MLB GAME RECAP

USA blanks Canada, advances in WBC

The Sports Xchange

March 13, 2017 at 12:26 am.

Mar 12, 2017; Miami, FL, USA; USA pitcher Danny Duffy (41) throws a pitch in the second inning against Canada during the 2017 World Baseball Classic at Marlins Park. Photo Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports

Mar 12, 2017; Miami, FL, USA; USA pitcher Danny Duffy (41) throws a pitch in the second inning against Canada during the 2017 World Baseball Classic at Marlins Park. Photo Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports

Five American pitchers combined to throw a four-hit shutout as the United States earned a berth in the second round of the World Baseball Classic with an 8-0 victory over Canada on Sunday night in Miami.

The Americans went 2-1 in pool play, finishing behind the Dominican Republic, which went 3-0 in the four-team group, and ahead of Colombia (1-2) and Canada (0-3). The United States and the Dominican Republic advance to the second round to be played in San Diego.

Nolan Arenado and Buster Posey homered and drove in three runs apiece to lead the offense for the United States, which bounced back from a 7-5 loss to the Dominican Republic on Saturday, when the Americans blew a 5-0 lead.

Danny Duffy became the third consecutive U.S. starter to turn in a scoreless performance. He struck out seven Canadian batters in his four innings, and the only baserunners he allowed were Jonathan Malo and Pete Orr, who hit consecutive two-out singles in the third inning.

Mychal Givens, Tyler Clippard, Jake McGee and Nate Jones completed the shutout.
The Americans took a 7-0 lead after two innings, scoring three runs off Ryan Dempster and four against Andrew Albers.

Dempster, Canada’s starting pitcher, faced just six batters and only retired one of them. Eric Hosmer’s two-run double off Dempster highlighted the three-run first, and Arenado’s three-run homer off Albers was the big blow in the second inning.

Dominican Republic 10, Colombia 3 (11 innings)

The Dominican Republic snapped an 11th-inning tie with seven runs and advanced to the second round before 36,952 at Marlins Park in Miami.

Welington Castillo delivered the key hit with a tiebreaking, two-run single for the defending champion, one night after its 7-5 victory over the United States.

The Dominicans extended their winning streak to 11 games in the tournament.

The Dominicans’ 11th-inning uprising included a three-run double by Jean Segura, an injury replacement for Hanley Ramirez, and an RBI single by Carlos Santana.

Colombia missed a chance to win in the ninth inning when pinch-runner Oscar Mercado was thrown out at the plate trying to score on a fly ball.

Dominican starter Wily Peralta pitched four innings and gave up one run with six strikeouts and one walk.

In other games, Puerto Rico advanced to the second round with a 9-3 victory over Italy in a Pool D game in Guadalajara, Mexico, while Mexico eliminated Venezuela with an 11-9 decision. Mexico faces Italy on Monday in a tiebreaker game to determine which team will compete with Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and the United States in San Diego.

Japan defeated the Netherlands 8-6 in 11 innings in a Pool E matchup in Tokyo.

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