball slid past him all the way to the warning track.

Before the game went to extras, the Netherlands' pitching staff continued to surprise the baseball world by the way that it had handled the Dominicans' powerful lineup of Major League stars. Dutch starter Tom Stuifbergen allowed five hits in four innings of scoreless work.

Dominican starter Ubaldo Jimenez was even more impressive. He established a new World Baseball Classic strikeout record, striking out 10 of the 13 batters he faced in his four innings. The former record of eight strikeouts in a Classic game was set by Japanese starter Koji Uehara in the 2006 Classic. Jimenez allowed two hits, but he did not walk a batter.

The Netherlands did not put its head down after the Dominicans took the lead. Its second upset eliminated the D.R. from the World Baseball Classic.

The Dutch move on to Round 2 of the Classic in Miami, but before it does so, it will face Puerto Rico on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. ET in Game 6 of Pool D to determine the top seed of the pool.

Will Gonzalez is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

Myself, privately,I still call them Taiwan! Not even The Republic of China!

Yeah, I call them Taiwan only because Republic of China gets confusing since it sounds like China (which should be called the People's Republic of China which is odd since the people have nothing to say about it).

gs78 wrote:

Same goes for the city of Saigon Vietnam


I refuse to call it Ho Chi Minh City


Fuck that Communist prick


It is Saigon

Yeah! That one is a bit trickier as we have to assume that the Vietnamese want it to be called Saigon. As the country remains Communist you can't actually know what the people want...the people are probably brainwashed anyways.

The Dutch do it again

Back to complaining about the tournament...

The United States plays Venezuela next. The winner wins the group and moves on. The loser is the runner-up and moves on. Since the next round is double elimination and the records reset the next game is completely pointless. Whoever wins will win the group but that doesn't matter at all.

For the next round the United States, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and The Netherlands will play a double-elimination tournament. Two of those teams move on to the semifinals (single elimination). I'd say the United States will move on along with either Puerto Rico or Venezuela.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009 5:21:00 AM
Cuba heads to Round 2 of Classic
Peraza's pinch-hit homer in eighth seals win over Australia

By Christopher Ramirez / Special to MLB.com

Box score>

MEXICO CITY -- Cuba secured a spot in the second round of the World Baseball Classic with a 5-4 comeback win over Australia on Tuesday night at Foro Sol Stadium.

The Cubans will play on Thursday for a chance to win Pool B, while Australia faces Mexico on Wednesday in a rematch with both teams facing elimination.

Capping the comeback for Cuba was pinch-hitter Yosbany Peraza, who in the top of the eighth inning with two outs smacked a two-run, line-drive home run into left field.

"I knew I really needed to hit, hit strong," Peraza said, "because we were behind, we were not on top, and that's exactly what I hit, a strong winner."

But prior to Cuba landing the winning punch, it seemed as if it was Australia that would be making travel plans to San Diego for Round 2.

Australia held a 4-2 lead after six innings that all but nullified the effects of Cuban starter Albertin Chapman.

"Moments like those, we've lived them before," Cuba manager Higinio Velez said. "This is definitely one more. Boy, Australia has definitely given us a run for our money."

In a back-and-forth battle, Cuba took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning when Frederich Cepeda dropped a hit into shallow right field that brought Luis Nava home from third.

Australia, on the other hand, got its first hit in the third on James Beresford's double to left field. The inning would end, however, with Chapman striking out the side.

The lanky left-hander was impressive, hitting 97, 95 and twice 99 mph in one at-bat against Ben Risinger that ended actually better than it started.

Second baseman Hector Olivera backhanded a grounder hit by Risinger and flipped the ball out of his glove to shortstop Nava, who threw it to first for the out.

But Chapman slipped up in the fourth inning when he was he called for a balk. The miscue moved Luke Hughes to third after he led off the inning with a double, and Hughes scored on a single to left field by Risinger to tie the score at 1.

Chapman didn't return to the mound in the top of the fifth. In four innings, he allowed three hits and a run while striking out seven.

"In order to become the best pitcher, I still need lots of things," Chapman said. "I need to improve professionally. I need to work with curveballs. I need to work with different kinds of pitches."

Christopher Ramirez is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Bye Bye Italy

Wednesday, March 11, 2009 8:40:00 PM
Puerto Rico takes top seed in Pool D
Dominating pitching, offense dispatches underdog Netherlands

By Will Gonzalez / MLB.com

BOX SCORE>

SAN JUAN, P.R. -- Dominant pitching and timely hitting helped Puerto Rico defeat the Netherlands, 5-0, in the final game of Pool D play in the World Baseball Classic on Wednesday night.

Puerto Rico finished the first round without a defeat in three games and retained its perfect record of 6-0 in first-round play in young World Baseball Classic history. In the 2006 Classic, Puerto Rico enjoyed a 3-0 record in the first round.

Puerto Rico starter Jonathan Sanchez pitched four scoreless innings, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out four batters. Relievers Orlando Roman, Javier Lopez, Nelson Figueroa, Ivan Maldonado, Pedro Feliciano and Saul Rivera worked in tandem to preserve the shutout.

Puerto Rico's hitters did not wait to support their pitchers. They scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning after Dutch starter Pim Walsma walked leadoff hitter Jesus Feliciano and threw a wild pitch to allow Feliciano to reach third base. Carlos Beltran hit into a fielder's choice to bring Feliciano home and force out Ramon Vazquez at second base. Vazquez had reached base on a walk.

In the fifth, Carlos Delgado led off with a single. Alex Rios followed with a triple in the gap in left-center field to push in Delgado, giving Puerto Rico a 2-0 lead. Ivan Rodriguez increased it by hitting a single to bring Rios home.

Puerto Rico scored another run when Beltran hit a single in the sixth after Dutch reliever Berry Van Driel registered an out. Hiram Bocachica pinch-ran for Beltran, but ended up strolling to third base after Van Driel walked the next two batters, Delgado and Rios. With the bases loaded, Geovany Soto singled to bring Bocachica home and put the score at 4-0.

Bocachica scored again in the eighth inning after he led off the bottom of the inning with a single and came home on a single by pinch-hitter Alex Cora. All the while, the Netherlands remained quiet on offense.

With the win, Puerto Rico is scheduled to play on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET against the runner-up in Pool C play. The Netherlands play the top seed of Pool C on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.

Will Gonzalez is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009 9:45:00 PM
USA drops 'C' finale, preps for Round 2
Americans can't beat Venezuela, will face Puerto Rico on Saturday

By Ed Eagle / MLB.com

Box score >

TORONTO -- Venezuela emerged the victor in Pool C with a 5-3 win over the previously undefeated Americans on Wednesday before a crowd of 12,358 at Rogers Centre.

Two days after being handed a nine-run loss by Team USA, the Venezuelans came up with solid pitching and timely hitting in their final game before advancing to Miami this weekend for the second round of the World Baseball Classic.

With both teams already assured berths in Pool 2, the contest was decidedly low-key compared to the earlier games in Toronto. Both manager substituted liberally, apparently more concerned with getting out of town healthy than winning the top seed.

Catcher Henry Blanco put Venezuela on the board with a solo homer off former teammate Ted Lilly in the third, then doubled and scored on a Gregor Blanco triple in the fifth off Jeremy Guthrie. Marco Scutaro gave Venezuela a 4-1 lead with a two-run single in the sixth.

Venezuela starter Victor Zambrano, who was knocked around for four runs in one-plus inning of relief Sunday against Team USA, allowed just one run and three hits in 3 2/3 innings in the rematch.

Team USA left fielder Ryan Braun went 3-for-4 with an RBI double, and catcher Chris Iannetta drilled a two-run homer in the eighth, but the vaunted U.S. lineup was otherwise held in check. The Americans stranded a runner at third base in three of the first five innings.

The Americans put two runners on base in the ninth off Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez, but Derek Jeter was caught attempting to steal second base and Kevin Youkilis struck out swinging to end the game.

Venezuela will take on Pool D runner-up The Netherlands at Dolphin Stadium in Miami on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET. The Americans will face Puerto Rico, the top seed from Pool D, at 8 p.m. ET in Miami.

Ed Eagle is an editorial producer for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Oh well. I guess playing The Netherlands would have been better but it's double-elimination so it doesn't really matter.

03/12/09 2:45 AM ET
Mexico moves on with rout of Australia
Pool host avenges opening-game shocker with mercy-rule win

By Christopher Ramirez / Special to MLB.com

Box score >

MEXICO CITY -- If survival in the World Baseball Classic wasn't enough motivation for Mexico, payback certainly was.

Mexico defeated Australia, 16-1, on Wednesday to secure a spot in Round 2 and avenge its embarrassing opening-game loss.

Australia trounced the Pool B host, 17-7, in eight innings with a Classic-record 22 hits on Sunday but was done one better in a loser-goes-home rematch.

Offensive outbursts of four runs in the third inning, seven in the fourth and four in the sixth helped Mexico effectively overwhelm each Australian pitcher that was called to the mound.

"Honestly, I didn't even expect anything close to that, especially after seeing Australia play against Cuba yesterday," Mexico manager Vinny Castilla said. "I definitely was expecting a much closer game, but that's what baseball is. We received very comfortable pitches, and we used them all. We really killed them."

Right fielder Karim Garcia inflicted the most damage, going 4-for-4 with two home runs and four RBIs.

Australian lefty David Welch began the game well, sitting down Mexico batters 1-2-3 in the first and second innings. That didn't last long, however.

Garcia led off the third inning with a single into right and moved to third base on the next play when Miguel Ojeda singled on a chopper past first. With runners at the corners, Augie Ojeda hit a slow grounder fielded by second baseman James Beresford, whose hesitation allowed Garcia to score and Ojeda to reach first safely.

Brothers Edgar and Adrian Gonzalez kept the rally rolling, with Edgar singling in Miguel Ojeda and Adrian hitting a grounder to bring in Augie Ojeda. Jorge Cantu capped the scoring with a double into left-center field that sent home Edgar Gonzalez and gave Mexico a 4-0 lead.

"They were convinced they were going to beat Mexico, and they wanted to get back at the Cubans [on Thursday]," Cantu said of Australia. "So, there's no coincidence in knocking them out."

But that string of runs was nothing in comparison to what Mexico had in store for the following inning, as seven runners touched home plate for Mexico in the fourth.

Jorge Vazquez, who was plunked on the first pitch from Welch's replacement, Brendan Wise, scored on a wild pitch as batter Miguel Ojeda attempted to avoid the same fate. A groundout from Jerry Hairston Jr. with the bases loaded and no outs brought in Garcia.

Both Ojedas made it home on a first-pitch hit to center field from Edgar Gonzalez, who later scored on Cantu's broken-bat single.

Scott Hairston completed the exposition, crushing a home run deep into the left-field stands for an 11-0 lead and, in turn, ending Australia's hope at any chance of a comeback.

Mexico returns to Foro Sol Stadium at 9 p.m. ET on Thursday to play Cuba in the final game of Pool B and determine seeding for Round 2 in San Diego.

Christopher Ramirez is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

03/12/09 3:35 AM ET
Classic field narrowed to great eight
Mexico completes group headed for Round 2 with statement victory

By Doug Miller / MLB.com

And then there were eight.

Three more World Baseball Classic games captivated a global audience Wednesday, and we now have the octet of teams that will move on to Round 2 in Miami and San Diego.

The last nation to book its ticket to Round 2 was Mexico, which earned its spot with some sweet revenge against Australia in Pool B in Mexico City.

After losing their first game to the Aussies by mercy rule in a 17-7 rout, the Mexicans returned the favor with a 16-1 mercy-rule pasting that lasted only six innings. Former Major Leaguer Karim Garcia did a good portion of the damage, going 4-for-4 with two home runs, four RBIs and four runs scored.

"It was a fantastic game for Mexico after starting out on the wrong foot," Mexico's manager, Vinny Castilla, said. "But my guys never let their spirits get down, and what I told them and I told you guys after the first game, we haven't lost anything. We're still in this tournament, and sure enough, here we are, and they gave everything they had."

Mexico moves on to Round 2 but not before meeting Cuba tonight to determine the winner of Pool B at 9 p.m. ET. The winner will play Japan in San Diego on Sunday at 4 p.m. ET in the first game of Round 2's Pool 1, and the loser will meet Korea there at 11 p.m. ET.

"Obviously, we want to make it to the first place," Castilla said. "We never play baseball to lose. You always walk out onto the field to play and to win, because if you do that, if you choose that you want first or second, boy, baseball is going to come right back and bite you."

Elsewhere in the Classic on Wednesday, Venezuela closed out Pool C play in Toronto by beating the United States, 5-3, and clinching the top seed in Round 2 at Dolphin Stadium in Miami, where the Venezuelans will meet the upstart Dutch in the first game of Pool 2 on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.

It was an especially meaningful game for Venezuela, which lost to the Americans, 15-6, in its only Classic setback.

"Well, you know, when you play with a powerhouse like the United States, for anyone, it's a really important highlight in your life," Venezuelan manager Luis Sojo said. "It's a very important win, because you're playing against a real powerhouse. I think Venezuela was always waiting for this win after they clobbered us."

And in San Juan, home team Puerto Rico remained undefeated in the Classic by knocking off the surprising Netherlands team, 5-0, to take Pool D and open up their Round 2, Pool 2 adventure against the United States at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday in Miami.

I believe it was a great victory," first baseman Carlos Delgado said. "It was a great series for us. ... Something we have to do is give a lot of credit to our team. In three games we only had one run against us. And before that there was talk about batting, batting, batting, but pitching is what [won it for] us.

"There is space to improve. The important thing is that we did qualify in first place and we're going to Miami, and we're going to keep on playing hard."

The first two teams to advance to Round 2, Asian Pool A clubs Japan and Korea, touched down in the United States and warmed up with some Spring Training exhibitions.

Japan came back to beat the San Francisco Giants, 5-3, and will meet the Chicago Cubs today in Mesa, Ariz.

Korea will try to do the same. The Koreans, who won Pool A by beating Japan, 1-0, in the final game at the Tokyo Dome, lost to the San Diego Padres, 10-4, in an exhibition tuneup on Wednesday and will meet the Los Angeles Dodgers in Glendale, Ariz., today.

Korea and Japan will practice again Friday and begin Pool 1 play in San Diego on Sunday, and the manager of the defending champion of the World Baseball Classic knows what to expect now that the tournament is down to eight and the games have become much more important.

"Adapting to the conditions of the U.S. is important," Japan manager Tatsunori Hara said.

"But most importantly is staying within your game."

Doug Miller is reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

catbox_9 wrote:

gs78 wrote:

Same goes for the city of Saigon Vietnam


I refuse to call it Ho Chi Minh City


Fuck that Communist prick


It is Saigon

Yeah! That one is a bit trickier as we have to assume that the Vietnamese want it to be called Saigon. As the country remains Communist you can't actually know what the people want...the people are probably brainwashed anyways.

Be like changing the name of Washington DC to Barack Obama City

03/13/09 3:40 AM ET
Cuba thumps Mexico to close Round 1
Unbeaten squad to face Japan Sunday in rematch of '06 final

By Christopher Ramirez / Special to MLB.com

Box score >
Recap: CUB 16 MEX 4 Watch

MEXICO CITY -- There's no question Cuba is ready for the second round of the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

Cuba stayed undefeated in Classic play with a 16-4 drubbing of Mexico on Thursday and now heads to San Diego to open Round 2 against Japan at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday in a rematch of the 2006 final.

Mexico, with the loss, faces Pool A-winner Korea at 11 ET later that night.

"Today, for Mexico as well as Cuba, this was a hard game," Cuba manager Higinio Velez said. "It was difficult. We had to play to win, but we also had to play in a certain way so we weren't wearing out our guys."

There's little doubt Cuba has the momentum going against a Japan club that defeated it, 10-6, in the inaugural Classic.

"It is a repeat game," Velez said. "It's a chance for us to get back at them."

Velez added that he and his staff haven't begun to prepare for Japan and was reluctant to discuss his lineup or pitching rotation. He did point out that things won't be the same for his ballclub as the competition improves.

"The second series' pitching quality will be better, but we won't have these incredibly lucky scores," Velez said.

Luck aside, Cuba barreled its way to the substantial win by pouncing on missed opportunities by Mexico, which had the bases loaded twice in the first four innings but was only able to bring in one run.

With Cuba trailing in the fourth, 3-2, second baseman Yuliesky Gourriel lined a two-run home run into right field. Yoennis Cespedes followed with an RBI single into left, and Michel Enriquez doubled in a pair of runs to move Cuba ahead, 7-3.

Cuba was only warming up, however, as it would build on its lead in the seventh, largely at the expense of Mexico reliever Dennys Reyes.

Reyes took the mound to start the seventh, only to give up three straight hits, including a double, throw three wild pitches and hit pinch-hitter Leonys Martin. Reyes was lifted after walking Joan Carlos Pedroso, but Mexico's suffering wouldn't end there.

The next batter, Ariel Pestano's smacked a three-run home run into right field that sent many of Mexico's fans toward the exits and popcorn and drinks toward a few Cuba supporters behind the third-base dugout that were boisterously celebrating their team's 13-4 lead.

Left fielder Frederich Cepeda delivered the final blow, crushing a three-run home into center field to end the game, though it went partly unnoticed as many of the remaining fans, who braved temperatures in the 50s and rain throughout, were focused on the fallout of a fight in the stands along the first-base line.

Of the 28 home runs hit in six games played at Foro Sol Stadium this week, Cepeda was the lone batter to homer to center field.

Christopher Ramirez is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

03/13/09 3:08 AM ET
Classic matchups set for Round 2

By Doug Miller / MLB.com

The teams of the World Baseball Classic have shined in various corners of the globe. Now they get to do it from sea to shining sea.

The original 16 is down to an all-Earth eight, and two sparkling coastal cities representing both sides of the United States will showcase this now-international pastime in Round 2.

There isn't much time to prognosticate, either.

Pool 1 begins Sunday in PETCO Park in San Diego, home of Major League Baseball's Padres and the site of the inaugural World Baseball Classic finale won by Japan in 2006.

This time around, the Japanese club, again headed by pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka and outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, heads into Round 2 as the runner-up in its first-round pool after losing a 1-0 decision to Korea in the final game of the Tokyo Dome series.

Meanwhile, Cuba and Mexico come off strong showings in Pool B of the first round, which was contested in Mexico City. The Cubans, who finished second to Japan in the '06 Classic, will look for revenge in San Diego and come in undefeated after a 16-4 rout of Mexico to win Pool B.

The Cubans will get a chance for that revenge right away in their first game of the second round at 4 p.m. ET Sunday, a rematch of the 2006 Classic final that Matsuzaka and the Japanese team won, 10-6.

"It is the repeat game," Cuban manager Higinio Velez said. "It's a chance for us to get back at them, and this might be an anticipated final. Japan is not the only team that has good players. There are many teams with great quality. We're thinking in each game, we're thinking about Japan and then the day after whoever we're up against. We're not worried. We know what their quality is. We respect them. We're going to just be ready."

Mexico will be ready, too, because it is well aware of the Cubans' balanced, slugger-packed lineup and stable of power pitchers. And, as infielder Jorge Cantu said, the Mexicans will have to beat Japan and Korea in other ways to advance to the semifinals in Los Angeles.

"Well, I mean, Korea and Japan are pretty much both the same teams; they play the little game," Cantu said. "They play the bunt, they play the moving-the-runners-over. They sacrifice themselves. They hit the ball the other way with authority. That's their strength. We're just going to try to match them."

The possible Cinderella story of this pool is a tough call considering how well all four teams have fared at the international level in recent years, but we'll still go with Korea, which has to get out of the shadow of Japan to prove there's another major Classic championship contender coming out of Asia.

Korea won the 2008 Olympic gold medal against a field with a lot less Major League talent across the board than we're seeing in this tournament, not to mention the fact that the other three teams in this pool have more big league stars on their rosters than Korea.

Pool 2 begins Saturday in Dolphin Stadium in Miami, where the Florida Marlins play their home games but will surrender their field to Venezuela and the United States from first-round Pool C and Puerto Rico and the miracle Netherlands squad from Pool D.

The Americans get a tough assignment in their first game, having to play 3-0 Puerto Rico, and the Venezuelans will have to meet the darlings of the tournament, the Dutch team that knocked the championship-contending Dominican Republic out in stunning fashion.

Team USA will want to make up for 2006, when it went 1-2 in Round 2, losing to Korea and Mexico and being eliminated from the tournament. Shortstop Derek Jeter says the team will have to perform better.

"I don't think you necessarily learn a lesson (from what happened in 2006)," Jeter said. "I think you just understand that it's a short tournament, and ... every game is important. So you have to come out with intensity every game. Not saying we didn't do that the first time around. We just didn't play very well."

In the other opening-round game, Pool C winner Venezuela, with its Major League murderers' row of sluggers Magglio Ordonez, Miguel Cabrera, Bobby Abreu, Ramon Hernandez, Melvin Mora and Carlos Guillen, has to face the biggest Cinderella of this year's Classic and one of the most amazing international baseball stories of all time.

Who else? The Netherlands.

The Dutch team did beat the Dominican Republic twice to end that championship contender's Classic in stunning fashion, but The Netherlands also lost to Puerto Rico twice and is batting a Classic-low .151 as a team with three RBIs in four games. The "honkbal" hitters will have to step up big-time to make it to the semis, no matter how well the team is pitching and playing defense.

With what his players have already accomplished and with the challenge the Dutchmen face to continue their astonishing ascension to baseball's international elite, perhaps it was wise for Netherlands manager Rod Delmonico to say what he said when asked about how Round 2 looks for his club.

"After the wars that we've been through," he said, "I don't think I'll worry about who we tee it up against."

Doug Miller is reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.