Group C and D likewise completed their group video games the other day. One huge surprise, as competition preferred Dominican Republic had an early exit, and a tinier surprise with U.S.A. ending 2nd in Group C, although that was bound to occur after decreasing versus Mexico.
The results leave U.S.A. coupled with Venezuela, while Mexico will handle a battle with Puerto Rico.
Diamondbacks reporting
Will Sherriff (Australia/Rookie Leagues/Perth Heat)
- Australia 3 @ Cuba 4: didn’t play.
Australia scored an early run in the second, after hardly missing out on a homerun, and filled the bases with 2 outs in the 3rd, however didn’t capitalize. That left Cuba with the chance to connect the video game in the exact same inning. In the bottom of the 5th a single, walk and struck by pitch left the bases filled without any outs and Cuba brought home all 3 of them. While down 4-1 Australia got a 2-run homer in the following inning, however after couldn’t get a hit no more. Cuba advances to semifinals where they will fulfill U.S.A. or Venezuela.
Dominic Fletcher, Dominic Miroglio, Mitchell Stumpo (Italy/Reno Aces)
- Italy 3 @ Japan 9: Fletcher: 4 AB, 3 H, 1 R, 3 RBI, 0 BB, 1 SO; Stumpo: 1.0 IP (14 P – 9 S), 0 BB, 0 H, 0 R, 3 SO.
Ohtani tossed 71 pitches in 4.2 innings, permitting 2 runs. Ohtani likewise had a good offensive video game, however this time the headings were for lower recognized NPB-players Murakami and Okamoto, with a combined 6 RBI. With this outcome Japan proceeds to the next round where they will deal with Puerto Rico or Mexico.
Japan was leading 4-0 after 3 and 7-2 after 5, making the video game an uphill struggle for Team Italy. But a minimum of the Diamondbacks took advantage of it, with Dominic Fletcher knocking in all 3 runs of Italy and Mitchell Stumpo striking out his 3 challengers on 14 pitches, albeit in a low-leverage scenario.
Fletcher began his night well, striking a single on a within slider-curve that dropped into center field. As the pitch count increased, Ohtani got a bit careless and in the 5th he filled the bases after 2 HBP and a single. Fortunately for Italy Dominic Fletcher pertained to bat:
Similar pitch as in the first inning, comparable outcome, although this time dropping more into best field, and with effects: Italy clawed back to 2-4. Japan gradually left once again to 9-2 and in the leading 8th it was when again Dominic Fletcher who was of offending note, squashing a Yu Darvish cutter into left field:
In the bottom of the 8th inning Mitchell Stumpo went into the video game and although the match was already over, he got some motivating outcomes on the cutter and fastball, while likewise blending in a number of changeups to the left-handed batter, getting all 3 of Kondo, Ohtani and Yamada to start out. Don’t be too light on that outcome.
It was Dominic’s and Italy’s very first homer in this year’s WBC by the method.
All in all, an excellent competition from Italy.
Endrys Briceño (Venezuela/Amarillo Sod Poodles)
- Venezuela 5 @ Israel 1: 0.1 IP (11 P – 6 S), 0 H, 1 BB, 0 SO, 0 R.
An early 3-0 lead for Venezuela led them to take things simple versus Israel, that wasn’t able to make the most of that, getting simply 1 struck less than Venezuela, however not having the ability to score more than 1 run.
With a 5-1 lead in the bottom 8th Briceño was summoned to take the mound and get the last out in the inning, something he attained after permitting a walk. The 31-year old almost specifically dealt with a 95+ miles per hour sinker that didn’t cause any swings and misses out on, however ultimately got the outcome Venezuela required.
Former Diamondbacks Eduardo Escobar and David Peralta remained in the batting lineup, striking 8th and 9th, with both getting a hit in the video game. For Escobar it was his very first in the WBC, although it was a (solo) homerun also.
Jacob Steinmetz (Israel/Rookie leagues)
- Israel 0 @ Dominican Republic 10: 1.2 IP (38 P – 19 S), 2 H, 2 BB, 3 SO, 1 R.
- Venezuela 5 @ Israel 1: didn’t play.
The announcers at the game made mention of the 4th youngest pitcher to start a game at the WBC. Well, yeah, it was quite the surprise to see Jacob Steinmetz make a start against, of all teams, the Dominican Republic, but then again, with Israel on the brink of elimination in the WBC why not give some young pitcher an opportunity to play at an event like this one? And, looking back, it really didn’t matter as Israel was almost shut out by their opponent: they got just 1 hit.
Steinmetz did fairly well for a 19-year old kid facing some of the best baseball players in the entire game. He allowed a hit to Juan Soto in the very first at bat, although if you think left fielder Horowitz made a poor play, I am on your side.
Struggling a bit with his command, Steinmetz showed some good stuff from time to time, with some really good pitches down in the zone. Steinmetz was allowed to go just one time through the order, so with the effort increasing in the second and his fastball velocity dropping a mile (he reached over 94 in the first), he was congratulated by Ian Kinsler and taken out before he had to face Juan Soto a second time.
Ketel Marte (2B/Dominican Republic)
- Israel 0 @ Dominican Republic 10: 4 AB, 1 H, 0 R, 1 RBI, 0 BB, 1 SO.
Hitting 6th in the lineup, Ketel Marte made his WBC debut against Israel and in his 2nd at bat (he grounded out against Jacob Steinmetz) he stretched a bit for a nice double into center field, bringing home the Dominican’s 3rd run. Marte was robbed of a second hit when he hit a chopper with a lot of movement to center field where Joc Pederson barely made a catch. With Nelson Cruz and Robinson Canó entering the video game, former Diamondback Jean Segura was also given the opportunity to get a hit, which he achieved, knocking in two, ending the game on the mercy rule after 7 innings.
- Puerto Rico 5 @ Dominican Republic 2: 4 AB, 1 H, 0 R, 0 RBI, 0 BB, 1 SO.
A huge atmosphere accompanied this juggernaut elimination game, its importance being rather clear in the stadium with all the noise after each out or hit. Although Marte didn’t have any important contribution offensively I think he looked good defensively at 2nd base, making some solid plays, but especially on a throw to third base in the 5th inning. That gives some hope for this season, ladies and gentleman.
Emmanuel Rivera (3B/Puerto Rico)
- Puerto Rico 5 @ Dominican Republic 2: 4 AB, 1 H, 0 R, 0 RBI, 0 BB, 1 SO.
Once again Rivera got a nice hit on a sinker, this time in the first inning, but couldn’t contribute to much more in a crucial match versus the Dominican Republic. The headlines in this game were for Francisco Lindor and Edwin Diaz, but above all Puerto Rico looked once again really solid on the defensive side of the game, which includes Emmanuel Rivera as well. After eliminating the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico will now play Mexico in the semifinals.
Alek Thomas (CF/Mexico)
- Great Britain 1 @ Mexico 2: 0 AB.
The pitchers of Great Britain did a great effort in reducing the walks in this game, which led to a tough game for Mexico, although they certainly got a strong performance from their pitchers. Alek Thomas got some rest in this game, but he had to enter the game at the end as a defensive replacement to make sure the game would finish in 9 innings, because the Brits surely got the Mexicans sweating in the end.
- Mexico 10 @ Canada 3: 4 AB, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 SO, 2 R, 0 RBI.
Interesting game between Mexico and Canada until the 6th inning, when an Alek Thomas single turned into a double after some good running and bad defence. Although the aggressive baserunning wasn’t really necessary eventually (in the following at bat Barnes was walked) it showed yet another fine action from Thomas, who had walked and stolen a base in his previous at bat as well. Arozarena brought all three baserunners home and never looked back. Thomas, in the following at bat, reached 1st base on a fielder’s choice, but would later steal 2nd again and was brought home not much later. When on the bases, Thomas proves to be a threatening force.
Canada had won the day before against Colombia 5-0, so for them the game against Mexico presented still a chance to reach the next round.
Merrill Kelly (SP/USA)
- USA 3 @ Colombia 2: 3.0 IP (61 P – 36 S), 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 1 SO.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the US is kicked out in the following game against Venezuela. Pounding on Canada prevented USA from getting embarrassed, like in the game against Mexico, but there were still some sloppy defensive plays. Kelly wasn’t actually at his best either, but escaped from any damage in the 2nd, but was less lucky in the 3rd, where Colombia took a 2-1 lead.
Despite not pitching very well, you have to be a bit lucky too. First it was a 92 mph way over the strike zone that brought home the man from 3rd. Later it was Alfaro who got the bat on a well wide curve that was misplayed by Trea Turner. And then a bad pitch that Reynaldo Rodriguez launched well into center field. Bad luck and mediocre pitching, not the very best performance of Merrill Kelly.
Fortunately, though, if nothing is working, you always have Mike Trout to save the day.
Let’s hope the US steps up their video game a bit.
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