Netherlands rout Israel as US, Dominican Republic advance

Venezuela still alive at WBC

TOKYO, March 13, (AP): Didi Gregorius drove in five runs Monday to lead the Netherlands over Israel 12-2 and hand the tournament debutants their first loss of the World Baseball Classic.

Gregorius doubled in a run in the third when the Netherlands scored four to take a 6-0 lead. The designated hitter then hit a three-run homer in the fourth to make it 10-0.

Wladimir Balentien, who plays in Japan, also had a big night at the plate, driving in three runs.

Israel surprised many by winning its first four games of the tournament but was overpowered by the Netherlands, which lost 8-6 in 11 innings to Japan on Sunday.

The Netherlands and Israel are both 1-1 in Pool E. The top two teams advance to the March 20-22 championship round in Los Angeles.

USA 8, Canada 0 In Miami, the United States bounced back to move on.

Nolan Arenado and Buster Posey homered and drove in three runs apiece to help Team USA shake off a deflating defeat and earn a berth in the second round of the World Baseball Classic by beating Canada 8-0 on Sunday night.

The Americans finished 2-1 in pool play and rebounded after blowing a five-run lead Saturday and losing to the Dominican Republic 7-5.

Dominican 10, Colombia 3 In Miami, Welington Castillo hit a tiebreaking two-run single in the Dominican Republic’s seven-run 11th inning, sending his country to a 10-3 victory over Colombia in their final pool game of the World Baseball Classic on Sunday.

The defending champions, who were coming off a dramatic 7-5 victory over the United States on Saturday night, advanced to the second round Tuesday in San Diego. The Dominicans have won 11 straight in the tournament.

Jose Bautista and Carlos Santana began the 11th as the designated runners at second and first base, part of the tournament tiebreaking rules. Mel Rojas Jr advanced Bautista and Santana with a sacrifice bunt. Gregory Polanco was walked intentionally before Castillo sent a line drive into left-center off William Cuevas.

Mexico 11, Venezuela 9 In Guadalajara, Mexico, Venezuela got a major reprieve at the World Baseball Classic.

After thinking they had been eliminated with an 11-9 loss to Mexico early Monday, Venezuela players were informed in the locker room that they could still advance thanks to a tiebreaker.

Despite the victory, Mexico was the team eliminated. Venezuela will play Italy in a one-game tiebreaker Monday night, with the winner advancing to the second round.

Puerto Rico 9, Italy 3 In Guadalajara, Mexico, Carlos Correa hit a three-run homer, and Puerto Rico qualified for the second round of the World Baseball Classic with a 9-3 victory against Italy on Sunday.

Correa connected in the fourth inning, belting a drive to left-center to make it 7-3. The Houston Astros star also walked twice and scored two runs.

Enrique Hernandez also drove in three runs for Puerto Rico, which went 3-0 in the first round. Puerto Rico also beat Venezuela 11-0 and Mexico 9-4.

Netherlands’ closer Orlando Yntema pitches against Israel during the eighth inning in their second round game at the World Baseball Classic at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on

March 13. (AP)