We have some teams moving on to the next round, some teams going home without a win and some teams guaranteeing a spot in the next version of the World Baseball Classic. Let’s wrap up yesterday’s action.
Korea 7, Australia 2
This was a matchup that would basically decide who would travel east with Japan to play in the quarterfinals. One would figure that both teams would come out and do what they had to do, but in the end, Korea just had too much pitching depth and Australia had too little. The Koreans
tagged the Aussie pitchers early for four runs, two in the second on a Bo Geyong Moon home run and two in the fourth. From there, Korean pitching just stifled anything the Australians tried to muster, meaning they’ll move on and Australia will head home.
Dominican Republic 10, Israel 1
Again, simply just a mismatch. What’s becoming pretty apparent is that if any team other than the usual two or three want to win a WBC title, they’re going to have to find some pitching that can beat others with velocity, else they will simply not be good enough to compete. A second inning grand slam by Fernando Tatis, Jr. was basically all the Dominicans needed, meaning they’ll move on to the quarterfinals as well.
Colombia 4, Panama 3
Colombia needed a victory to make sure their spot in the 2029 WBC is secured, having lost their first three games. Panama needed a win, a win by a lot and some help from others to make it to the quarterfinals of this round. A solid, well played game was swung by four runs scored by Colombia in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly by Jordan Diaz, a two-run single by Reynaldo Rodriguez and an RBI single by Daniel Vellojin gave them a 4-0. It was a white knuckle ride for the Colombians however as the Panamanians continued to scratch and claw back within one before Alberto Baldonado closed it out. Good game.
Great Britain 8, Brazil 1
Someone had to win. That’s enough to say about this one.
Venezuela 4, Nicaragua 0
Ronald Acuna, Jr. showed why he is still one of the elite players in the game when he is right, going 3-3 with a home run, two RBI and a stolen base. Venezuela is dangerous for their quarterfinal opponent now that they have moved on.
My heart still goes out to the Nicaraguans for their walkoff loss to the Netherlands. They deserved at least one win in this tournament.
United States 5, Mexico 3
There may have been some that thought this would be a blowout with Paul Skenes on the mound for the United States, but Mexico has a really good team and gave the best fight that America has seen thus far. Were it not for home runs from Aaron Judge and Roman Anthony in the third inning, this score may have been flipped. Yet those two home runs happened and United States rode them and some sparkling defensive work by Bobby Witt, Jr. to punch their own ticket to the next round.
Mexico now faces a rather substantial game against Italy to decide who goes with them.
Puerto Rico 4, Cuba 1
After a lengthy rain delay, the Puerto Ricans also set their team up for the quarterfinals, beating Cuba in a taut affair. The biggest hit was Martin Maldonado hitting a bases loaded double in the third inning to give Puerto Rico a 3-0 lead that they never relinquished.
Pretty sure this would be an incredible experience to go to a WBC game in San Juan. Puerto Rico moves on while Cuba now must wait to see their fate.
