Netherlands shocked the Dominican Republic and Canada put a scare into the US before falling as favorites struggled in their World Baseball Classic openers on Saturday.
Three unearned runs and five shutout innings by four relievers in support of winning pitcher Sidney Ponson led the Dutch to a 3-2 victory over a formidable Dominican lineup of Major League Baseball stars at San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The Dutch will play today against Puerto Rico, a 7-0 winner over Panama, to decide the group’s first qualifier for round two in Miami. The Dominicans had to beat Panama yesterday to avoid elimination.
PHOTO: EPA
Brian McCann, Adam Dunn and Kevin Youkilis each smashed home runs for the Americans in a hard-fought 6-5 victory over Canada in Toronto.
REVENGE ON CANADA
Not until reliever JJ Putz retired Canada’s final two batters with the tying run in scoring position did the US squad avenge an 8-6 loss to Canada in round one of the inaugural 2006 Classic on their way to crashing out in round two.
The Americans left the bases loaded in the seventh and eighth innings thanks to clutch strikeouts from Canada relievers Phillippe Aumont and David Davidson while Joey Votto and Russell Martin homered for the hosts.
US winning pitcher Jake Peavy could sympathize with the Dominicans after the narrow escape.
Houston’s Roy Oswalt was to pitch yesterday for the Americans against Venezuela, a 7-0 winner over Italy, to decide the group’s first qualifier for the second round in Miami.
“I think our guys learned from the first [Classic],” Oswalt said. “The first go round, guys didn’t get themselves ready early enough. This time guys prepared a little earlier instead of waiting to get ready. That’s one thing that’s tough about this tournament — if you get started out on the wrong foot it’s hard to catch up.”
Carlos Guillen and Melvin Mora homered for Venezuela and Seattle ace pitcher Felix Hernandez hurled four innings of shutout relief so Detroit right-hander Armando Galarraga was to get the start yesterday against the Americans.
‘CALM, NOT NERVOUS’
“We’re calm. We’re not very nervous,” Hernandez said. “We will do our best for a win that will take us straight to Miami.”
An error by Dominican shortstop Hanley Ramirez brought home two Dutch runs in the first inning and the Netherlands rode solid defensive work and skilled relief pitching for the victory.
Rob Cordemans hurled two-and-two-thirds innings of scoreless relief and together with Alex Smit, Leon Boyd and Dennis Neuman baffled the Caribbeans.
Free agent Ivan Rodriguez went 4-for-4 with two home runs and Carlos Delgado added three hits, including a solo homer, to power Puerto Rico’s victory.
In Tokyo yesterday, South Korea pummeled China to 14-0 in seven innings, at which time the game was ended under the mercy rule.
BUMRAH WATCH: Captain Jasprit Bumrah left the SCG for scans for back spasms and although he returned to the ground, there was no word on if he would play Rishabh Pant’s blistering counterattack yesterday capped a chaotic second day of the fifth and final Test between Australia and India, with 15 wickets falling and the star bowler of the series leaving the Sydney Cricket Ground with an ambulance escort. Yet the Border-Gavaskar trophy still remains very much in the balance as India reached 141-6, holding a 145-run lead over Australia with three days remaining. “Low-scoring games like this, it just heightens the pressure within it, so long way still to go,” Australia coach Andrew McDonald said. “There’s gonna be plenty of cricket, so we’ll see what happens.” Australia were bowled out for
Elena Rybakina’s Kazakhstan yesterday dumped defending champions Germany out of the United Cup with world No. 2 Alexander Zverev sidelined by an arm injury barely a week away from the Australian Open. The upset in Perth sent the Kazakhs into the semi-finals of the 18-nation tournament. In Sydney, women’s world No. 2 Iga Swiatek led Poland into the last eight by winning a rematch of her 2023 French Open final against Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic. Britain also progressed to the quarter-finals with Katie Boulter’s dominant 6-2, 6-1 victory over Australia’s Olivia Gadecki enough to guarantee they won their group. The US and
Five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek yesterday beat Elena Rybakina in straight sets to take Poland into the final of the mixed-teams United Cup with victory over Kazakhstan. Last year’s runners-up face the US today for the title in Sydney after they beat the Czech Republic in the other semi-final. “This win makes me really proud,” Swiatek said after seeing off Rybakina 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 to give Poland an unassailable 2-0 lead in the tie. It was a statement of intent from the world number two with the first major of the year to start on Jan. 12. “It is perfect preparation for the
Taiwan’s Wu Fang-hsien and Jiang Xinyu of China yesterday won the women’s doubles title at the ASB Classic in Auckland, while Naomi Osaka retired from the women’s singles final with an abdominal injury. Second seeds Wu and Jiang defeated Serbia’s Aleksandra Krunic and Sabrina Santamaria of the US 6-3, 6-4 on ASB Tennis Centre’s Stadium Court in 1 hour, 5 minutes. The WTA 250 victory was 25-year-old Wu’s second WTA Tour title, after winning the 2023 Hua Hin Championships in Thailand with Taiwanese partner Chan Hao-ching. Later that year, Wu and Taiwan’s Hsu Yu-hsiou won the mixed doubles gold at the World
RSS