World Baseball Classic Shocker: USA Faces Elimination After Loss To Dominican Republic
It’s no surprise that the Dominican Republic fielded a very good baseball team for the 2013 version of the World Baseball Classic. Many Dominicans have had great careers in the Major Leagues including Tony Peña who manages the current team from the Dominican. What is a surprise is that the US team could only muster one run, and that was pushed across by a bases loaded walk during a shaky first inning by Dominican starter Sam Deduno in a 3-1 loss.
The US now must beat Puerto Rico to avoid elimination from the World Baseball Classic.
Blue Jay knuckleballer R. A. Dickey kept the Dominicans at bay for five innings with just one mistake, a knuckleball that didn’t knuckle to Dominican DH Hanley Ramirez that was deposited in the seats in left centre in the second inning to tie the game 1-1.
Both teams had opportunities to break the tie, but were unable to do so until the top of the ninth when the Dominicans put together a two run rally and were able to shut down the US in the bottom of the ninth.
The US will have to come up with more offence when they face Diamondback’s right-hander Nelson Figueroa who starts for Puerto Rico. The US will counter with Giants righty Ryan Vogelsong on Friday.
Deegan Stubbs is a baseball fan who still laments the loss of his beloved Expos. He blogs as DCMontreal at http://dcmontreal.wordpress.com/ and you can follow him on Twitter @DCMontreal.
Deegan Stubbs
