World Baseball Classic 2013 finalists Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico have secured two of the four spots for the 2nd Round that will take place in San Diego.
No. 13 Dominican Republic escaped defeat, beating No. 19 Colombia, 10-3, in 11 innings at a sold-out Marlins Park in Miami to win Group C.
Tied 3-3 in the bottom of the 9th, Dominican Republic left fielder Jose Bautista threw out Colombia’s Oscar Mercado at the plate on a sac-fly attempt, which erupted in controversy and sent the game into extra innings.
Dominican Republic then exploded for 7 runs in the top of the 11th, led by shortstop Jean Segura who had a 3-run double to break the game wide open.
No. 12 Puerto Rico, the 2013 WBC runner-up, defeated No. 11 Italy, 9-3, to finish undefeated in Group D – Jalisco, Mexico.
Houston Astros prodigy Carlos Correa had a 3-run home run in the 4th inning that cushioned Puerto Rico’s lead to 7-3.
