Melky Cabrera’s RBI single lifts Dominican Republic over Mexico in 1-0 shutout

Melky Cabrera delivered a two-out RBI single in the home half of the fifth inning to lift Dominican Republic over Mexico, 1-0, in the team’s second game of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games baseball event on Friday at Yokohama Stadium. Angel Sanchez pitched five scoreless innings, while four different relievers combined on the shutout.

Sanchez, who has a 5-5 record in the Nippon Professional League’s Yomiuri Giants with a 4.68 ERA, allowed only two hits in five innings while striking out one. The Dominican Republic bullpen bounced back after relief pitchers blew the lead in the ninth against Japan in the Olympic Games’ opener on Wednesday.

The first-ever hit in the Olympic history for Mexico came off the bat of Roman Solis in the top of the third inning, a one-out single to center field. It was the first of only two Sanchez allowed during the game.

In the bottom of the fifth, Dominican Republic scored the lone run of the game. Charlie Valerio led off the inning with a double to right field, and moved to third on a grounder to second base. With one out, Emilio Bonifacio lined out to the pitcher for the second out of the inning, but finally Cabrera drove Valerio in with an RBI single to left field. 

Mexico starter Theodore Stankiewicz left the game after 4.2 innings, giving up 6 hits and 1 run, while striking out 5. He was charged with the loss.

The Dominican bullpen held the Mexican offense in check. Ramon Rosso, who appeared in one game in the current MLB season with Philadelphia Phillies, pitched the sixth with excellent defensive support. With one out and runner on second base, Joey Meneses singled into the left field and runner Isaac Rodriguez challenged Bautista’s arm, but the 6-time MLB All Star fired him out at home plate with a great throw. A few moments later, Emilio Bonifacio made a nice running-catch in the left-center gap to end the inning.

In the top of the seventh, lefty Dario Alvarez tossed a 12-pitch perfect inning, and in the eighth Jose Diaz kept the lead for the Dominican Republic, stranding a runner on third base.

After the blown save on Wednesday against Japan, Dominican manager Hector Borg sent Luis Castillo to preserve the lead in the ninth, and the 21-year old right-hander retired got a groundout and two strikeouts to end the game.

The Dominican Republic finishes its Group A play with 1-1 record. Mexico (1-0) will take on Japan (1-0) on Saturday before the tournament advances to the knockout stage.