Late Inning Heroics Push US Past Venezuela

Team USA caught a break on the Crawford play, as he was clearly tagged out at third base.

Venezuela manager Omar Vizquel went to Padres farmhand Jose Castillo to face the middle of the U.S. order and the young lefty came up huge, striking out Christian Yelich then getting 3rd baseman Nolan Arenado, who has hit a combined 83 home runs the last two seasons, to strike out on a gutsy 3-2 changeup to end the inning.

Team USA, meanwhile, will play the WBC reigning champion Dominican Republic on Saturday night with the victor going to the final round as well.

We’re used to handshakes and fist bumps after victories, not cartwheels. “Anytime we score a run, that is how we react”.

Marcus Stroman gave up six consecutive singles to start the game, putting the U.S.in a 4-0 hole.

Maybe that’s why this WBC is so attractive. The fans were few, but they were loud, with their chants and with their horns.

March baseball of an worldwide flavor has been a home run for MLB Network.

Team USA outfielder Adam Jones said he learned a lesson from that experience. The fans have brought the intense atmosphere by bringing the unique celebrations from their culture to the game with them. That shows that you care. But it’s just not our style. “We woke up. We needed to start moving”.

It remains to be seen if it will be enough for the U.S.

After giving up four runs in the first inning, the USA went on to lose 6-5 to Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic on Friday night.

Alex Claudio, likely the only lefty in the Rangers bullpen at the start of the season, has faced just one batter through Puerto Rico’s first four games, spanning a week.

SAN DIEGO As grown men ran around Petco Park with Puerto Rican flags draped over their backs, March madness was not exclusive to college basketball on Friday.

Puerto Rico advanced to the championship round for the second straight WBC. “We’ve got our rules that we have to go by, and we have to be really aware of that”. Ain’t nothing wrong with that.

“The whole time they’re just putting their heads, like an ostrich sticking his head in a hole and trying to let it all diffuse and go away”, Gonzalez said. No one in the US clubhouse had to publicly apologize for showing anyone up.

The Indians allowed Francisco Lindor to participate in the tournament for Puerto Rico, but he can only play shortstop or serve as the designated hitter. “If you’re going to do it, do it now and do it in winter ball”.

Major League Baseball issued an apology that their media outlets had gotten ahead of themselves reporting that Mexico would continue on to the tiebreaker if they won by two runs, but pushing their mistakes on to the media did not satisfy Gonzalez and understandably so.

You know, like a Clayton Kershaw, or Zack Greinke or David Price. Unless it’s certain people, the big dogs. Then win or go home again.

“It’s a lot harder to manage this”, Leyland said.