SAN DIEGO – Puerto Rico scored four runs in the 1st inning and held on to defeat the United States, 6-5, guaranteeing Puerto Rico a spot in the semi-finals of the World Baseball Classic 2017.
New York Mets starting pitcher Seth Lugo went 5.2 innings to earn the win.
Undefeated Puerto Rico, WBC silver medallists in 2013, has won five straight games and will join Japan and Netherlands in the semi-finals at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.
USA’s Buster Posey and Adam Jones each had solo home runs in the loss to Puerto Rico at Petco Park.
The U.S. and the Dominican Republic will go head-to-head in a knockout contest Saturday, with the winner advancing to the semi-finals and the loser heading home.
Five nations remain alive in the 16-team World Baseball Classic, as Venezuela will exit the WBSC world championship following its game Puerto Rico.
