John Perrotto of USA Today is reporting that the Dominican Republic has won the World Baseball Classic. After pushing past the Netherlands, the Dominican Republic took the field against Puerto Rico at the AT&T Park in San Francisco, CA. The Dominican Republic finished its perfect run through the World Baseball Classic with a 3-0 victory over Puerto Rico in the championship game.
Perrotto writes:
“The Dominicans won all eight games and outscored their opponents 36-14 in becoming the first team to go undefeated in a WBC. Japan won the first two tournaments in 2006 and 2009 but did not get through either event with an unblemished record.
‘DR has huge talent,’ Puerto Rico manager Edwin Rodriguez said. ‘Other teams also had great talent and stars from the major leagues but the DR has a passion, desire, the drive to really show this kind of amazing performance, and they did accomplish it.’
And the Dominicans reveled in their accomplishment, particularly after being eliminated from the first round in 2009. Manager Tony Pena clutched the trophy tightly as he talked about what winning the WBC meant to the island nation of 10 million that produces more major-league players per capita than any country.”
The games were peppered with humor with Dominican closer Fernando Rodney, who saved seven of the eight wins, introducing the rally plantain, which he shook in the bullpen whenever his team needed a boost.
Read more at USA Today.
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