Dominican Republic walks-off Netherlands, advances to Olympic baseball qualifier final

PUEBLA, Mexico -- Dominican Republic advanced to the final game of the WBSC Baseball Final Qualifier in dramatic fashion, with a 4-3 walk-off win over the Netherlands at Hermanos Serdan Stadium Thursday night.

Netherlands starter Tom de Blok held the Dominican lineup scoreless for 5 innings, before Johan Mieses launched a 2-1 pitch over the left-field fence to put the Caribbean team on top, 1-0, in the sixth inning. Two batters later, Roldani Baldwin doubled-in Diego Goris and Ramon Torres to make it 3-0.

In the bottom of the seventh, the game had to be stopped due to heavy rain in Puebla. After the delay, the Netherlands mounted a late-inning comeback to tie the game. Pinch hitter Curt Smith blasted a 2-run homer off Carlos Ramirez in the top of the eight, and Dashenko Ricardo tied the game in the ninth with an RBI single to center field.

The Walk-Off

With runners in first and second and no outs, Dominican Republic's Gustavo Nuñez placed a perfect bunt down the third-base line and Sharlon Schoop tried to make a barehanded play, but his throw sailed away from first base, allowing Torres to score easily the game-winning run.

With the victory, Dominican Republic clinched first place in the Opening Round and advances directly to the final on Saturday. Venezuela (second place) and Netherlands (third place) will meet this Friday at 5 pm (local time) in the semifinal of the event.