Now that basketball is over for the day, we actually get to watch a game on ESPN2. It should be a good one as both Puerto Rico and the DR are undefeated in the tournament so far.
By the way, I waited 20 minutes to see highlights of the Japan/US game on ESPN News, and all they show is the game winning hit by A-Rod. I want to see the reversed play at third! That interview with Jim Boeheim was just too important to give the baseball highlight an extra 20 seconds!
Update: Pudge Rodriguez doubles off the glove of Juan Encarnacion. It looked to me like Juan tried to dive too soon. I-Rod is at second with one out.
Update: Beltre makes a nice play on Javy Lopez to end the inning. The Dominicans are coming to bat in the bottom of the first.
Update: Someone just told me the Japan-USA game was on ESPN2. Nice of them to wait to the last minute. It never made it to the DirecTV program guide, so I listened to the radio.
Update: Albert Pujols grounds to the shortstop Cintron, who boots the ball. However, Ortiz follows with a groundout to second to end the inning. The fielding miscues have not hurt either team so far.
Update: Javier Vazquez has long ball tendencies, and Adrian Beltre hits his fourth homer of the tournament to give the Dominicans a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second.
Update: A very nice K-DP. Taveras tries to steal as Soriano swings and misses. Ivan Rodriguez makes a perfect throw, and Cora makes a perfect tag, using his leg to block the bag from Taveras.
Update: Carlos Beltran smashes one that handcuffs Pujols and goes for a leadoff double in the top of the fourth.
Update: Javy Lopez follows it up with a one-hopper past Beltre at third. Lopez gets a double and a game tying RBI.
Update: Colon gets out of the inning with no more damage. It’s tied at one going to the bottom of the fourth. Colon is up to 58 pitches. He’ll probably go one more inning.
Update: Vazquez also finishes the fourth with 58 pitches thrown. He’s thrown two more strikes than Colon, 36-34. The way they’re pitching, it would be nice to see them battle deep into the game.
Update: Vazquez pitches a strong fifth, knowing it was his last inning. It’s still 1-1 as the game is about to go over to the bullpens.
Update: Marte comes on to pitch for the Dominicans, but has the wrong color bill on his cap. Game delay due to hat!
Update: Marte starts off Puerto Rico with a walk.
Update: Javy Lopez doubles off Marte to move Beltran to third. It must be the unlucky, Red Billed Cap!
Update: The evil Red Billed Cap keeps the rally going. Cruz singles up the middle to drive in two, and Puerto Rico takes a 3-1 lead over the Dominicans. The home town crowd is going wild!
Update: An infield hit by Valentin puts runners on 1st and 3rd with 1 out. That’s it for Marte and the evil, unlucky, Red Billed Cap!
Update: Tavarez takes over on the mound.
Update: Cintron plays like Men Without Hats, dropping down a safety squeeze for a single and an RBI. Puerto Rico leads 4-1.
Update: Tavarez breaks the curse of the cap and gets out of the inning. Puerto Rico is set up for an upset victory.
Update: A Soriano error leads to a run as Cruz grounds one up the middle for an RBI single in the top of the seventh. Puerto Rico extends their lead to 5-1.
Update: Two more runs for Puerto Rico on a single by Valentin. The throw to the plate was there in plenty of time to nail the second runner, but the catcher Brito couldn’t reach him with the tag. It’s 7-1 Puerto Rico.
It’s stretch time. If this game holds up, the Puerto Ricans will have posted blow outs of two of the favorites of this tournament. It’s time to start looking at Puerto Rico as the favorite coming out of this pool.
Update: Down six, Alou tries to go for a double on a ball toward the left field corner. Ledee makes a perfect throw to nail Moises at second. I can’t argue too much with Alou; Ledee had to make a perfect play for the out.
Update: The Dominicans get two hits and a walk in the inning, but the arm of Ledee keeps them off the scoreboard. It’s 7-1 Puerto Rico going to the top of the 8th.
Update: Puerto Rico goes quietly in the eighth. The Dominicans need six runs in two innings.
Update: Another scoreless inning for the Dominican Republic. They haven’t scored since the second inning and only knocked out five hits in the game.
Update: Puerto Rico threatens but doesn’t score in the top of the 9th. One more chance for the Dominicans.
Update: Jose Cruz catches the fly ball to right and Puerto Rico defeats the Dominican Republic 7-1. An impressive game by both the offense and the pitching. Lopez and Cruz combined for six hits, four runs and four RBI. Javier Vazquez pitched five excellent innings in his start, and although the bullpen did not strike out a batter, they only allowed three hits. Puerto Rico is making the most of their home field advantage.
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