Erick Aybar sent the fans crazy with a pinch hit RBI single off Craig Kimbrel, giving the Dominican Republic their first and final lead against Team USA. Then Aybar stole second and scored on a base hit by Alejandro De Aza. The Dominican Republic beat (3-1) Team USA and earned a spot in the semi-finals of the 2013 World Baseball Classic.
Team USA will now play an elimination game against Puerto Rico at 7 pm (US Eastern Time) on Friday.
Dominican Republic and Team USA played in front of 34,366 fans who, as the game progressed, proved to be almost entirely dominican fans. Team USA actually played a road game on US soil in Miami.
Joe Torre’s lineup got to starter Samuel Deduno early. The right-hander’s lack of control walked in the first and only run of Team USA.
Hanley Ramirez tied the game in the second, when he sent a blast that did not leave “Marlins Park” only because the roof was closed in the windy night.
With the game tied, Dominican relievers starred. Pitching after Deduno, Kelvin Herrera, Dotel, Strop and closer Fernando Rodney combined a one hitter over 4 innings.
Team USA starter R.A. Dickey left the game because of the pitch count limit after 5, but escaped trouble in the third (he caught a line drive by Encarnacion with a couple of runners on) and fourth (Adam Jones went a long way to fly out Nanita).
Atlanta Braves phenom Craig Kimbrel faced pinch hitter Erick Aybar in the ninth with a runner on third. Nelson Cruz had opened the frame with a double to right and Carlos Santana had advanced him on a hard roller to second baseman Phillips. Aybar watched home plate umpire Angel Hernandez reverse a call on a ball low and outside and then was all over the next pitch for an RBI single. As he showed his triumphant fist, Dominican fans went crazy. Aybar then stole second and scored the insurance run on a base hit by Jose Reyes.
“The umpire made a mistake” said Aybar “And what I did was to forget about that pitch and to continue my at bat. I had the pitch I was looking for and I made contact”.
Team USA manager Joe Torre was asked about the abusive use of his fastball by Kimbrel: “That’s his pitch. One on one, they beat us today”.
Torre had to scratch from the line up David Wright because of a sore back: “The doctor checked him out before the game and said chances are nothing would happen. I don’t like ‘chances are’, in regard to somebody’s health”.
Very likely Wright won’t be available for the rest of the tournament.
Torre has already picked his starter for the game against Puerto Rico: Ryan Vogelsong: “I’ve been here before” said the Giants’ starter “It’s not like I haven’t. Same as always, go out and execute as many pitches as possible”.
Dominican manager Tony Pena was literally moved to tears: “I thank God. I don’t think I’ll have again a group of young men with the dedication, with the dignity with which they have represented our country”.
Pena was asked about the Dominican fans: “Tonight it was like all of the 10 million people who live in our country were here”.
