Volquez pleased with final tuneup for WBC '17
Marlins righty ready to represent Dominican Republic in Classic

JUPITER, Fla. -- Three right-handed pitchers -- the Cardinals' Carlos Martinez, the Marlins' Edinson Volquez and the Brewers' Wily Peralta -- are expected to make up the starting rotation for the Dominican Republic in Round 1 of the World Baseball Classic, according to MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi. Per Morosi, Martinez is scheduled to pitch Thursday against Canada, with Volquez following on Saturday against the United States and Peralta facing Colombia on Sunday. In his final outing before heading to the World Baseball Classic, an 8-2 Marlins loss to the Mets, Miami right-hander Edinson Volquez was unseasonably effective. Volquez leaves Tuesday for the World Baseball Classic to play for his native Dominican Republic. He will meet the team in Sarasota where it faces the Pirates. The game between the U.S. and the Dominican Republic is set for Saturday at Marlins Park. It is a sellout. "Yeah, [our fans] get kind of crazy a little bit," Volquez said. "We enjoy the game a different way. It's going to be crazy down there. Everybody will be coming from different places, from New York, everywhere."
Beltre will suit up for Dominican in WBC 2017
Veteran confident in decision after testing calf in Cactus League play

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Adrian Beltre understands any reservations the Rangers' organization may have, but he wants to make one thing clear about his decision to play in the World Baseball Classic: "I'm not crazy." Beltre's status for the 2017 Classic was in doubt after he strained his left calf three days before he reported to Rangers camp last month. He gave himself multiple deadlines to make a decision, each time pushing them back. Until Monday. After Beltre played in Cactus League games Friday, at third base, and Saturday, as the designated hitter, the unquestioned leader of the Rangers announced he will join Team Dominican Republic later this week in Miami for the first round. "I feel good enough to be there, and that's why I said, 'Yes.' I might not be 100 percent, but I don't remember the last time I was 100 percent," Beltre, a month before turning 38, said after he played four innings Monday against the Mariners in what could be his final tuneup.
Israel to be tested by Chinese Taipei
Cardinals' Baker looks to lead Israelis to 2-0 Classic start

Now with a game and a win under its belt at the World Baseball Classic, Team Israel rolls into its second game of the tournament against Chinese Taipei on Monday night (Tuesday in Seoul), looking to put itself in prime position to advance to the next round. Each team plays three games in the round robin opening round, with the top two teams advancing. Israel won the opening game of the Classic, 2-1, in 10 innings against Pool A host Korea on Monday, while Chinese Taipei has yet to play a game. Chinese Taipei will be the home team for the 10 p.m. ET contest (noon Tuesday local time) at the Gocheok Sky Dome. After getting a strong effort from 15-year Major League veteran Jason Marquis in their win over Korea -- Israel's Classic debut -- the Israelis will turn to right-hander Corey Baker to start Game 2. The 27-year-old, who is in the Cardinals' organization, went 5-11 with a 5.68 ERA in 29 games at Double-A and Triple-A last season, with 110 strikeouts in 130 innings. Chinese Taipei enters its first game of the 2017 Classic hoping to build on its surprise success in the previous tournament. Chinese Taipei won Pool B in the 2013 Classic, the first time in its three appearances that it advanced out of the first round. The team was even an inning away from beating two-time defending champion Japan in the second round, leading 3-2 in the ninth, before ultimately falling in extra innings. In its 2017 Classic opener, Chinese Taipei will send right-hander Chun-Lin Kuo to the mound. The 25-year-old, who pitches in Japan for Nippon Professional Baseball's Saitama Seibu Lions, will be making his Classic debut. In 2016, Kuo went 0-3 with an 8.46 ERA in 12 games, three of them starts, with 20 strikeouts in 22 1/3 innings.
5 a.m. ET: Instant Classic? Cuba vs. Japan

TOKYO -- Japan comes into the 2017 World Baseball Classic with the highest of goals. Success can only mean a win in the championship game at Dodger Stadium on March 22. Meanwhile, Japan's first opponent in WBC 2017, Cuba, is a passionate baseball nation with its sights set on its first Classic title. Japan's semifinals loss to Puerto Rico in 2013 still sticks with folks here. The Japanese want to set things right, and they mean to show it right from the start, as their '17 journey begins with a first-round matchup with Cuba on Tuesday at the Tokyo Dome. "To be first in the world, it's very important to win the first game and get started on the right foot," manager Hiroki Kokubu said after putting his team through its final pre-tournament workout Monday. Kokubu named Chiba Lotte Marines right-hander Ayumu Ishikawa as his starting pitcher for the opener, and he predicted that pitching could carry Japan to success. Ishikawa will be opposed by Noelvis Entenza, a 27-year-old right-hander who pitches for Industriales in the Cuban league. "I think the quality of the Japanese pitchers will be seen [Tuesday] by everyone," Kokubu said. "The power of our pitchers." Ishikawa, 28, went 14-5 with a 2.16 ERA last year for the Marines. He will be taking the start which could have belonged to star right-hander Shohei Ohtani, before Ohtani was forced out of WBC 2017 because of a right ankle injury. Entenza posted a 3.20 ERA in 12 appearances (11 starts) between Holguin and Industriales in '16, striking out 34 and walking 30 in 70 1/3 innings. Japan and Cuba have met four times before in the World Baseball Classic. Japan won in the 2006 final and twice in the '09 second round, while losing, 6-3, in a '13 first-round game after already qualifying for the second round. "We know the Japanese team is a very strong team, so we know how important this first game will be," Cuba manager Carlos Marti said. Both teams have players who have been in the tournament before, and the Cuban team features two players who have played professionally in Japan. Outfielder Frederich Cepeda, who is playing in his fourth World Baseball Classic, spent two seasons with the Yomiuri Giants, who play their home games at the Tokyo Dome. Outfielder Alfredo Despaigne has played the past three seasons with the Marines, where he was a teammate of Ishikawa, the pitcher he'll face Tuesday. "He is a very good pitcher, I know," Despaigne said. "Last year, he showed very good curveballs and sinkers, and he has a variety of good pitches."
Korea eyes rebound in Pool A tilt vs. Dutch

Following a tough 2-1, 10-inning loss to Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic opening game on Monday, Team Korea looks to rebound in its second contest of the tournament against the Netherlands on Tuesday in Seoul. The Netherlands, which will be playing its first game, catches Team Korea on the heels of its dramatic extra-innings defeat to Israel. The Dutch team will be the home club for the 4:30 a.m. ET game (6:30 p.m. local time) at the Gocheok Sky Dome live on MLB.TV. Team Korea will send Kyu Min Woo to the mound with the hope he can replicate the performance of Game 1 starter Won-Jun Chang, who allowed one earned run over four innings against Israel. Min Woo, who will make his tournament debut, is 56-58 with a 3.74 ERA during his 11-year career in the Korea Baseball Organization. The 32-year-old righty signed a four-year contract with the Samsung Lions in December after spending all previous 11 seasons with the LG Twins. The Netherlands enters WBC 2017 on a roll after reaching the tournament semifinals in '13. Former Major Leaguer Rick van den Hurk takes the ball for the Dutch, who beat Cuba twice in '13 to advance. van den Hurk pitched for the Marlins, Orioles and Pirates throughout a six-year Major League career. The 31-year-old went 8-11 with a 6.08 ERA in 50 career appearances in the big leagues.
Mexico ready to make noise at Classic

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Miguel Gonzalez's first pitch was a strike. The second and third were in the strike zone, too. The right-hander pounded the zone with fastballs all morning long to the delight of his teammates during live batting practice as part of Team Mexico's first official workout Monday on the backfields of the San Diego Padres' Spring Training complex. Seattle's Yovani Gallardo is scheduled to pitch Mexico's first game of the 2017 World Baseball Classic against Italy on Thursday at Estadio de Béisbol Charros de Jalisco in Mexico. Gonzalez is tentatively scheduled to start Mexico's second game against Puerto Rico on Saturday night. With a staff that includes Gallardo, Gonzalez, Oliver Perez, Joakim Soria, Sergio Romo and Roberto Osuna, Mexico likes how it matches against Venezuela, Puerto Rico and Italy in Pool D play. Pitchers Julio Urias and Marco Estrada could also join Mexico in the later rounds. "This team is well put together," Romo said. "I do honestly believe that this is one of the strongest teams that Mexico has ever put forth in any kind of tournament and any kind of situation. Not just from a pitching standpoint, but our lineup has a lot of power and guys that can run a little bit. I see us playing a more well-rounded brand of baseball. With all due respect to all of the other teams, don't sleep on us."

Israel routs Taipei, sprints to 2-0 Classic start

The 2017 World Baseball Classic already has one of its biggest surprises in Israel, which beat Chinese Taipei, 15-7, on Tuesday at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, in the second game of the tournament. With its second win in as many days, Israel is in prime position to advance to the next round.

Israel wasted no time taking control of the game, coming out of the gate with four consecutive hits and scoring four runs in the top of the first inning.

Ryan Lavarnway added a two-run home run in the third inning and Nate Freiman tied a bow on the victory with a three-run shot in the ninth as Israel's balanced offense combined for 20 hits.

Chinese Taipei briefly closed the gap in the bottom of the sixth, scoring three runs to cut Israel's lead to 6-3. But Chinese Taipei's bullpen faltered in the top of the seventh as the Israelis pulled away with a five-run inning.

Playing in its first Classic, Israel is 2-0 in Pool A, having beat host Korea, 2-1, in 10 innings on Monday. Israel can win Pool A if it beats the Netherlands on Wednesday (10 p.m. ET). The top two teams from each of the four pools advance.

While Israel has enjoyed early success as a tournament darling, manager Jerry Weinstein wants his club focused on the next game, not the next round.

"One of the goals is to not put the cart before the horse," Weinstein said. "We're not in the second round yet. We're preparing for the game with the Netherlands and that's what we're thinking about right now. My experience has been that when you start getting ahead of yourself, you get out in the future, you're not taking care of the present. We need to take care of what we're doing here right now and when we know we're going to be in next round, then we'll start talking about the next round."

Israel once again benefitted from a strong performance from its starting pitcher. Corey Baker fired 4 2/3 scoreless innings, scattering three hits and striking out three. The 27-year-old right-hander is in the Cardinals' organization and reached Triple-A last season.

Chinese Taipei saw its offense come alive with four runs in the ninth, but the game was already out of reach by then.

Israel had 10 different players record a hit, including four players with three hits and two others with multiple hits. Freiman drove in four runs, Tyler Krieger drove in three, and Ike Davis and Lavarnway each contributed two RBIs.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Early offense: The Israelis chased Taipei starter Chun-Lin Kuo from the game before he could secure his third out, opening the top of the first with four straight hits and tagging Kuo for four runs in the frame.

Davis and Krieger each delivered two-run singles. Davis recently signed a Minor League deal with the Dodgers and Krieger is ranked as the Indians' No. 18 prospect by MLBPipeline.com.

"I just also think it was important, because last night was such an emotional game and a stressful game; to get out of the gate with high energy and get on top early, so that was good," Lavarnway said.

Captain comes through: Chih-Sheng Lin, selected as the team captain for Chinese Taipei, put his team on the board with a two-run double in the sixth. Lin has said he plans to retire from the national team after the Classic.

QUOTABLE

"You know, for us, or for me, this is a huge deal to help possibly maybe kick‑start baseball in Israel. It's not as big as we'd like, and I think we can maybe change that with what we're doing." -- Davis, on growing the game in Israel

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS

Israel entered WBC '17 ranked No. 41 in the world, according to the World Baseball Softball Confederation, and has already beaten the No. 3 (Korea) and No. 4 (Chinese Taipei) ranked teams.

WHAT'S NEXT

Israel: Next up for Israel is its final game of pool play, against the Netherlands on Wednesday night. After beating Pool A host Korea and Chinese Taipei in its first two games, Israel would clinch a spot in the second round of the Classic with a win over the Netherlands. Israel will be the home team, with first pitch scheduled for 10 p.m. ET.

Chinese Taipei: Next up for Chinese Taipei is a matchup with the Netherlands on Wednesday morning. It's the country's second game of WBC '17. Chinese Taipei will be the road team in the 4:30 a.m. ET contest.

Machado at home with Team DR in WBC '17
Orioles third baseman 'got chills' putting on Dominican jersey for first time

BRADENTON, Fla. -- Manny Machado grew up in Miami and won gold with Team USA at the Pan American Junior Championships, alongside Bryce Harper, in 2009. But Machado has spoken of the 2017 World Baseball Classic as one way to show gratitude to his Dominican-born parents. He acted upon those feelings as far back as last July, when he met with Dominican Republic general manager Moises Alou at the MLB All-Star Game and made clear where his allegiances would be. Then came Monday's reality: Machado arrived to the defending Classic champions' training base at Pirate City, walked into the clubhouse and saw the DOMINICANA jersey hanging in his locker. "I got chills," said Machado, still smiling hours later. "Once I put it on, it was worth the wait."
And, he said, it felt right. "It always did," added Machado, the Orioles' three-time All-Star. "I was excited to come in and be a part of this. As soon as I put it on ... it's always felt right. It's been feeling right. It feels like I'm part of them. They mess around with me a little bit, but I'm excited to be here, be part of this journey and always represent the Dominican Republic in the right way."
Baker latest Israel arm to deliver on big stage
Cards prospect fires 4 2/3 scoreless to defeat Chinese Taipei in WBC '17

Last September, pitcher Corey Baker helped put Team Israel on the verge of its first-ever trip to the World Baseball Classic. Now, with a dominant start Monday night in Israel's 15-7 victory against Chinese Taipei, Baker has placed his club on the doorstep of something much bigger. Baker, a 27-year old prospect of the St. Louis Cardinals who split time between Double-A Springfield and Triple-A Memphis last year, tossed 4 2/3 scoreless innings Monday in Seoul, South Korea, allowing just three hits to Chinese Taipei while striking out three. That was more than enough for Israel's offense, which exploded for four first-inning runs and raced to a 6-0 lead by the time Baker departed with two outs in the fifth. Chinese Taipei notably held a 78-day training camp in preparation for the '17 Classic, but it was flat out of the gate against Baker. The right-hander consistently attacked his opponents, throwing 37 of his 59 pitches for strikes and guiding Taipei contact into the teeth of an Israeli defense that has been stellar through the first two games. Baker held Chinese Taipei hitless until the bottom of the fourth, when Chih-Hao Chang lined a hot shot back to the mound and off Baker's glove for an infield single. Chih-Hsien Chiang followed with another infield single to put two runners aboard, but Baker quickly extinguished the threat by getting Chih-Sheng Lin to ground into a double play on the very next pitch. Israel's offense took it from there, putting the game out of reach by the late innings.

Dutch hit 2 homers, hand Korea second loss

If you were to poll the globe prior to the World Baseball Classic, Korea would have been one of the last countries many would've expected to start the tournament with two losses. But that's exactly the position the Pool A host country and former favorite finds itself on Tuesday, after a 5-0 defeat at the hands of the Netherlands in front of a stunned crowd at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul.

Jurickson Profar and Randolph Obuder launched two-run homers and Andrelton Simmons drove in a run and scored another in support of five pitchers for a Dutch team looking to advance out of pool play for the third consecutive World Baseball Classic. Now nearly a decade removed from its global coming out party in 2009, the Netherlands entered the tournament a trendy favorite after finishing fourth overall in 2013.

Which is why Tuesday's matchup was billed as a powerhouse matchup: An early-tournament treat between two teams with legitimate championship chances. Korea's, instead, are in grave danger now after two losses in two days on its home soil. Korea lost to Classic rookie Israel in the tournament opener. The top two teams will advance to the second round.

Looking to start their tournament strong, the Netherlands handed the ball to former Major League starter Rick van den Hurk, who spent the past two seasons pitching in Japan. Van den Hurk allowed three hits and walked two over four shutout innings. Diegomar Markwell, Shairon Martis, Tom Stuifbergen and Leok va Mil combined to limit Korea to just three scattered hits over the final five frames.

Korea, with top-three finishes in the first two World Baseball Classics but didn't advance out of pool play in 2013, scored one run over its first two games, a span of 19 innings.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

MLBers lead the Dutch: The strength of the Dutch roster comes from its core of talented Major League middle infielders: Xander Bogaerts, Profar, Simmons, Didi Gregorius and Jonathan Schoop. Manager Hensley Muelens had to get creative to get them all in the lineup, sticking Profar in center field, Bogaerts at third and Gregorius at designated hitter. But it payed off. Simmons, Profar and Bogaerts began the game with consecutive hits -- Profar's a two-run homer -- and Simmons drove in another run in the second with a double to give the Netherlands an early 3-0 lead against losing pitcher Kyu Min Woo.

Both sides of the ball: Those big leaguers flashed the leather as well to help the Netherlands keep that early lead. The former Platinum Glove winner Simmons snared a sharp grounder for the game's first out and started a nifty double play with Schoop two innings later to help starter van den Hurk out of a jam.

Slumping sluggers: Korean manager In-Sik Kim made examples of sluggers Tae-Kyun Kim and Dae-Ho Lee after Korea's loss to Israel in Game 1, saying "Today, our No. 3 hitter and No. 4 hitter failed their mission. That's why we had just only one run." Lee managed an early single for his first hit of the Classic on Tuesday, but for the most part, the heart of the lineup went silent again. Kim and Lee have combined to go 1-for-16 with four strikeouts and nine left on base over the first two games.

WHAT'S NEXT

Korea: Korea is off on Wednesday before it plays its final game of pool play on Thursday against Chinese Taipei. First pitch is scheduled for 4:30 a.m ET.

Netherlands: Next up for the Netherlands is a matchup with Chinese Taipei on Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 4:30 a.m. ET.

Matsuda powers Japan with big game at plate
Third baseman's three-run HR helps pace offense in Classic opener

TOKYO -- Japanese third baseman Nobuhiro Matsuda strongly considered leaving for the Major Leagues after a 35-home run season for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in 2015. Tuesday night, in Japan's opening game at the 2017 World Baseball Classic, Matsuda gave MLB teams and fans a taste of what they missed out on.

The 33-year-old notched a hit in each of his first three plate appearances, capping it off with a three-run home run that gave Japan a 6-1 fifth-inning lead over Cuba.

Despite his power, Matsuda was the eighth hitter in Japan manager Hiroki Kokubo's opening night lineup. The skipper's plan worked well as Matsuda's fourth-inning single led to the run that put the Japanese ahead, and his home run off Jose Garcia broke the game open an inning later.

Matsuda declared himself a free agent after the 2015 season, and reportedly met with several Major League teams, including the Padres. He eventually re-signed with the Hawks on a four-year deal that was reportedly worth around $13.3 million.

Matsuda is playing in his second World Baseball Classic. He hit .333 with a home run and five RBIs in seven games in the 2013 tournament. One game into this year's Classic, Matsuda is off to a tremendous start.

Five-run fifth propels Japan past Cuba

TOKYO -- Japan manager Hiroki Kokubu was concerned his team would feel nervous in Tuesday night's World Baseball Classic opener. The nerves went away fast.

Japan took an early lead, broke the game open with a five-run fifth inning and held on for an 11-6 win over Cuba to thrill a sellout crowd at Tokyo Dome. Nobuhiro Matsuda led the way with four hits, including a three-run home run.

The team known here as Samurai Japan has reached the semifinals each of the first three times the tournament has been played, winning the championship in both 2006 and '09. The Japanese were disappointed by their semifinal loss to Puerto Rico in 2013, and Kokubu wanted a strong showing in Tuesday's opener to set his team on track to reclaim the title this year.

Cuba figured to present Japan's biggest challenge in Pool B, which also includes China and Australia. But the Cubans didn't get enough pitching, and they fell behind 7-1 before Alfredo Despaigne's solo home run sparked a three-run rally in the seventh inning. Japan survived the rally, and cleanup hitter Yoshitomo Tsutsugo responded with a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh.

While it wasn't a great night for Cuba, 19-year-old right fielder Yoelkis Cespedes made an impressive World Baseball Classic debut. Cespedes, whose older half-brother Yoenis plays for the Mets, doubled and scored Cuba's first run in the third inning, then singled in the seventh and again in the ninth.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Matsuda powers Japan: Even though he has 62 home runs over the past two seasons for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, Matsuda batted eighth in Kokubu's opening night lineup. It all worked out for the hosts, because Matsuda singled and scored Japan's go-ahead run in the fourth inning. His fifth-inning home run gave Japan a 6-1 lead.

Yamada drives in one (but not two): Tetsuto Yamada appeared to have given Japan a 3-1 lead when his fourth-inning drive reached the seats in right field. But third-base umpire Cory Blaser quickly signalled fan interference, and replay confirmed that a fan had reached over the fence to catch the ball. Instead of a two-run home run, Yamada was credited with an RBI double. The inning ended with Japan leading 2-1, but only because Cuban center fielder Roel Santos robbed Norichika Aoki with a sliding catch in left-center field.

Despaigne feels right at home: Despaigne got a loud ovation in the pregame introductions, because he has played in Japan for the past three seasons with the Chiba Lotte Marines. Despaigne looked comfortable, and his seventh-inning home run sparked a three-run rally that gave the Cubans a chance at a comeback.

Turning defense into offense: Japan scored a first-inning run when Aoki doubled and Tsutsugo followed with a two-out single. But Tsutsugo said the rally really began in the top of the first, when a sliding stop from second baseman Ryosuke Kikuchi started a double play that kept Cuba from scoring.

"Kikuchi made a great play, and then Aoki set up the great chance to score," Tsutsugo said. "I could get my hit by riding the momentum from them."

WHAT'S NEXT

Cuba: It's a quick turnaround for the Cubans, with their game against China scheduled for 10 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

Japan: The hosts will be back in action Wednesday, with a 5 a.m. start against Australia.

Dutch glovin': Alignment works for Netherlands
Simmons anchors infield, sparks offense; Profar plays center, delivers HR

What a wonderful problem Netherlands manager Hensley Meulens faced entering the World Baseball Classic. Five Major League middle infielders -- two of them recent All-Stars -- headlined a Dutch roster expected to advance deep into the tournament. There are, of course, only two middle-infield positions -- it's a problem any manager would consider himself lucky to have.

The Netherlands' Classic fate hinges on those infielders -- Andrelton Simmons, Xander Bogaerts, Jonathan Schoop, Didi Gregorius and Jurickson Profar -- and Meulens knows it. So he got creative in his team's tournament-opening 5-0 victory over Korea on Tuesday, squeezing all his stars into an imperfect but effective alignment. It stands to reason Meulens will continue to do so for as long as the Dutch remain in the tournament.

Meulens' job: Make sure his stars' bats don't go silent despite playing them out of position.

That certainly didn't happen Tuesday. Simmons, Profar and Bogaerts began the game in loud succession with a single, home run and triple -- in that order -- to help the Dutch to an early 3-0 lead against Korean starter Kyu Min Woo. Simmons drove in a run with a double in the second, Profar stole a base in the fifth and Gregorius added a hit later.

Simmons, the 2014 Platinum Glove Award winner, stayed rooted at shortstop. He made several above-average plays. Schoop, the Orioles' slugging second baseman, remained at his natural position. Bogaerts, who was admittedly uncomfortable at the hot corner earlier in his career, slid over to third base. Profar played center field -- where he's never played in the big leagues -- and Gregorius served as the designated hitter.

The alignment was tested early and often in the field, and never wavered. Bogaerts handled all five chances at third base, Profar caught all three routine flies shot his way in center, and Simmons and Schoop combined to turn three double plays.

Next up for the Netherlands is a matchup with Chinese Taipei on Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 4:30 a.m. ET.

Archer to start Team USA's opener vs. Colombia
Americans begin Classic '17 play Friday at 6 p.m. ET on MLB Network

Rays right-hander Chris Archer will start Team USA's World Baseball Classic opener on Friday against Colombia, manager Jim Leyland said Tuesday.

The game begins at 6 p.m. ET at Marlins Park, live on MLB Network.

Leyland also said the Americans plan to piggyback two starers in their second game, which is Saturday at 6:30 p.m. ET against the Dominican Republic. Royals lefty Danny Duffy will start the third game against Canada on Sunday at 7 p.m. ET.

Israel had 10 different players record a hit, including four players with three hits and two others with multiple hits. Freiman drove in four runs, Tyler Krieger drove in three, and Ike Davis and Lavarnway each contributed two RBIs.

Krieger is an Indians' minorleaguer. A 2nd baseman with a very good bat, debuted in 2016 in Lynchburg. Should be part of the dynamite Akron lineup this year.

Calling the team "Israel" is more than a little bizarre. I don't know if anyone on the team is Israeli. Not sure why Vatican City doesn't compete/ they be able to find a pretty good collection of Catholics to form a competitive squad.

Aoki's leaping catch thrills fans at Tokyo Dome

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/218288800 ... ping-catch

China takes Classic stage vs. motivated Cuba

The World Baseball Classic continues Tuesday night in Tokyo, with China making its debut against a Cuban team looking to rebound from its opening-game loss to Japan. First pitch at the Tokyo Dome is slated for 10 p.m. ET, live on MLB.TV and MLB Network. Starting pitchers have not been announced for either team.

While Cuba is looking to bounce back from an 11-6 defeat at the hands of Japan, China is trying to play spoiler and pick up a first-round victory for the third Classic in a row. The Chinese team has struggled historically in the World Baseball Classic, coming into Tuesday with a 2-7 overall record.

3 things to know about this game

• Cuban power hitter Alfredo Despaigne is a fan favorite in Japan, where he has played the past three seasons with the Chiba Lotte Marines. Despaigne was 2-for-4 with a home run in the opener.

• Chinese catcher Wei Wang hit the first home run in the Classic's history in 2006.

• Cuban outfielder Yoelqui Cespedes is the younger half-brother of Mets star Yoenis Cespedes. He was 3-for-4 in Cuba's first game.

BOX SCORES:

ISRAEL 2 KOREA 1

http://m.mlb.com/gameday/israel-vs-kore ... 86904?#Box

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ISRAEL 15 TAIPEI 7

http://m.mlb.com/gameday/israel-vs-chin ... 86905?#Box

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KOREA 0 NETHERLANDS 5

http://m.mlb.com/gameday/israel-vs-chin ... 86905?#Box

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JAPAN 11 CUBA 6

http://m.mlb.com/gameday/cuba-vs-japan/ ... 86897?#Box

Cuba bounces back by cruising past China

TOKYO -- An opening loss to Japan put Cuba under pressure in the World Baseball Classic, and three innings of frustration against China and Bruce Chen only made things worse.

Then manager Carlos Marti called his hitters together before the bottom of the fourth inning Wednesday (local time) at the Tokyo Dome. Chen, the retired Major Leaguer who is China's best pitcher, was out of the game, which remained scoreless. It was time for the Cubans to start scoring runs.

Marti's players responded, quickly and dramatically. Cuba sent nine batters to the plate and scored four times in the fourth, taking control of a Pool B game they went on to win, 6-0. Roel Santos' two-run triple was the biggest hit of the inning, coming right after 19-year-old Yoelquis Cespedes drove in the first run.

With a 1-1 record through two games and only a game against Australia remaining, the Cubans kept alive their chances of advancing to the tournament's second round. China is 0-1, with games against Australia and Japan remaining.

"If we can win against Australia, we most likely go to the second round," Marti said. "It's going to be a very important game. But if we lose, it's not the end of the world."

Marti doesn't want to put any more pressure on his team. The Cubans already had enough of that, as Wednesday's game remained scoreless through three innings.

Marti said the purpose of his quick in-game meeting was simple, just a reminder his hitters needed to adjust to the slower-throwing Chinese pitchers after facing the harder-throwing Japanese relievers just hours earlier in Tuesday night's 11-6 loss.

"That's it," he said.

And that was it. The Cubans started hitting, and China never did. Cuba starter Bladimir Banos and three relievers limited China to just one hit, a fifth-inning Shunyi Yang single off Banos.
"We didn't have any hitting at all, and that's a lot of credit to the Cuban pitchers," China manager John McLaren said.

Chen didn't allow a run in his 2 2/3 innings, but McLaren removed him after 49 pitches to preserve his eligibility to pitch later in Pool B play. McLaren said Chen will pitch at some point in China's final scheduled first-round game, Friday night against Japan, live on MLB.TV.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

The kid leads the Cubans: Yoenis Cespedes was already 23 years old when he burst on the international scene by batting .480 for Cuba in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. His half-brother, Yoelquis, is only 19 and is already an emerging star in this tournament. Yoelquis had three hits in Cuba's 11-6 Classic-opening loss to Japan, and it was his single off the right-field wall that drove home Cuba's go-ahead run and kick-started the four-run fourth inning Wednesday.

Chen's 49-pitch escape: Chen, who retired in 2015 after 17 Major League seasons, is by far China's best pitcher, so McLaren knew his best chance of advancing was to use Chen twice in the first round. To do that, Chen could throw no more than 49 pitches against Cuba. That looked like a problem when Chen had early control issues and threw 21 pitches in the first inning. Chen began the third at 43 pitches, and he allowed a leadoff infield single to Santos on a 1-1 pitch. That gave him just three pitches to retire Alexander Ayala. Chen did that, and more. On his 49th pitch, he got Ayala to ground into a double play, ending his day with 2 2/3 scoreless innings. And he can pitch again Friday against Japan, in China's final first-round game.
Banos nearly perfect: Cuba held its top starting pitchers out of the opening game against Japan, believing that wins over China and Australia would be enough to advance to the second round. The plan looked questionable when Cuba lost, 11-6, to Japan, but Banos made it look better with his strong outing against China. He was in total control and was efficient enough to make it through five innings despite the tournament's 65-pitch limit for first-round games.
Cuban bats stay hot: Cuba had nine hits in the final three innings vs. Japan, and the hot hitting continued against China. Santos, Ayala and Yurisbel Gracial each had three of Cuba's 14 hits. Gracial, a 31-year-old third baseman who played last summer for Quebec in the independent Can-Am League, is 5-for-8 in WBC 2017.
QUOTABLE
"I knew Cuba was a very tough opponent. They're a great country for baseball." -- McLaren

"I don't want it to be special. I want it to be natural. I want them to feel it's just another game." -- Marti, on Cuba's key game against Australia

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS

Chen called catcher Wei Wang to the mound during the first inning, but it wasn't because the two couldn't get together on signs or strategy. "I can understand Spanish," said Chen, who grew up in Panama. "And I heard the Cuban players yelling 'in' or 'out' as [Wang] set up. So I just asked him to set up later."

WHAT'S NEXT

China: Right-hander Kwon Ju will will face Australia in China's second game of the tournament at 5 a.m. ET on Thursday at the Tokyo Dome. The matchup can be seen live on MLB.TV or on MLB Network.

Cuba: Ace right-hander Lazaro Blanco will start Cuba's third game of Pool B against Australia at 10 p.m. on Thursday at the Tokyo Dome. The matchup can be seen live on MLB.TV.

BOX SCORE

http://m.mlb.com/gameday/china-vs-cuba/ ... 86898?#Box

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