San Francisco. The final round of the 2013 World Baseball Classic will commence on Sunday evening at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California. In the first semi-final two-time WBC winner Japan will meet with Puerto Rico, which had stunned and eliminated Team USA on Friday evening in Miami, clinching the last final round berth. On Saturday they lost the seeding game to the Dominican Republic and draw Japan in the semi-finals.
In the second semi-final on Monday, the Dominican team with two-time MVP Robinson Cano will square off with IBAF Baseball World Cup title holder Netherlands. The championship game is set for Tuesday. For the first time, the winner of the World Baseball Classic will be named IBAF World Champion. IBAF President Riccardo Fraccari will be on hand for the medal ceremony on Tuesday.
Second Round
USA 3 – Puerto Rico 4
Puerto Rico defeated Team USA on Friday at Marlins Park in Miami, Florida on Friday by a score of 4-3 to clinch the last and fourth berth in the semi-finals of the 2013 WBC. Nelson Figueroa pitched six innings of scoreless two-hit ball to lead the way in the surprise win. Andy Gonzalez drove in two of the four Puerto Rican runs. The US American offense didn’t wake up until the seventh, but couldn’t complete the comeback successfully. With the loss Team USA got eliminated from the 2013 World Baseball Classic.
Dominican Republic 2 – Puerto Rico 0
The Dominican Republic shut out Puerto Rico 2-0 in the seeding game of the second round pool in Miami on Saturday. With the win the team of manager Tony Pena avoids Japan in the semi-finals and instead will take on reigning World Champion Netherlands on Monday, setting up a rematch of the 2009 World Baseball Classic. Wandy Rodriguez won a pitcher’s duel on Saturday over Oscar Roman. Carlos Santana broke a scoreless tie with a solo home run in the fifth to get the Dominican team on track towards victory lane.
Schedule
Sunday, March 17, 2013
18:00 Semi-Final 1: Japan – Puerto Rico (AT&T Park in San Francisco)
Monday, March 18, 2013
18:00 Semi-Final 2: Dominican Republic – Netherlands (AT&T Park in San Francisco)
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
17:00 Championship Game (AT&T Park in San Francisco)
(all times local)
Complete Schedule can be found at www.worldbaseballclassic.com.
The 2013 World Baseball Classic is officially sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation (IBAF). The winner will be named IBAF World Champion for the first time. The final round will be played at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California from March 17 to 19. More information including highlights can be found at www.worldbaseballclassic.com
