Puerto Rico stun USA with come-from-behind win, earn chance for bronze medal game

World No. 13 Puerto Rico came from behind to beat No. 2 USA, 4-3, and earn a chance for the bronze medal game. Relief pitcher Jarrette Bonet earned the win pitching 4.1 hitless innings. He allowed the defending World Champions only two walks while striking out four.

Konnor Griffin led off the bottom of the first with a single. Designated hitter Levi Clark took him to third with a single to right field and Griffin scored the go-ahead run on Coy James' sacrifice fly.

Puerto Rico scored the tying run in the top of the third. US starter Levi Sterling walked catcher Ediel Rivera, who advanced on a ground out. Left fielder Harold Laracuente singled to score him from second. Perry Morlando ended the inning with a fine diving catch at first base.

Shortstop Manuelle Marin singled to left field to lead off the bottom half of the frame. Marin stole second and scored on Griffin's stand-up triple. Derek Curiel sent him home with a sacrifice fly, extended the US lead to 3-1.

Morlando kept the at-bat alive with a two-out infield single and centre fielder Coy James brought him to third with a base hit.

It was all for Puerto Rico's starter José Bulted, who left for Jarrette Bonet. The inning ended when James was caught stealing by Rivera.

Puerto Rico made it a one-run game in the top of the fourth. Third baseman Adnys Velez reached on a one-out single and ran all the way to home plate when second baseman Adrian Padron tripled to the gap in left-centre. Sterling got out of the inning with a strike out and a flyout.

Puerto Rico had a chance to take the lead in the top of the fifth. Right fielder Dicky Gonzales reached on an infield single and advanced on a bad throw to first.

The United States handed the ball to left-hander John Mc Kernan, who got the second out on strikes, then loaded the bases on a walk and a catcher's interference. Mec Kernan struck out designated hitter Henry Clausell to escape the jam.

Bonet walked Clark with one out in the bottom of the fifth. Pinch runner Bryce Clavon took over on the first base bag. He reached third on consecutive balk, but Bonet got out of the inning with back-to-back strikeouts.

Puerto Rico tied the game at three in the top of the sixth. Padro led off with a single, stole second and third and scored on a wild pitch.

Laracuente and shortstop Hiram Bocachica hit back-to-back singles to lead off the seventh. Adonys Velez bunted for the hit and loaded the bases. Clausell gave Puerto Rico the first lead of the day with a sacrifice fly to centre. Mc Kernan walked Padro and the US moved right-hander Griffin from the outfield to the mound.

Pinch hitter Hederick Torres missed the bunt on a squeeze play attempt and the US could tag Bocachica for the second out.

Bonet used just three pitches to get the first two outs of the bottom of the seventh. Clavon worked the count full, then struck swinging to end the game.

Puerto Rico and the United States are now tied at 2-3. They both can still advance to the bronze medal game, depending on the outcome of the game between No. 5 Korea and No. 7 Netherlands.