Dominican Republic blanks Venezuela

Mike Aviles got four hits and drove in three runs to pace the team’s 17-hit attack at Petco Park.

“Some teams show, maybe physically, a little more passion sometimes than we do”, Team USA manager Jim Leyland said. “We need to complete the uncompleted task from 2013”.

By clinching Pool F with a day to go, Puerto Rico (2-0) will play the Netherlands on Monday night at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

“We were always planning to go to L.A”, Cruz said.

A two-run third inning, capped by a two-out, RBI double from Christian Yelich evened the game 2-2. Carlos Beltran singled in Lindor and Yadier Molina followed with a single to drive in Correa.

“I am looking forward to it (playing Japan)”.

“Volqy did a great job and there is no question we have a great bullpen”, Pena said.

With such a major accomplishment being achieved and such jubilation from the players will the Puerto Ricans be distracted this afternoon when they take on Venezuela?

Fulmer improving • American League rookie of the year Michael Fulmer said his injured right ankle is 100 percent and that he’s on track to be ready for the start of the regular season.

The United States had never beaten the Dominican Republic in four WBC tournaments.

Also helping keep their opponents at bay, New York Mets right-hander Seth Lugo handled Venezuela in the first round of the WBC, holding Venezuela to just one hit and picking up three strikeouts through 5 1/3 innings.

As Jon Morosi reported afterward, Venezuela manager Omar Vizquel lifted Cabrera for “precautionary reasons” and diagnosed his injury as back tightness. With nothing to lose, both teams should be expected to play this like a World Series game.

After running into a small bit of trouble in the the 9th, Astros closer Luke Gregerson slammed the door on the Venezuelans, earning a double play that gave the Americans a 4-2 win headed into a highly anticipated showdown with undefeated Puerto Rico on Friday night.

Yelich walked and Alex Colome hit Eric Hosmer before McCutchen doubled with one out in the eighth for a 6-3 US lead. “That is the beauty of our team”.

“Everyone has a role”, Rodriguez said about some of his reserves coming through. The Dominican Republic led 2-0 after one, but a big inning was averted.

For just the second time this spring, Andrew Miller entered a game and left without giving up a run – which is apparently important to some people.

A half inning later, Team USA had an opportunity to score and took advantage of it. Stanton poked a hit to right field, and a successfully executed hit-and-run from Stanton and Jonathan Lucroy put runners on the corners with nobody out.

Venezuela loaded with the bases loaded and one out in the second.