SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – This was nearly Honkbal Heaven.
The Dutch word for baseball is honkbal. And these honkballers from the Netherlands nearly pulled off their second incredible upset in the World Baseball Classic last night at Hiram Bithorn Stadium. The Netherlands went into the eighth inning clinging to a 1-0 lead over host Puerto Rico, but two Dutch relievers walked the bases loaded and Yadier Molina – yes, that Molina, Mets fans – delivered a one-out double to drive in two runs. Puerto Rico added an insurance run in the inning and escaped with a 3-1 victory to advance to the second round in Miami.
Molina said this winning hit was “bigger” than his home run for the Cardinals that beat the Mets in Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS.
When the Netherlands’ Yurendell DeCaster, who put the honkballers ahead with a run-scoring single in the first, grounded to shortstop Michael Aviles to end the game, the capacity crowd of 19,479 erupted in cheers as fireworks exploded, Puerto Rican flags waved, whistles blew and Marc Anthony’s song “Precisa” – an anthem to Puerto Rico – blared from the stadium sound system.
The Netherlands can still make it to Miami if it duplicates Saturday’s stunner, when it beat the Dominican Republic, 3-2. The Dutch face Team Dominicana again tonight in an elimination game.
Italy 6, Canada 2
In Toronto, Chris Denorfia went 4-for-4 with three doubles to lead Italy to an upset victory over Canada, eliminating the host team from Pool C of the WBC.
Italy will play an elimination game tonight against Venezuela and the winner will advance to Miami for the second round, along with Team USA.
The Italians received six innings of shutout relief from Chris Cooper and Jason Grilli after Canada had pulled within 4-2 in the fourth inning.
Italy and Venezuela first played on Saturday, when the Venezuelans rolled to a 7-0 victory behind pitchers Carlos Silva and Felix Hernandez.
– Mike Puma
Mexico 14, South Africa 3
In Mexico City, Adrian Gonzalez hit two home runs and a double and drive in six runs as Mexico eliminated South Africa.
Elmer Dessens allowed two runs – one earned – in six innings for Mexico, which avoided elimination from Group B and will play the loser of today’s Cuba-Australia game tomorrow. 2
South Korea 1, Japan 0
In Tokyo, Kim Tae-kyun drove in the only run to help South Korea beat defending champion Japan 1-0 and finish first in Pool A of the WBC.
Both teams had already advanced to the second round, and the game was to determine the seedings.