Puerto Rico stuns champion Dominican Republic in WBC
SAN DIEGO: With 34-year-old Yadier Molina leading the way, Puerto Rico had a ball in beating defending World Baseball Classic (WBC) champion the Dominican Republic on Tuesday night.
Molina homered, hit an RBI single and celebrated big plays just as hard as younger teammates as the exuberant Puerto Ricans won 3-1 in the second round to snap the Dominican Republic’s 11-game WBC winning streak.
It was a rematch of the 2013 WBC title game, which the Dominicans won 3-0 at San Francisco’s AT&T Park.
The small but peppy crowd at Petco Park chanted, clapped, waved flags and banged cowbells throughout the game.
The Puerto Ricans responded with the joy of Little Leaguers, from the first inning until the final out.
“The only way to play against the Dominican Republic is with passion and motivation,” said Molina, the St. Louis Cardinals’ star catcher. “They are an incredible team.”
After right fielder Eddie Rosario threw out Jean Segura at the plate with a one-hopper to Molina to end the top of the first, pitcher Orlando Roman jumped around while Molina punched the air in celebration. Teammates converged on Rosario and chest-bumped him so hard he fell down.
While that play set the tone, the Puerto Ricans had an even more incredible play to end the eighth, when Molina threw out Nelson Cruz trying to steal second. Second baseman Javier Baez was smiling and pointing his right index finger at Molina even as he caught the throw and put down a no-look tag. Molina whipped off his mask and thrust it in the air and the infielders practically skipped off the field. Baez threw the ball all the way into the third deck as he ran off the field.
Edwin Diaz struck out Segura to earn the save and an emotional hug from Molina. One of the Puerto Rico players tossed the rosin bag in the air.
“Facing a team like the Dominican Republic, the motivation was there for us,” manager Edwin Rodriguez said. “We were waiting four years for this, and we played well offensively, defensively and on the mound.”