Cleveland Sports Forum

Zuniga get his man on an 80 mph change up.

A little revenge for Columbia.
Mexico beat'm 1-0 in the Caribbean Series.
Mexico took third in the tournament.
Colombia ended up fourth.

What a ball game !! WOW !!
Columbia 5 Mexico 4

I was hoping Columbia would hang in there against Urias. They did that and more.

Colombia tops Mexico in extras to take thrilling Pool C opener

March 11, 2023 41 minutes ago

PHOENIX –

Just hours before Colombia took the diamond for its opening contest of the 2023 World Baseball Classic, manager Jolbert Cabrera talked about how excited he was to see his mostly youthful squad in action. As he finished his session, he stopped right before he left the room to ask who would come in first postgame: the winning manager or the losing manager?

When told the skipper on the wrong side of the scoreboard would come in first, Cabrera replied:

“OK, you’re going to see the Mexico manager first.”

That confidence emanating from Cabrera was rewarded by his upstart group, which knocked off Mexico, 5-4, in a scintillating extra-innings affair Saturday afternoon at Chase Field to open Pool C play.

The biggest reason that Cabrera came in the room second postgame was due to the heroics of first baseman Reynaldo Rodriguez, who delivered two key knocks to spur Colombia to victory. In front of a raucous mostly pro-Mexico crowd, Rodriguez twice quieted the majority of those in attendance with a two-run homer in the fifth and an RBI single in the seventh.

Rodriguez’s presence in the Colombia lineup almost never happened. The 36-year-old veteran hasn’t appeared in affiliate ball since 2016, but he has spent three of the past four years playing for Tigres de Quintana Roo in the Mexican League. He suited up for Mexico in the Caribbean Series in February and was happy to spend time at home.

But then, his daughter was born.

Citing her arrival as the impetus, Rodriguez reversed track, and when he got the call from Colombia a week ago, he accepted to don the colors of his homeland.

That love for Colombia was on full display in the top of the fifth when he turned on an inside fastball off the plate from Mexico ace Julio Urías, whom he spent three days studying via video to prepare. After flying out on a slurve in the first pitch of his at-bat in the second inning against Urías, who retired the first 12 batters he faced in the game, Rodriguez was still hunting that heater.

“I was just there searching for pitches,” Rodriguez said via an interpreter. “Where he threw it, that’s my zone.”

Once the ball bounced off the screen of the foul pole, Rodriguez, a native of Cartagena, sent the dugout and likely most of the north coast of his home country into a frenzy. As he ran up the first-base line, he motioned to what brought him to this moment: ‘Colombia.’

Mexico had a homer celebration of its own in the bottom of the frame as Randy Arozarena ripped a game-tying blast to left field off the bat at 112.5 mph, nearly lifting the roof off Chase Field.

The clubs traded RBI singles by Rodriguez and Alex Verdugo in the seventh to reach the ninth tied at 4. When Arozarena, the 2021 AL Rookie of the Year, came to the dish with the winning run at second, Colombia gave him a free pass, much to the jeers of the Mexican fans in attendance.

But passing on Arozarena for Verdugo was all part of the plan for Cabrera, who deftly managed his relief corps. On the mound was right-hander Guillermo Zuñiga, who scuffled mightily against left-handed batters (1.062 OPS) last season at Double-A Tulsa in the Dodgers’ organization.

Zuñiga threw Verdugo three pitches: 100.8, 100.3, 102 mph. Strike one, strike two, strike three.

“He showed a lot of heart,” Cabrera said of Zuñiga. ”Unbelievable performance by that kid. You’re going to see a lot of him starting today.”

After Colombia pushed the go-ahead run across in the 10th on a fielding error by Mexico, there was no hesitation about who was pitching the bottom of the frame in an attempt to seal a potentially narrative changing victory for the country from the northwest of South America.

“We had a conversation yesterday during practice and I told him he was going to be the man and he was going to take us to the next level,” Cabrera said. “Because we’ve never had a guy like that before.”

Up just one run with the automatic runner at second, Zuñiga mowed through the 3-4-5 hitters in the Mexico order, ending the game with his fourth strikeout over his two scoreless frames.

The victory immediately thrusts Colombia into contention for one of the two quarterfinal spots that will be earned during Pool C play. They lost twice during the 2017 Classic, but both instances came in extra innings against powerhouse United States and Dominican Republic teams.

But six years later, Colombia conquered the extras hurdle it had previously found insurmountable.

"It just reaffirmed that our baseball, Colombian baseball, continues to grow," Cabrera said, visibly emotional after talking with his team. "These kids are unbelievable. They're so talented. Like I said before, they are fearless. They are fearless. And they are going to play their heart out, day in and day out. That's what we're all about."

Colombia returns to action Monday at 3 p.m. ET against Great Britain on FS2. Mexico gets a little over 24 hours off before a collision with the heavily favored United States squad, which gets underway at 10 p.m. ET on Sunday on FS1.
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Puerto Rico too much for Nicaragua in Pool D opener

March 11, 2023 4:14 PM CST

MIAMI --

“It was amazing,” Lindor said of the environment. “I looked around [at all the fans], and then exactly the moment when the ball was going to be thrown, I'm paying attention. ... I feed off that, we feed off that.

“It's such an amazing feeling when everyone in that locker room has a similar background, when everyone around feeds off that. … We always tell each other, ‘We go out there and just put on a show.’”

Put on a show they did, and the cheers in response were deafening. Puerto Rico had come to play. Lindor went 2-for-4 with that RBI and two runs scored. The all-blond “Team Rubio” came out swinging behind their leadoff man, who was one of four hitters with two or more knocks against a Nicaraguan team making its first Classic appearance.The atmosphere at loanDepot park was electric as Francisco Lindor reached first base in the bottom of the fifth inning on Saturday and removed his helmet, ruffled up his curly blond hair and pointed to the Team Puerto Rico dugout along the third-base side of the field.

Lindor had just hit an RBI single to give Puerto Rico a lead it wouldn't relinquish as it kicked off Pool D play in the World Baseball Classic with a 9-1 win over Nicaragua.

It helped that Team PR starter Marcus Stroman had held Nicaragua to one hit over 4 2/3 innings before allowing a solo homer to Elian Miranda in the fifth. Stroman relied on his sinker for more than half of his pitches (34 of 65), while utilizing his slider and cutter to get swings and misses.

“In this type of tournament, you’ve got to get ahead and you’ve got to pound the zone early,” Stroman said. “I trust my sinker more than anything, so I got that pitch going -- and obviously [having] these guys behind me gives me more confidence throwing my sinker, because I feel like anytime they put it in play, it's going to be an out.”

It also helped that Puerto Rico responded with a five-run bottom of the inning, then three more runs in the bottom of the seventh.

Nicaraguan starter Carlos Rodriguez held his own, allowing just one run on two hits with three strikeouts over four innings.

But once Rodriguez was out, Puerto Rico put up eight runs against the ‘pen. It started when Christian Vázquez worked a walk after falling behind in the count 0-2 with one out in the fifth inning. That set up a picture-perfect hit-and-run as Martín Maldonado -- affectionately known as “Machete” -- ripped a single up the middle past second baseman Alex Blandino.

Vázquez and Maldonado each racked up two hits, and Vázquez tallied two RBIs. Manager Yadier Molina credited Vázquez’s work-from-behind walk for kick-starting the Puerto Rico offense.

"[The walk was] very good. That's when everything [shifted]," Molina said. "It was like 1-2, 0-2 -- he was down, so great at-bat by him. It started everything. And then Machete with the hit-and-run. It was good. That was a great at-bat by him.

"We have to play one game at a time. Now we have to see what the result is [tonight] in the game between Dominican Republic and Venezuela, and this is our mindset. We are going to play game after game, one game at a time."

Next on the agenda: Nicaragua takes on Team Israel on Sunday at noon ET on FS2, before Puerto Rico and Venezuela face off at 7 p.m. ET. on FS1.

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MLB world shocked as electrician strikes out Shohei Ohtani
It's safe to say he'll never forget this.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1634512541496877056

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Another large and vocal crowd in Miami watching Venezuela beating top ranked Dominican Republic. The Latiins sure love their base ball.

Alavarado is the 5th pitcher today to hit the 100 mph mark

In clash of titans, Venezuela finally gets Classic win vs. D.R.

March 11, 2023 3 minutes ago

MIAMI --

At least a few eardrums probably burst. The decibel levels were out of this world. And yet, it was one of the most jubilantly raucous nights that loanDepot park has seen. It was better than an All-Star Game. It was the World Baseball Classic, and it was Venezuela’s first win over the Dominican Republic.

Fans swapped cheers and disappointed moans as their teams swapped runs and strikeouts early, before Venezuela pulled ahead in the fourth to win the clash of titans, 5-1, on Saturday night.

In such a high-energy atmosphere, it’s the least likely of heroes that emerge. On Saturday night, that honor was bestowed on David Peralta, who knocked Dominican ace Sandy Alcantara out of the game in the fourth inning, and Anthony Santander.

Of course, it started with a Salvador Perez double. Then a walk and a single that loaded the bases as Santander -- who had put Venezuela on the board with a solo blast in the second -- popped out and Eugenio Suárez struck out.

And then, Peralta, who unleashed on a 92.5 mph slider and cranked the ball into right field for a two-run single. The pitch was Alcantara’s 64th and final pitch of the game, as tournament rules dictate that starters be held to a 65-pitch limit in the first round. Alcantara allowed three runs on five hits and three walks over 3 2/3 innings, striking out two.

For Venezuela, Martín Pérez held the Dominican team to one run over 3 1/3 innings. But it was Luis Garcia who stole the show after entering in the fifth. (José Ruiz finished the fourth behind Pérez.) Garcia struck out seven batters while allowing two walks, including striking out the side in the sixth inning.

Peralta wasn’t content with his two RBIs. Nor was he content with a two-run lead. So, in the bottom of the sixth he hit an RBI double -- then rounded second and, after the run scored of course, was called out on his way to third (he was a little busy celebrating).

Santander didn’t let Peralta own the spotlight, though, coming through with some defensive heroics in the eighth inning. With runners on first and second and one out, Santander made a diving “ice cream cone” catch in right field to rob Jeimer Candelario of an almost certain RBI hit. (Santander then tripled in the bottom of the inning and scored when Suárez singled.)

Next up for Venezuela: A matchup against Puerto Rico Sunday at 7 p.m. ET. Team Dominican Republic gets an off-day before facing Nicaragua on Monday at noon ET.
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Baseball

Japan reaches World Baseball Classic quarterfinals

March 11, 2023 06:08 am

TOKYO

Shohei Ohtani had another RBI double, 21-year-old right-hander Roki Sasaki reached 100 mph 21 times in 66 pitches and Japan beat the Czech Republic 10-2 on Saturday night to clinch a quarterfinal berth in the World Baseball Classic.

Shugo Maki hit his second home run of the tournament and new Boston Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida had three RBIs, including a go-ahead, two-run double in the third inning off loser Ondrej Satoria as the Samurai Warriors overcame a 1-0 deficit.

Ohtani went 1 for 3 with a walk before a crowd of 41,637 in the Tokyo Dome, leaving for a pinch hitter in the eighth inning. He is 5 for 10 with three doubles, four RBIs and five walks for Japan (3-0), which has one more group game and will host a quarterfinal on Wednesday or Thursday. He also has pitched four scoreless innings.

Sasaki struck out eight in 3 2/3 innings and got the win. He allowed an unearned run, two hits and two walks.

Sasaki threw the 16th perfect game in Japanese major league history in April, then pitched eight perfect innings in his next start before being pulled after 102 pitches. He went 9-2 with a 2.02 ERA for the Pacific League's Chiba Lotte Marines last year, striking out 173 in 129 1/3 innings.

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Relentless US overpowers Great Britain to begin title defense

March 11, 2023 12 minutes ago

PHOENIX --

On paper, every iteration of Team USA’s lineup looks potent. In practice, the Americans bore that hypothesis out Saturday night, cruising to a 6-2 victory over Great Britain to open Pool C play at the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

The top eight hitters in the lineup all reached base at least once, with the team amassing 14 at-bats with runners in scoring position. There was no frame in which they were retired in order.

After near misses that landed on the warning track from Mookie Betts and Mike Trout early on, Kyle Schwarber brought Chase Field to its collective feet in the fourth.

When Schwarber dropped the bat head, there was a hush. Then, as the ball sailed past the pool beyond the right-center-field fence, there was an eruption of sound. Finally, as he crossed home plate and high-fived Trout and Paul Goldschmidt, a “U-S-A! U-S-A!” chant filled the yard.

While Schwarber delivered the big blow, Nolan Arenado-- one of two players to return from the 2017 title-winning club -- was the straw that stirred the drink, collecting three hits and two RBIs, including getting the club on the board in the third with the first of his pair of RBI doubles.

Trayce Thompson gave Great Britain a jolt in the first, ripping a home run off Team USA starter Adam Wainwright. The veteran outfielder made history, becoming the first player to go deep in Classic play for the Brits, who fittingly crowned him as he returned to the dugout.

Great Britain faces a quick turnaround, returning to the diamond at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday to face Canada on FS1. Next up for the United States is a sold-out clash with Mexico on FS1 on Sunday night at 10 ET. If Day 1 crowds for both clubs are any indication, Chase Field figures to be rocking at nearly unprecedented levels.

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The art of being a Chinese Taipei cheerleader

By Matt Monagan

March 11, 2023 8 minutes ago

TAICHUNG, Taiwan --

If you’ve been watching any of the Chinese Taipei games in Pool A of the World Baseball Classic, you’ve likely noticed the loud, relentless crowds. There’s nothing like it in the world. Down 10 runs, up 10 runs, first inning, last inning – the loyal Taiwanese fans never, ever stop at Intercontinental Stadium.

So, what keeps them going?

Loving their team and players, sure. But there’s also a squad – a cheer squad – of 12-14 people that leads the crowd, constantly conducting the throngs of fans, to keep them going. They sing songs, they stomp on the dugout, they are the source of all the energy in the ballpark for sometimes four hours at a time.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1634167743598428160

“When we’re down 10 runs, I know we’re down, but I’m not a fan anymore,” cheer captain Travis told me through an interpreter. “I’m down inside, but as a vice captain, I have to put a smile on my face and say, ‘My job is to cheer the fans up.’”

“When we’re down, I know that the game is still going on and we have to still support the team,” cheerleader Seulgi said with a smile. “I know we have to go even harder.”
Travis, 30, and Seulgi, 24, were chosen as part of an All-Star team to represent Chinese Taipei in the Classic. Normally, they do their cheering for local pro baseball and basketball teams during the regular season. Seulgi’s been doing it for five years, while Travis has been doing it for six.

“I started off as a baseball and basketball fan,” Travis said. “I saw there was an opening for one of the local basketball teams, Fubon Braves Bank, for vice-cheerleader captain. I went for that and got hired. I transferred from the stands to the field.”

For Seulgi, it’s been a lifelong passion that she can now turn into a full-time job.

“I’ve always been a baseball fan and always liked performing and dancing,” she said. “My friends told me there was an opportunity to be a baseball cheerleader. I tried out and got the part.”

Seulgi also cheers for the Hsinchu Lioneers -- a local pro basketball team.
But no matter how much they might love what they do, it’s a lot of work to stand and yell and jump around for an entire baseball game. It can take its toll physically. How do they stay in such great shape?

“Weight training and yoga,” Seulgi said.

They’re not lifting giant Arnold Schwarzenegger-level weights, it’s more for stamina. They also do cardio and practice often during the week. Between both sports and some behind-the-scenes planning, it’s a busy job for both of them. Seulgi also takes classes for appearance and etiquette.

Chinese Taipei lost its first game in Pool A to Panama, but bounced back for a thrilling 11-7 victory over Italy on Friday. The team seems to thrive off the cheer squad and the boisterous crowd, and opposing teams seem to have trouble blocking it out.

"The environment, I was very surprised with, with the cheerleaders and the noise throughout their offensive at-bats," manager Mike Piazza said after Italy’s loss. "... When you're in the stadium, it's a whole different experience."

Win or lose, cheer their hearts out, because it’s their job, but also because they know they can help foster an intense, almost indescribable home-field advantage.

“We can add a little bit of influence to the game,” Travis said. “We chant for a certain player to hit a home run and then he hits one out of the park. It’s like, ‘Wow, it’s the law of attraction or gravity or something in the universe.’ Calling on the universe to make something happen.”

[ NON STOP THE ENTIRE BALLGAME - EVEN BETWEEN INNINGS - INSANE! ]

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Cuba looks like Cuba again in rout of Chinese Taipei

By Matt Monagan

March 12, 2023 4:44 AM EDT

TAICHUNG, Taiwan --

Coming into Pool A of the World Baseball Classic, Cuba looked to be one of the favorites.

The Cubans lost to Netherlands, then they lost to Italy -- falling into an 0-2 hole and having to deal with questions about team unity and why nobody was hitting. How could Cuba -- a historically great baseball country -- perform this way on the international level?

Manager Armando Johnson stressed patience. And, well, the Cubans bounced back.

Johnson’s team routed Panama, 13-4, clicking in all facets of the game. And then, in their last matchup of Round 1 on Sunday, they dominated a fired-up Chinese Taipei squad 7-1 -- keeping their hopes of a trip to Tokyo for Round 2 alive.

"I believe it's the work that we are doing," Johnson said after the game. "We did everything possible so that the boys would overcome all of the challenges, and we said from the beginning that our athletes, as the competition progressed, are going to improve. The players have behaved beautifully and come from less to more, and that's been the situation because of the union amongst all the athletes on the team."

If the Netherlands lose to Italy in Pool A's final game, there'll be a five-way tie in Taiwan with each team at 2-2, and the top two squads will be settled by tiebreaking procedures.

Here’s what you need to know about Cuba's big win:

Like during its win against Panama, Cuba clicked on all sides of the ball.

First, it was their hitting: They scored four quick runs in the first -- taking the loud Taiwanese crowd out of the game (as much as you can take these fans out of a game). Most Cubans seemed unbothered by the noise.

[ I watched the entire game. The crowd was insane. Trailing 7-0, it was still non-stop cheering. These fans were cheering and chanting, they had noise makers... you name it, they had it. The cheering started before the first pitch and ended after the field was emptied of players. The players circled the mound after the game and bowed in thanks to the fans. They bowed to the Cuban team. It was quite an emotional thing to watch. ]

Yoán Moncada -- who’s heated up over the last few days -- roped a ground-rule double to left-center, Luis Robert reached on an error and then WBC legend Alfredo Despaigne lined a two-run double into the gap.

"I believe that I am doing the job that was given to me," Despaigne said postgame. "Especially bringing the runs in. ... We did things well and that gave us success."

Erisbel Arruebarrena added insult to injury with a stadium-silencing two-run homer to the deepest part of the ballpark.

The boisterous crowd in Taichang wasn't a factor for the Cubans -- before or after that homer, said Despaigne.

"I think when you are concentrating on the work that you have to do, it doesn't influence you," he said. "You're concentrating on the pitcher, you're concentrating on the game and the fans, in my particular case, it doesn't bother me."

Cuba added two more runs in the second. Roel Santos had a run-scoring groundout, but was then caught stealing for the second out of the frame. Moncada was up next, though, and he continued his torrid hitting with a solo dinger to right.

Santos added one more run on an RBI single in the fourth.

Cuba’s pitching staff was also fantastic -- holding Chinese Taipei’s hot bats silent.

Elian Leyva went 2 1/3 scoreless innings before leaving with apparent hand cramps. Miguel Romero replaced him to serve up 2 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out four. Lefty Onelki Garcia threw up zeros through two innings.

"I just do the job that's given to me," Romero said. "And I try to do my best when the team needs it."

"From Cuba, we were preparing the pitching staff, and since then, they have shown in each inning that they are excellent," Johnson said. "We have a bullpen of very high quality that can resolve any sort of problems that we may face, and they have been preparing for anything that's thrown at them."

So now, we have a three-way tie: Cuba, Chinese Taipei and Panama are all 2-2. Because they beat both teams head-to-head, Cuba would hold the tiebreaker over the other two … but there’s more to the story. Italy (1-2) still has to play Netherlands (2-1) on Sunday (7 a.m. ET, FS2). If the Netherlands wins, the Netherlands and Cuba would move on to the next round in Tokyo. But if Italy wins, every team in Pool A will be 2-2 and the Pool A winner/Pool A runner-Up will be determined by tiebreaker measures following the conclusion of Sunday's games.

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Italy wins, advances (with Cuba) after 5-way tie

By Matt Monagan

March 12, 2023 an hour ago

TAICHUNG, Taiwan --

Joe LaSorsa was in a tight spot.

Team Netherlands had loaded the bases with nobody out in the fifth inning. They were down, 6-1, to Italy in a must-win game and Team Italy manager Mike Piazza had turned to LaSorsa -- a Rays Minor Leaguer -- to shut things down. It was a huge moment for the 24-year-old. He was pitching to keep his ancestral home alive in the World Baseball Classic against three formidable, former big leaguers.


Joe LaSorsa

Didi Gregorius. Popout.

Jonathan Schoop. Strikeout.

Roger Bernadina. Strikeout.

LaSorsa then put on one of the more animated celebrations in recent baseball history -- stalking to the dugout, slamming his hat to the ground and hugging anybody and everybody he could find in Italy’s dugout.

The great escape helped Italy to an eventual 7-1 win, produced an unbelievable five-way tie in Pool A and, most importantly, clinched a trip for Italy to Tokyo for Round 2 of the Classic. Cuba also advanced via the tiebreaker formula.

Things didn’t look great for Team Italy at the outset. In what was mostly a pitchers' duel for the first 4 1/2 innings, Netherlands struck first with a Chadwick Tromp home run.

Italy wasn’t hitting in key situations, as Piazza stressed was the issue during its loss against Chinese Taipei. But then, in the bottom of the fourth, Italy exploded for six runs -- almost as many as it scored in its last game.

Dominic Fletcher doubled, Vinny Pasquantino singled and then, after Vito Friscia was hit by pitch, the bases were loaded with nobody out.

Brett Sullivan singled in a run and a Mike Bolsenbroek wild pitch brought in another to give Team Italy a 2-1 lead. Singles by Ben DeLuzio and Sal Frelick brought in two more before Nicky Lopez -- who did nothing but hit and play Gold Glove-level defense here in Taiwan -- laced a two-run triple into the gap. You could hear the cheers from Italy’s espresso-ready dugout all the way to Nettuno.

Those were all the runs Piazza’s squad needed. A line of pitchers, including, of course, LaSorsa, held down Team Netherlands’ dangerous lineup. Matt Harvey struck out three and gave up a run over four strong innings, Andre Pallante, LaSorsa and Vinny Nottili tossed one more apiece and Matt Festa closed things out in the eighth and ninth.

This is Italy’s first trip to the quarterfinals since their Cinderella run in 2013

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