WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC Final
Can’t match Ohtani vs. Trout but I did have a thrilling finale for my tournament.
The Dominican Republic, on a roll since its stunning opening game loss to Israel, faced USA Metro, fresh off an upset win over USA West in the U.S. bracket. Johnny Cueto on the hill for the DR with Metro calling on steady southpaw John Tudor.
Metro got on the board in the second with Craig Biggio doubling home Rico Petrocelli.
Back-to-back doubles by Manny Ramirez and Vladimir Guerrero evened things in the top of the fourth.
The bottom of the fourth got wacky. Alex Rodriguez led off with a double and Petrocelli singled him home. Ken Singleton walked to put runners at first and second. Cueto proceeded to hit THREE straight batters — Biggio, Derek Jeter and Mike Trout) to force in two more runs giving Metro a 4-1 lead.
Things stayed quiet until the ninth when David Ortiz hit a three-run homer off Orel Hershiser to tie the game. Pedro Martinez retired Metro 1-2-3 in the bottom half of the inning to send the game into extras.
In the bottom of the tenth with one out, Singleton blasted a home run to right giving USA Metro the WBC Championship. Singleton hit .476 with 3 HRs and five RBI in the tournament and was named MVP for his heroics, edging out USA West’s Jeff Kent (.348-4-10) and the DR’s Ortiz (.250-4-9).
Hiroki Kuroda of Asia threw the most scoreless innings (14), six pitchers recorded two wins (including Metro’s Hershsier and John Candelaria), Joaquin Benoit of the DR posted the most saves (2) and Fernando Valenzuela of Mexico led all pitchers with 17 strikeouts.
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