Stroman leads U.S. to promised land
LOS ANGELES — The eagle has landed on top.
The U.S. routed Puerto Rico, 8-0, to win its first World Baseball Classic in four tries on Wednesday night behind six hitless innings from Marcus Stroman.
The Americans planted their eagle statue mascot on the mound in celebration, a blue cap jauntily hanging from one of its large wings.
“It’s a different feeling when the USA is on your chest,” first baseman Eric Hosmer said. “We wanted to get the U.S. back on top of the baseball world, and we did that.”
For a sport known as America’s pastime, the U.S. had struggled since the WBC began in 2006. Twice, the Americans lost in the second round and they went out in the semifinals in ’09.
Accepting the gleaming silver trophy from baseball commissioner Rob Manfred, manager Jimmy Leyland told the crowd: “This is for the men and women who serve our country.”
The U.S. pounded out 13 hits and finished with a 6-2 record while making the final for the first time in front of 51,565 at Dodger Stadium.
Puerto Rico lost for the first time in eight games after outscoring the opposition 55-26. The U.S. territory finished runner-up for the second time, having lost to the Dominican Republic in the 2013 final.
“They’re loaded with all-star players. They outpitched us. They outscored us. They outhit us,” Rodriguez said. “We came here to win the championship, but with a record of 7-1, we feel satisfied, pleased with what we were able to achieve.”
Tournament MVP Stroman avenged his shakiness in the Americans’ 6-5 loss to Puerto Rico during pool play. The right-hander from the Toronto Blue Jays gave up one hit in six-plus innings, struck out three and walked one on 73 pitches.
“I love pitching in these moments,” he said. “I love the atmosphere. I feel like the bigger the game, the more I’m able to get up, the more effective I am.”
Stroman allowed just three balls past the infield until Angel Pagan’s double leading off the seventh, when he departed to a standing ovation, having staked the U.S. to a 7-0 lead with the help of Ian Kinsler’s two-run homer.
In 2013, Stroman tweeted that he was going to play for Puerto Rico, where his mother was born. Instead, he wore the red, white and blue of the U.S.
“It was an unbelievable experience,” he said, “and I’ll be back in four years to defend the title.”
For the tournament, Stroman allowed 12 hits and four runs in 15 1/3 innings, with a 2.35 ERA, nine strikeouts and two walks.
“Marcus set the tone right off the bat and just was dealing,” Yelich said, “and we kind of fed off that and we were just rolling ever since.”
Stroman walked Carlos Beltran leading off the second, but the defence helped him out. Yadier Molina hit the ball to shortstop Brandon Crawford, who started a double-play before Stroman struck out Javier Baez to end the inning.