The Dominican Republic downed the Czech Republic 2-0 on Sunday afternoon at Estadio Yaquis, becoming the fourth team to start 2-1 in Group A.
Dominican starter Jeremy Ovalle allowed just one hit in five innings of work, striking out seven Czech batters before turning it over to Sammy Tavarez in the sixth. The six-foot seven-inch Tavarez struck out the side in order in the sixth, and fanned two more in the seventh to preserve the victory.
The
Czech team was not without its chances, leaving seven men on base in the
contest - including four in scoring position. In fact, the Czech Republic had
runners on first and second with nobody out in the top of the first, but Ovalle
was able to recover and strike out the side. They threatened again in the
fifth, putting two men in scoring position with just one out, but again Ovalle
responded with a pair of strikeouts.
An Albert Suarez single snapped the scoreless tie in the bottom of the third.
"I was thinking line drive and I was looking for the right pitch. I fortunately got it, right in the middle, and I could put us ahead," said Suarez after the game.
The Dominican Republic doubled the lead on a Francis Florentino RBI single in the bottom of the fourth.
The
game featured just six hits between the two teams.
David
Mergans, pitching for the first time since he allowed four runs in the first
inning of Friday’s game against the Chinese Taipei, was strong out of the bullpen
for the Czech Republic, allowing one run on three hits in 3.1 innings of work.
The Czech Republic has now dropped three straight - all by three runs or fewer - since Thursday’s emptinoal victory over Mexico.
"The loss against Germany changed the outcome of our tournament," commented shortstop Wojtech Mensik. "It's unfortunate. We had the game in our hands and our mistakes costed us the opportunity."
They will wrap up group play on Monday morning with a game against Cuba.
The
Dominican Republic will look for a third straight victory on Monday afternoon
in a game against Chinese Taipei.
