Dominicans rally, overpower Italians late

Reyes, Cano go deep; Cruz comes up clutch

By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com | 3/12/2013 6:14 P.M. ET

MIAMI --

All afternoon, the Dominican Republic and its faithful at Marlins Park were looking for a moment to erupt. It came in the seventh inning.

Nelson Cruz's two-out, opposite-field single punctuated a three-run inning that rallied the heavily favored Dominican squad to a 5-4 win over Italy on Tuesday afternoon in Round 2 of the World Baseball Classic.

Cruz's single off Brian Sweeney, Italy's third pitcher used in the seventh, scored Robinson Cano with the go-ahead run, prompting the entire Dominican bench to leap out of the dugout.

The hard-fought, emotional win improved the Dominican Republic to 4-0 in the Classic and put them in prime position in the double-elimination second round.

"Whenever you go against a team between the two white lines, you don't know what you're going to get," Dominican manager Tony Pena said. "This has to be the toughest game that we have played in the WBC."

A majority of the 14,482 at Marlins Park were rooting for the Dominican Republic. But until the seventh, Italian starter Tiago Da Silva mostly silenced the star-studded squad.

"What I'm asking from my guys is to leave it all out on the field," Italian manager Marco Mazzieri said. "We did that today. Actually, I was saying, 'Let's look at scoreboard at the end.' Unluckily today, the scoreboard was not on our side."

Cano and Jose Reyes each hit solo homers off Da Silva, who gave up two runs in 5 1/3 innings.

"Our team never lowered our heads," said Reyes, who was 2-for-5 with two runs scored.

Cano made an impact in the middle of the order, going 3-for-4 with a double, homer and two runs scored.

"It's difficult to begin 4-0," the Yankees' All-Star second baseman said. "But the great energy on our team -- we never gave up."

The Dominicans out-hit Italy, 10-4, and they were able to break through with their three-run seventh inning.

Reyes started the rally with a one-out single off Pat Venditte. Erick Aybar followed with a single, and Cano was credited with a single on a soft fly ball to short left field. In spacious Marlins Park, left fielder Michael Costanzo was playing deep, and he was unable to make up ground. Shortstop Anthony Granato raced back and got his glove on the ball, but fell in, loading the bases.

Reliever Luca Panerati replaced Venditte and walked Edwin Encarnacion on four pitches, forcing in a run. In came Sweeney, who yielded a Hanley Ramirez sacrifice fly to center, pulling the Dominican Republic even at 4.

The intensity of the game was evident from the first inning. The underdog Italian team repeatedly gave all-out hustle on even the most routine plays. It almost led to an incident with Cano at second base. Three different innings ended with Cano making force outs at second. All three times, Italy's baserunners slid hard into the bag, clipping Cano's leg.

Cano became fed up after Nick Punto made contact on a slide in the seventh.

"Yeah, I was upset, because it was the third time in the game," Cano said. "I don't care if you slide in on a double play, but when it's a force out at second base, the last thing you want is to get hurt like that. They're passing the base."

Italian hitting coach Mike Piazza responded: "You never take anything for granted in this game. There is a difference between hard baseball and dirty baseball. If he bobbles the ball, and we're not running hard, and we're out, that's not good baseball. You have to put your effort into being safe."

Grinding out at-bats helped Italy take a four-run lead in the first inning, powered by Chris Colabello's three-run homer off Dominican starter Edinson Volquez.

Volquez regrouped and threw 4 1/3 innings, striking out three. But he was hurt by four walks.

"He wanted to do so good, that he found himself in trouble," Pena said. "After the first inning, he did a great job settling down and keeping us in the ballgame."

The Dominican Republic, winner of Pool C, entered Round 2 after a dominating performance in the first round in Puerto Rico. In its first three games, it scored 19 runs on 34 hits.

The pitching was equally impressive, combining for a 2.67 ERA.

But what transpired in Puerto Rico didn't carry over to Miami, at least it didn't in the first inning.

Volquez walked the first three batters he faced -- Punto, Chris Denorfia and Anthony Rizzo. Of his first 13 pitches, 12 were balls.

Alex Liddi's sacrifice fly to right put Italy on the board, and designated hitter Colabello made it a big inning with his three-run homer.

The 29-year-old Colabello is in the Twins' Minor League system, and he's enjoying a memorable Classic. He had a four-RBI game, including a three-run homer, on Friday in Italy's 14-4 win over Canada in Phoenix.

But after Colabello's long ball, Volquez didn't allow another hit until the fifth inning.

From that point, the Dominican Republic chipped back on Reyes' homer in the third inning and Cano's blast in the sixth, setting the stage for the game-turning seventh.

"They kept talking in the dugout, 'Hold it right there, we're going to come back and win the game,'" Pena said.

José Dariel Abreu Photo: Ricardo López Hevia

Cuba Says Goodbye to 3rd World Baseball Classic

The Cuban national baseball team said goodbye to the 3rd World Baseball Classic after losing to the Netherlands 7-6 at Tokyo Dome stadium on Monday, wasting their ultimate chance to qualify among the top tour teams that will fightfor the championship in the US city of San Francisco

By: Raiko Martín

Tokyo.—

I cried and I am not ashamed to say it. I cried as the Cuban players, all of my colleagues and the Cuban people did after watching all our chances of fighting for glory vanish away just like that.

The Cuban national baseball team said goodbye to the 3rd World Baseball Classic after losing to the Netherlands 7-6 at Tokyo Dome stadium on Monday, wasting their ultimate chance to qualify among the top four teams that will fight for the championship in the US city of San Francisco.

I tried to keep my cool and not let the pain take over my senses; but to no avail. I wish I had nerves of steel like Cuban player José Dariel Abreu, who tried to answer journalists’ questions as unperturbedly as he could until he finally broke down, his voice shaking with shame and sorrow.

I wish I could have had the courage of Cuban coach Victor Mesa when he said “I don’t want anyone pointing fingers” and took full responsibility for what had happened. The accredited press from all over the world covering the interview could not help praising his performance with a round of applause.

I tried to put some distance between me and what had happened in order to get my head clear. I tried to convince myself it was just a bad dream and that the next morning we’d be waking up in San Francisco where glory awaited us. But that was just wishful thinking.

The pain of having to deal with the heart-breaking reality, of seeing age-long dreams shattered and our self-esteem trampled on again was too much for me to take. Just the thought of what would become of these excellent players, many of whom would never get a second chance to prove their worth, tormented all of my senses.

As Cubans said goodbye to Tokyo and to the World Baseball Classic, I felt an overwhelming sadness take over my body and I couldn’t but weep bitter tears of helplessness.

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Abreu could not contain the tears in praising his teammates and the team in general and also admitted that "We could not meet the target." "We know there is sadness in our families, in all Cuba, where the fans feel passionately about their baseball, but we left happy but not happy. The players left a good impression. We could not complete the work, unfortunately."

Watching Wright in Classic, Mets like what they see

As lone team representative in tourney, 'Captain America' dominating competition

By Anthony DiComo / MLB.com | 3/13/2013 5:26 P.M. ET

VIERA, Fla. --

For once, Dave Hudgens tried to be a fan. The Mets' hitting coach drove to a local sports bar on Tuesday to catch the World Baseball Classic because, in his words, David Wright "is a fun guy to watch."

But as Wright delivered yet another strong performance in Team USA's 7-1 victory over Puerto Rico, Hudgens could not help but check the position of his hands, the movement in his stance, his pitch selection at the plate.

"You end up watching for all the things he wants to work on," Hudgens said.

And?

"And he looks good."

When Wright returns from Classic play later this month, in other words, Hudgens does not anticipate dispensing much advice. Wright already appears primed for the regular season, batting .438 with one home run and a 1.276 OPS over his first four Classic games. His 10 RBIs are tied for the most by an individual player in a single Classic, with at least two games still scheduled for Team USA.

Back in Port St. Lucie, Fla., Wright's teammates have taken note.

"Ten RBIs already?" said Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada, who would have played for Panama had his country qualified for the Classic. "Oh my God, he's doing good."

It helps, of course, that Wright thrice came to the plate on Tuesday with the bases loaded and less than one out, prime opportunities to drive in runs. Plating the first of them on a groundout in the third inning, Wright singled home another run in the fifth and broke the game open with a bases-clearing double in the eighth.

Afterward, he credited much of his success to Team USA's "ridiculous" lineup, sandwiching him between left-handed hitters Joe Mauer and Eric Hosmer. It's a comfortable perch for Wright, who figures to slot between lefties Daniel Murphy and Ike Davis during the regular season.

His full-time teammates hope only that the results look similar.

"He's giving good at-bats," Hudgens said. "He's laid off some tough pitches. He's taken some walks. He's quiet at the plate. I think he's going to get off to a good start this season."

When Hudgens and the rest of the Mets arrived in their spring clubhouse Wednesday morning, a bank of flat-screen televisions was broadcasting Classic highlights on a constant loop. Several players who had not seen Tuesday's game stopped to watch Wright's at-bats, while some of those who had seen it stopped to view the replay.

Murphy was following along on his computer the previous night, but fell asleep before Wright's final at-bat. When he awoke to find his teammate had finished 2-for-5 with five RBIs, the second baseman sought out a television to see what happened.

"It's a very neat experience to be able to be on this side of it, being able to text back and forth with him a little bit," said Murphy, whose conversations with Wright often include updates about the state of the Mets. "He's always concerned about his teammates. I think that's just the way he ticks."

Unofficially, it's a part of Wright's job description. The third baseman has become synonymous with his franchise, potentially gaining an embroidered "C" on his jersey once he returns from Classic play. With that in mind, and with Wright's national pride so apparent, television announcers have taken to calling him "Captain America" during broadcasts.

Such success on a world stage is not entirely new. During the last World Baseball Classic in 2009, Wright delivered a walk-off hit against Puerto Rico that he still counts among his all-time career highlights.

But Wright was one of 11 Mets competing in the Classic that year, sharing the spotlight with stars such as Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado. This year he is the only Mets Major Leaguer in the tournament, magnetizing his teammates' curiosity.

"It's really, really fun for us to be able to watch him not only represent his country, but it also kind of feels like he's representing the New York Mets right now," Murphy said. "He's doing a real good job of it."

Even those players who have not seen Team USA's games have begun firing off tweets or regularly checking box scores. As the Classic progresses, an increasing number of Mets are actively rooting for him.

They understand that Wright's hot start in March could ultimately bear fruit for them come April.

Said Murphy: "We'll be excited to get him back."

[ Wright on! In my opinion, without Wright, I don't think Team USA would have qualified. Wright has been a one man wrecking crew !! ]

US, Dominicans vie for semis in marquee matchup

By Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com | 3/13/2013 2:21 P.M. ET

MIAMI --

When the powers that be drew up the brackets in the World Baseball Classic, they must have been hoping for this marquee clash of the tournament: Team USA vs. the Dominican Republic at Marlins Park on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET.

R.A. Dickey will be on the mound for the Americans and Samuel Deduno for the Dominicans.

The winner will secure a spot in the semifinals at San Francisco's AT&T Park, either against two-time defending Classic champion Japan on Sunday or the Kingdom of the Netherlands on Monday. The loser will play either Italy or Puerto Rico here on Friday at 7 p.m. to determine the second survivor from Pool 2.

The championship contest is Tuesday in San Francisco. All the games will be broadcast in the U.S. by MLB Network and ESPN Deportes. But none of them has been more anticipated than the U.S. vs. the D.R.

"We expect it to be a good game," Team USA manager Joe Torre said on Wednesday morning. "You've got two teams that are talented. I was here for most of the game yesterday, and obviously you could just see the passion on that bench over there, especially when they'd fallen behind and they started climbing back in their win over Italy. They don't lack confidence. And our ballclub maybe is not as animated, but every bit as confident and determined as they are."

It's the first time the two countries will meet on the field in this tournament, which is in its third edition. Both teams are trying to win the event for the first time. Neither has ascended any farther than the semifinals.

The Dominicans lost to Cuba at San Diego's Petco Park in the 2006 semifinals, and this time they are trying to avenge their ouster in the first round four years ago, when they lost twice to the Dutch. The U.S. didn't make it out of the second round in 2006, losing the decisive game to Mexico, and in '09 it lost a semifinal match to the Japanese at Dodger Stadium.

The teams have faced each other four times previously in other international tournaments, with the U.S holding a 3-1 advantage.

No matter the hype about his team and the huge expectations, Dominican manager Tony Pena said there's a good reason the U.S. is the team to beat.

"Well, because it is," said Pena, an acolyte of Torre as a coach in New York when Torre managed the Yankees. "The United States is the best team. This ballclub is deep, deep, deep, offensively and pitching wise. Whoever said Dominican is the favorite, great. We feel good about ourselves, but they don't have to beat us, we have to beat them. We don't have to say we are the best team. What we say is that we believe in ourselves."

The D.R. is 4-0 thus far in the tournament and the U.S. is 3-1, having won three in a row after Dickey lost to Mexico, 5-2, on Friday night in the opener. The Dominicans have a powerful offense and a stocked bullpen. Pena said he'll have veteran Miguel Tejada in the lineup to face Dickey and his knuckleball. So far through four games, Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano is 12-for-19 (.632) with two homers, four doubles, seven RBIs, five runs scored and 22 total bases.

For the U.S., like the Mexico game, Dickey's new Blue Jays teammate J.P. Arencibia again will be behind the plate. Torre said Joe Mauer will be the designated hitter. Mets third baseman David Wright is 7-for-16 (.438) with a game-winning grand slam, two doubles, 10 RBIs, four runs scored and 12 total bases, earning him the new nickname "Captain America." The U.S. bullpen is equally deep, and the Americans have the edge in starting pitching.

The Americans are going with Dickey, the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, and will have Ross Detwiler in the wings. The Nationals left-hander pitched four shutout innings of one-hit ball in relief Saturday night in a 6-2 win over Italy. If Dickey's knuckleball is again flat, as it was against Mexico when he allowed an Adrian Gonzalez two-run homer and the Mexicans to take an early 4-0, lead, Torre will certainly go quickly to the 'pen.

Dickey said he doesn't anticipate a repeat performance from his trademark knuckler.

"It's not unlike the regular season, when sometimes you struggle for an outing and you get it back for four or five days later," Dickey said. "But you can only go off how you felt on that day. For instance, I felt strong. I felt good. And so I anticipate it not being an issue. It would be different if I couldn't throw a strike with it or if I was mechanically a mess, but none of those were the case. I felt pretty good."

In contrast, the right-handed Deduno is primarily a middle-inning reliever with the Twins. He made one start for the D.R. in Puerto Rico on Saturday and threw four shutout innings of four-hit ball, picking up the win in a 6-3 victory over Spain.

Strapped by the same Spring Training-type constraints as Torre, Pena said he's going with Deduno instead of Pirates left-hander Wandy Rodriguez because Deduno is pitching on his regular cycle.

"Deduno is on his fifth day," Pena said. "Wandy is not scheduled to pitch tomorrow. He has one less day than Deduno. We cannot use a starter on less than his scheduled [amount of] days."

If the Dominicans lose on Thursday, they'll have Rodriguez ready to go on Friday. The U.S. isn't making any pitching plans beyond its next game, pitching coach Greg Maddux said on Wednesday.

And what a next game it's projected to be.

New York stars Wright, Cano set to clash in Classic

By John Schlegel / MLB.com | 3/13/2013 2:02 P.M. ET

Coming up on the World Baseball Classic stage: New York, New York.

David Wright, Team USA's "Captain America" and the third baseman of the New York Mets, on one side. Robinson Cano, the unquestioned leader of a talented Dominican Republic team and the second baseman of the New York Yankees, on the other.

There will be no subway involved, and the temperatures in Miami figure to be a little more balmy than they would be at home, but two of New York's finest will be on prominent display Thursday.

When Team USA meets the Dominican Republic in a crucial Pool 1 game Thursday night at 7 p.m. ET at Marlins Park in Miami, Wright and Cano will be at the heart of their respective lineups, both having delivered offensive firepower for their clubs thus far in the third edition of the international tournament.

Team USA manager Joe Torre -- who knows something about baseball in New York having grown up there, played in the Majors there and managed the Yankees and the Mets -- sees these two Gotham-based players as what they are: true stars of the sport.

"Well, you know, sometimes I don't think New York realizes how lucky they are to have the players that they have had over the years," Torre said when asked about the two New York players tearing up the Classic. "Being a New Yorker myself, you sort of take it for granted."

To Torre, these are two players who have "lived up to the advanced billing" while becoming superstars in New York, and they're bringing their special talents to the World Baseball Classic arena.

"The most impressive thing and the thing that I think the fans obviously embrace is the fact that they both play well under pressure," Torre said.

Certainly, when it comes to star players representing their countries, nobody has done it better this Classic go-round than the two players who know what it's like to be in the spotlight 162 games a year in New York City.

Wright leads all Classic competitors with 10 RBIs, having popped a grand slam in the pool round and then a bases-clearing double in the eighth inning to break open Team USA's 7-1 victory over Puerto Rico to begin play in Group 2 in Miami. A veteran of the 2009 Classic team, Wright has gone 7-for-16 with a homer and two doubles thus far -- showing, once again, how comfortable he is on center stage.

"Obviously, the adrenaline gets pumping for this tournament," Wright said after the victory over Puerto Rico. "You wear that uniform, and as I mentioned before, you want to go out there and represent your country."

Cano, meanwhile, has teamed with former New York Mets star Jose Reyes, now with the Blue Jays after a one-year stay with the Marlins, in the middle of the Dominican infield to provide the foundation for the roster with perhaps the most sparkling Major League credentials in the tournament. With four doubles, two homers and 22 total bases, Cano has gone 12-for-19 with six RBIs and five runs scored.

But, like Wright, he's not focusing on what he's done, but what his team has done and where it's headed.

"My interest is to win and the interest is in the team, and I'm proud to be in the team and a leader," Cano said after the emotional win over Italy on Tuesday. "We're really having a good time."

One other thing these two New York icons have in common, as it relates to the World Baseball Classic. Their teams, considered to be among the strongest in the field, haven't made much of an impact on the event the first two editions. Team USA made the semifinals in 2009, losing to eventual champion Japan, but didn't advance that far in the inaugural tournament in 2006. The Dominican team made the semis in 2006 but was eliminated in pool play in 2009.

Both teams, with their Gotham-based leaders, have a chance to change that history for the better. One of them will earn that trip to San Francisco by winning Thursday's game, while the other will have to fight back to reach the semifinal round.

"There's no tomorrow here, so you've got to play every day like it's your last game and you've got to win," Cano said.

Puerto Rico, Italy meet with elimination on line

By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com | 3/13/2013 12:48 A.M. ET

MIAMI --

The time for urgency is now for Italy and Puerto Rico.

Each squad lost on Tuesday night in their respective Round 2 opener of the World Baseball Classic at Marlins Park, setting up an elimination matchup on Wednesday.

Both teams have enjoyed a fun-filled ride in the Classic, celebrating memorable wins to reach this point. But now is the time to win or go home.

Puerto Rico fell to Team USA, 7-1, on Tuesday night. In the afternoon, the Dominican Republic rallied to a 5-4 victory over Italy.

For the 7 p.m. ET game Wednesday on MLB Network and ESPN Deportes, Puerto Rico is starting Giancarlo Alvarado. Italy is turning to Alessandro Maestri.

Rather than get caught up in the high stakes, Team Puerto Rico is focused on the moment.

"In this tournament, every game is very important," Puerto Rico manager Edwin Rodriguez said. "If you go inside our clubhouse, everyone is up. They're still battling. They're still talking about, let's get them tomorrow.

"From Day One, when we started working out in Fort Myers, we established our philosophy of taking it one day at a time. So it's one day at a time. We lost today. We're going to turn the page, and concentrate on tomorrow. That's what we're going to be doing [Wednesday]."

Puerto Rico was held in check by tough pitching from Team USA, which won behind All-Star left-hander Gio Gonzalez.

The level of pitching Puerto Rico will face on Wednesday will be a bit different.

Maestri is a former farmhand in the Cubs' system who never reached the big leagues.

But being overmatched on paper is nothing new for Italy.

Not given much of a chance, Italy claimed a four-run, first inning lead over a powerful Dominican Republic team.

To many, Italy's success is surprising. The country known as a world power in soccer doesn't get the recognition in baseball.

But those wearing the blue and white for Italy are not stunned.

About half the team has been together for a while, and they've enjoyed international success.

"In the last few years, we've been winning a lot," Italian manager Marco Mazzieri said. "We've been traveling a lot around the world."

Italy beat Chinese Taipei in 2010 for the bronze medal in the Intercontinental Cup. In the process, the Italians beat Korea, Japan and Chinese Taipei.

"This is a team that now plays not scared," Mazzieri said. "We just respect everybody, but we know what we can do and we're focused on that."

Maestri, a 27-year-old right-hander born in Italy, was released by the Cubs in 2011. He spent last year pitching in Japan.

"I'm ready," Maestri said. "It doesn't really matter who the team is going to be. It's up to me. I've got to do my job. I am going to go out there and just try to keep the game as close as I can for the team."

In Tuesday's loss, the Italians had just four hits. They were opportunistic with the first one, which was a three-run homer in the first inning by Chris Colabello.

Colabello, in the Twins' system, has enjoyed a strong Classic. He added a three-run homer and four RBIs in a 14-4 win over Canada in the first round in Phoenix.

"My biggest goal every time I go on the baseball field is to try to help my team win a baseball game," Colabello said. "I think if you focus too much on your personal stuff, it has a tendency to get in the way of your ability to succeed as an individual.

"That being said, I'm just trying to put good swings on the baseball. You go out there every day, trying to win a baseball game. That's the fun part of the game, especially in a tournament like this."

All eyes on San Francisco for championship round

Japan, Dutch have already punched ticket, await Pool 2 winners in Classic

By John Schlegel / MLB.com | 3/12/2013 8:30 P.M. ET

Two teams are on their way, already navigating from across the Pacific Ocean following successful ventures in the Far East. Two more will emerge from fierce battles this week more than 3,000 miles across the country in Miami.

Destination: San Francisco.

The center of the baseball universe last October, the City by the Bay will have the eyes of the baseball world on it again this weekend, as the World Baseball Classic's thrilling finale hits the field at AT&T Park for three straight days.

Already, two-time defending-champion Japan and the upstart Kingdom of the Netherlands squad are headed to the bayside ballpark, each having earned a spot in the final foursome with their play in Taiwan and Japan over the past two weeks. Japan won the right to play in the first semifinal at 6 p.m. PT Sunday, and the Netherlands will play in Monday's second semifinal, also at 6 p.m. PT, with the winning teams from those games advancing to Tuesday's Classic final at 5 p.m. PT.

Tickets are still available to all three contests at AT&T Park, which when last seen as a baseball venue hosted Game 2 of the Giants' four-game sweep of the Tigers in the 2012 World Series.

The other two semifinalists remain unknown, awaiting the tense elimination round for Pool 2 in Miami. Team USA's quest to make the trip to the Bay Area remains very much alive after a 7-1 victory over Puerto Rico on Tuesday night. That sets up a Thursday showdown for Team USA vs. the Dominican Republic, which put itself in position to earn a spot in the semifinals by beating tournament surprise Italy in a 5-4 thriller in the Pool 2 opener earlier Tuesday in Miami. Puerto Rico and Italy meet Wednesday for the right to survive another day. Only two will advance to the semifinal round, with seeding decided in a Saturday pool final.

For any of the teams that advance to the semifinal round, an opportunity to play at the home venue of the defending World Series-champion Giants will be a perfect way to finish out what has been more than of frantic round-robin and elimination action.

For Hensley Meulens, manager of the Kingdom of the Netherlands team while on excused absence from his role as the Giants' batting coach, it's about coming home to AT&T Park. He obviously had to clear his managerial assignment with the Giants beforehand, receiving enthusiastic support from the organization hosting the event. With Joe Lefebvre temporarily taking the reins with hitters at Giants camp, Meulens had to leave the team with a plan -- and he made sure it got them through the four weeks it would take for his club to reach the championship round.

"I said, 'I'll be gone for four weeks,' so it came true -- I'll be gone for four weeks and I'm so happy that I can be representing the Giants and the Dutch in San Francisco next week," Meulens said as the Kingdom of the Netherlands wrapped up its first ticket to the semifinals.

Giants pitchers Ryan Vogelsong and Jeremy Affeldt still have an opportunity for a homecoming of their own if Team USA advances, as does center fielder Angel Pagan if Puerto Rico makes it, and reliever Santiago Casilla if the Dominican Republic reaches the semifinal round.

While preparing for their San Francisco trip, Japan and the Kingdom of the Netherlands will spend much of the week in the Phoenix area, getting in game action as Cactus League play continues. Japan will play the Giants on Thursday in Scottsdale, Ariz., and then the Cubs on Friday in Mesa, while the Kingdom of the Netherlands will play the Padres and Mariners those days in Peoria.

The Dutch, a surprise to advance through the pool round in 2009, marched their way to San Francisco by turning away perennial international power Cuba with a 7-6 walk-off thriller, eventually finishing second in Pool 1 to Japan. Former All-Star Andruw Jones, currently a free agent after playing for the Yankees in 2012, is the best-known member of the team with players who hail from the Netherlands as well as Curacao, Aruba and Netherlands Antilles. Roger Bernadina of the Nationals and Andrelton Simmons of the Braves are the only current big leaguers on the roster, with Simmons posting a .379 average and scoring a team-high nine runs so far.

Japan, meanwhile, was not considered much of a favorite to return to the semifinal round, since not a single Major League player was on its roster after Ichiro Suzuki played both times before and Daisuke Matsusaka and Yu Darvish became two of several players signed to the Majors after starring in the Classic. Always displaying a sound team concept with strong fundamentals -- and a sudden six-homer outburst in a Group 1 game against the Kingdom of the Netherlands, to boot -- Japan has advanced to within two victories of another title.

Talented teams like Korea and Venezuela have gone by the wayside. Two teams are in. Two more teams are coming, once they sort themselves out this week.

And, soon, the eyes of the baseball world will be on San Francisco again.

Profar to join Team Netherlands after all

By Gary Cotton / MLB.com | 3/13/2013 7:31 P.M. ET

After first declining an offer to join the Dutch team, MLB.com top prospect Jurickson Profar is heading to the World Baseball Classic after all. The middle infielder will replace Yurendell de Caster to make his debut with the Kingdom of the Netherlands during the championship round on Monday against the Pool 2 winner.

Profar, 20, was originally offered a spot with the team in Februrary, but declined in order to compete for a spot with the Rangers. The commitment with the Dutch would have meant a three-week absence from the Rangers' Spring Training camp.

The switch-hitter appeared in 16 games as a 19-year-old for the Rangers in 2012, but was a boon for Rangers Double-A affiliate Frisco, as he posted a .820 OPS with 62 RBIs and 14 homers. Profar has a .281/.368/.452 line in his three Minor League seasons.

[ Holy Crap ! That gives the Netherlands 4 shortstops to play the infield. Schoop of the Orioles (SS) is playing second base, Simmons of the Braves (SS) is playing short stop, Bogaerts of the Red Sox (SS) is playing third base, and I'm assuming that Profar of the Rangers (SS) will play first base ????? DeCaster played third base giving Bogaerts a break. There may be some shifting of positions with Profar on the team. Possibly 1 of the 4 will move to the outfield. I'm sure Hensley Meullens and Bert Blylevan will make the right moves. They've done so this entire tournament. They have this team well schooled in the fundamentals and have them ready to perform mentally at all times. The win following the thumping by Japan proves that to be correct. All of those young guys are outstanding athletes, all prospects except for Simmons who was the Braves starting shortstop after the all-star break last year. None the less, an outstanding infield. The finals in Frisco should be a lot of fun to watch. ]

Respected Meulens has Dutch club believing

By Doug Miller / MLB.com | 3/13/2013 9:45 P.M. ET

PHOENIX -- Hensley Meulens sat back in a plush reclining chair in a downtown Phoenix hotel on Wednesday afternoon, surrounded by his wandering teammates, his tired coaching staff and maybe even a few astute fans who had seen him on TV in the global spotlight.

Recently, that is.

The former Major League player has two World Series championship rings from the San Francisco Giants, where he's the hitting coach, and now he has the world watching him for the exploits of his unique temporary gig: head honcho of honkbal.

That would be Team Nederland, or, as observers of the ongoing drama known as the 2013 World Baseball Classic better know them, the semifinalists from the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the team that just knocked out Cuba in Tokyo and is spending a few more days in the desert sun before heading to AT&T Park in San Francisco for one last push at an unlikely title.

Meulens can smile about this and what are sure to be daunting challenges ahead against Japan and whichever two teams from the foursome of the United States, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Italy make it out of the other second-round pool, currently being played at Marlins Park in Miami.

On Monday, Meulens was luxuriating, in part because he and his team finally had a day off.

The team was in Taiwan and then Tokyo before this, and after an exhibition against the Padres on Thursday night in Peoria, Ariz., and another against the Mariners on Friday night, the Netherlands club will be off to the home of the San Francisco Giants for the much-awaited conclusion of the intense international tournament.

For Meulens, it's been a joy all the way through in many more ways than just winning games.

"We've played with a lot of heart, a lot of determination, relentless and all the way through," Meulens said. "That's how these guys never give up. We keep playing hard. And you can attribute us getting this far to that. These guys are unbelievable. They're checking their ego at the door, and they're all supporting each other. They're picking each other up."

This year's journey for the team that shocked fans of the 2009 Classic by beating the Dominican Republic twice in San Juan, P.R., began in Taichung, Taiwan, where the Dutch beat Australia and shut out favored Korea to finish 2-1 in Pool B and advance to the second round in Tokyo. There, the Netherlands suffered two losses to Japan but still managed to advance by upsetting high-powered Cuba twice.

The Dutch team features an intriguing mix of young and veteran talent from the Netherlands, Curacao, Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles. Longtime Major League star and current Japanese league outfielder Andruw Jones is the biggest name, but the team also includes Nationals outfielder Roger Bernadina, Braves infielder Andrelton Simmons, Orioles prospect Jonathan Schoop, Red Sox prospect Xander Bogaerts and, as of Wednesday, Rangers prospect Jurickson Profar, who is ranked No. 1 in baseball, according to MLB.com, and replaced injured Yurendell de Caster on the roster for the games in San Francisco.

At the helm is Meulens, who's soaking in his managerial experience with enthusiasm and perspective.

"One of the qualities that I think [Dutch national team technical director] Robert [Eenhorn] was looking for when he assigned me as the manager was that I'm in the Major Leagues. It's important that they have somebody that's respected in the league. The second was being a winner.

"And I took the job to win. I want to win. And I know we have the material to win. We just had to get them together as quickly as possible and get them to believe that we can win. That's what we did in San Francisco. We didn't have the best talent on those teams, but we made believers out of everybody that we weren't going to let anyone stand in our way. And it's the same with these guys."

Meulens says he's always had leadership skills but that being a manager is a lot different from the duties of hitting coach. Now, he has to concern himself with what the pitchers are doing. Now, he has to concern himself with the coaching staff, and, well, everything else.

His pitching coach, Hall of Famer Bert Blyleven, said he thinks Meulens has a bright future in the skippering department.

"I think what you're seeing is a guy who one day will be a Major League manager," Blyleven said. "He's done a great job with this ballclub. Coming from the Giants, where they won the World Series two of the last three years, I think it just shows that along with [Giants manager] Bruce Bochy, his coaching staff has been outstanding, and [Meulens] is a big part of that.

"As far as what he's done with the guys from Curacao and Holland, he got them together as a team. That's what you have to do. In a short period of time, he's done a great job."

Meulens was the first Curacao-born player to make it to the Major Leagues, and he's seen the small Caribbean island with a population of little more than 100,000 grow into a world baseball power. Jones, of course, was a big help in that regard and has been huge for this year's Netherlands club.

"He's leading by example as our superstar," Meulens said. "Guys are playing cards and they're hanging out, and it's all in his room. It's pretty cool the way he's shown leadership, because the first Classic was different. … He was younger. Now, he's more mature -- he's cheering during the game, even when we're losing."

And Meulens is overseeing it all and having a great time.

"We've got a lot of guys from Curacao, and we feel like we're playing for someone who's like our brother," de Caster said. "We can talk to him, we can trust him. We're close with him like that."

The team has won Meulens over, and it didn't take long. Meulens said he had only a few expectations of his team: Be prepared and believe in yourselves.

There's no doubt that coming from a World Series team gave Meulens all the credibility he needed.

"I told them, 'You have to give me everything: 100 percent focus and determination,'" Meulens said. "'Go out and leave everything out on the field every day. Every one of you. Every day. That's how you win. That's how you become a winner.'"

[ I'll second every word written in this article having seen each and every game this team has played. I've posted numerous times how well Hensley Meulens has this very young team under control mentallly and physically. The team is well coached on the fundamentals of this game and the come into the games well prepared. Hensley Meulens and Bert Blyleven have done an extraordinary job in coaching this team. ]

Puerto Rico's late rally gives Italy the boot

Three-run spurt in eighth inning helps stave off Classic elimination

MIAMI --

Team Puerto Rico survived the hard way on Wednesday night.

On the brink of elimination, Puerto Rico rallied with three runs in the eighth inning to defeat Italy, 4-3, in front of 25,787 at Marlins Park.

Puerto Rico was four outs away from exiting the World Baseball Classic but managed to prevail, tying the game on pinch-hitter Luis Figueroa's sacrifice fly and going ahead on Andy Gonzalez's infield single.

"With the lineup that we have, it was a matter of time before we started scoring runs," Puerto Rico manager Edwin Rodriguez said. "Of course, everybody was kind of putting a little bit of pressure on themselves. So the staff has to fake it and try to make it look like we're all calm and everything was under control. I think we did a good job of doing that. The guys went out there, and they made that happen."

Italy was eliminated from Round 2 in agonizing fashion. The Italians had a three-run lead slip away on Wednesday, after seeing a four-run lead disappear in a 5-4 loss to the Dominican Republic on Tuesday.

The Italians grabbed the lead in the fifth inning on Anthony Rizzo's three-run double.

Now that Italy's journey has ended, Rizzo, a Fort Lauderdale, Fla., native and the Cubs' first baseman, is glad he was part of the surprising run.

"We had a lead in every game we played in this tournament," Rizzo said. "No one scripted us to be where we are, playing against the best teams. There's a handful of All-Stars on every team and we had the lead in every game. We all stayed together, and I think the respect that we earned in this tournament is well-deserved for the entire country of Italy."

Puerto Rico, now 1-1 in Round 2, still is in a must-win situation. But it moves on to Friday and awaits the loser of Thursday's Team USA-Dominican Republic game.

While Puerto Rico is waiting to see who it will play, it has announced Nelson Figueroa will be the starting pitcher.

In its emotional comeback, Puerto Rico did all the things necessary to prevail in the tournament.

"That's how you win the World Series," catcher Yadier Molina said. "By playing as a team. Pitching as a team. Hitting as a team and playing defense as a team. That's what we did today."

All the traits were needed to close out a tightly played game. Hiram Burgos threw 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, including two strikeouts in the ninth inning. With one on, Fernando Cabrera recorded a one-out save.

Considered the team least likely to succeed in Round 2, Italy was scrappy but ended up not being able to hold late-inning leads.

Carlos Beltran got the eighth-inning rally going for Puerto Rico with a walk. Molina's single put runners on the corners. A fielder's choice groundout by Mike Aviles scored Molina, making it a 3-2 game. Alex Rios' single put runners on the corners with one out.

Brian Sweeney relieved Pat Venditte, and Puerto Rico brought in Figueroa to pinch-hit. His sacrifice fly to center tied the game. On the play, center fielder Chris Denorfia threw home, which allowed Rios to take second.

Getting into scoring position was huge.

Gonzalez tapped a grounder in the hole that was fielded on the backhand by shortstop Jack Santora. His throw across the diamond hopped, and Rizzo was unable to hold on. Rios scored from second on the play, and Puerto Rico's bench was in full celebration.

"I saw [Rios] rounding," Rizzo said. "I figured if I can pick that -- it was going to be a tough hop. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to stay on the bag, so if I could pick it, I'd be able to throw him out."

For Italy, it was a tough way to go home.

Each starting pitcher has spent time in Japan, and both were effective.

Puerto Rico starter Giancarlo Alvarado, who pitched in the winter leagues in the offseason, has spent the past three seasons in Japan.

Italy countered with right-hander Alessandro Maestri, who also pitched last season in Japan.

In the fifth inning, the Italians snapped the deadlock on Rizzo's three-run double.

Anthony Granato started the rally with a one-out single, and Nick Punto was awarded first on catcher's interference. Molina was charged with the error when his glove was clipped on Punto's swing. Denorfia's single loaded the bases and ended Alvarado's night.

Rodriguez played the percentages, bringing in lefty Xavier Cedeno to face the left-handed-hitting Rizzo.

Rizzo batted .208 in 2012 against southpaws for the Cubs, compared with .318 while facing right-handers.

Those splits were rendered meaningless, as Rizzo ripped a liner into the gap in right-center, clearing the bases.

In the sixth inning, Puerto Rico capitalized on two errors by Granato at shortstop and made it 3-1. Molina singled and Aviles reached on an error. With two outs, Granato booted Carlos Rivera's grounder for his second error, which scored Molina.

"You have to give credit to the Italian team because they have one heck of a team," Molina said. "But what we came with, the work of Hiram, of Giancarlo, all the [pitchers], we were able to win. We hope that on Friday it will be the same thing."

[ This game got a little sloppy for the Italians at the end of this game, but overall, this entire World Baseball Classic has been a well played classic. The young Dutch team got a little sloppy in their loss against Japan, but then, the Japanese will make any defense look bad with the style of offense the provide. It's been a lot of fun so far. ]

If Dutch make Classic final, Jansen will likely join

By Ken Gurnick / MLB.com | 3/14/2013 12:23 P.M. ET

GLENDALE, Ariz. --

Dodgers reliever Kenley Jansen said it's "95 percent" that he will join the Kingdom of the Netherlands team if it reaches the World Baseball Classic final.

Jansen, who is coming off October surgery to correct an irregular heartbeat, said he will work out with the Dodgers through Sunday, then fly to San Francisco and return to Spring Training by Wednesday.

The Kingdom of the Netherlands will play in the second semifinal game, which will be Monday at 6 p.m. PT. The Dutch will face the Pool 2 winner, which is still being contested at Marlins Park in Miami. The championship game will be Tuesday at 5 p.m. PT. All World Baseball Classic games can be seen on MLB Network and ESPN Deportes.

The 25-year-old Jansen is a native of Curacao in the Netherlands Antilles. The Kingdom of the Netherlands and Japan have reached the semifinals, with their opponents still to be determined.

"He's not missing anything and, actually, we think this will be good for him," said manager Don Mattingly. "He'll get into competition and it will be a good scenario, as far as the competition and energy level, and the fact it will only be a couple of days."

In October, Jansen had surgery to cauterize tissue in an artery that was the cause of his irregular heartbeat, which first surfaced during the 2011 season and again put him on the disabled list last year. That led to the emergence of newly acquired Brandon League as the club's closer.

Jansen, who throws a natural cut fastball similar to Mariano Rivera's, has been working this spring on refining his mechanics.

"I'm trying to be more relaxed with my hands," said Jansen, whose inconsistent mechanics are believed to be responsible for variations in his velocity from the low-90s to the mid-90s.

"When I first came up, I was throwing hard and effortless. Last year it seemed like I was trying to throw hard, and I'm not that guy. I used to be effortless and it just came out hard, and I'm trying to get back to that."

US, Dominicans vie for semis in marquee matchup

By Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com | 3/14/2013 12:00 A.M. ET

MIAMI --

When the powers that be drew up the brackets in the World Baseball Classic, they must have been hoping for this marquee clash of the tournament: Team USA vs. the Dominican Republic at Marlins Park on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET.

R.A. Dickey will be on the mound for the Americans and Samuel Deduno for the Dominicans.

The winner will secure a spot in the semifinals at San Francisco's AT&T Park, either against two-time defending Classic champion Japan on Sunday or the Kingdom of the Netherlands on Monday. The loser will play Puerto Rico here on Friday at 7 p.m. to determine the second survivor from Pool 2.

The championship contest is Tuesday in San Francisco. All the games will be broadcast in the U.S. by MLB Network and ESPN Deportes. But none of them has been more anticipated than the U.S. vs. the D.R.

More than 30,000 fans are expected for the showdown. Marlins Park officials are anticipating a large walk-up crowd. Tickets are available at http://www.worldbaseballclassic.com.

"We expect it to be a good game," Team USA manager Joe Torre said on Wednesday morning. "You've got two teams that are talented. I was here for most of the game yesterday, and obviously you could just see the passion on that bench over there, especially when they'd fallen behind and they started climbing back in their win over Italy. They don't lack confidence. And our ballclub maybe is not as animated, but every bit as confident and determined as they are."

It's the first time the two countries will meet on the field in this tournament, which is in its third edition. Both teams are trying to win the event for the first time. Neither has ascended any farther than the semifinals.

The Dominicans lost to Cuba at San Diego's Petco Park in the 2006 semifinals, and this time they are trying to avenge their ouster in the first round four years ago, when they lost twice to the Dutch. The U.S. didn't make it out of the second round in 2006, losing the decisive game to Mexico, and in '09 it lost a semifinal match to the Japanese at Dodger Stadium.

The teams have faced each other four times previously in other international tournaments, with the U.S holding a 3-1 advantage.

No matter the hype about his team and the huge expectations, Dominican manager Tony Pena said there's a good reason the U.S. is the team to beat.

"Well, because it is," said Pena, an acolyte of Torre as a coach in New York when Torre managed the Yankees. "The United States is the best team. This ballclub is deep, deep, deep, offensively and pitching wise. Whoever said Dominican is the favorite, great. We feel good about ourselves, but they don't have to beat us, we have to beat them. We don't have to say we are the best team. What we say is that we believe in ourselves."

The D.R. is 4-0 thus far in the tournament and the U.S. is 3-1, having won three in a row after Dickey lost to Mexico, 5-2, on Friday night in the opener. The Dominicans have a powerful offense and a stocked bullpen. Pena said he'll have veteran Miguel Tejada in the lineup to face Dickey and his knuckleball. So far through four games, Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano is 12-for-19 (.632) with two homers, four doubles, seven RBIs, five runs scored and 22 total bases.

For the U.S., like the Mexico game, Dickey's new Blue Jays teammate J.P. Arencibia again will be behind the plate. Torre said Joe Mauer will be the designated hitter. Mets third baseman David Wright is 7-for-16 (.438) with a game-winning grand slam, two doubles, 10 RBIs, four runs scored and 12 total bases, earning him the new nickname "Captain America." The U.S. bullpen is equally deep, and the Americans have the edge in starting pitching.

The Americans are going with Dickey, the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, and will have Ross Detwiler in the wings. The Nationals left-hander pitched four shutout innings of one-hit ball in relief Saturday night in a 6-2 win over Italy. If Dickey's knuckleball is again flat, as it was against Mexico when he allowed an Adrian Gonzalez two-run homer and the Mexicans to take an early 4-0, lead, Torre will certainly go quickly to the 'pen.

Dickey said he doesn't anticipate a repeat performance from his trademark knuckler.

"It's not unlike the regular season, when sometimes you struggle for an outing and you get it back for four or five days later," Dickey said. "But you can only go off how you felt on that day. For instance, I felt strong. I felt good. And so I anticipate it not being an issue. It would be different if I couldn't throw a strike with it or if I was mechanically a mess, but none of those were the case. I felt pretty good."

In contrast, the right-handed Deduno is primarily a middle-inning reliever with the Twins. He made one start for the D.R. in Puerto Rico on Saturday and threw four shutout innings of four-hit ball, picking up the win in a 6-3 victory over Spain.

Strapped by the same Spring Training-type constraints as Torre, Pena said he's going with Deduno instead of Pirates left-hander Wandy Rodriguez because Deduno is pitching on his regular cycle.

"Deduno is on his fifth day," Pena said. "Wandy is not scheduled to pitch tomorrow. He has one less day than Deduno. We cannot use a starter on less than his scheduled [amount of] days."

If the Dominicans lose on Thursday, they'll have Rodriguez ready to go on Friday. The U.S. isn't making any pitching plans beyond its next game, pitching coach Greg Maddux said on Wednesday.

And what a next game it's projected to be.