Canada overmatched in opener
Defending champion Dominican Republic posts easy 9-2 win
MIAMI — Jose Bautista homered and drove in four runs Thursday, and the Dominican Republic opened its bid for a second consecutive World Baseball Classic title with a 9-2 victory against Canada.
Welington Castillo hit a tworun homer for the Dominicans, who went 8-0 to win the 2013 title. Before the game, manager Tony Pena said his team looks better on paper this year.
Bautista singled home a run in the second, singled again in the fifth and hit a three-run homer in the sixth off Dustin Molleken.
“This is a team full of cleanup hitters,” Bautista said in Spanish. “Whenever you contribute to the cause, you are happy.”
Jose Reyes had three of the Dominicans’ 15 hits. Castillo’s homer came in the second inning, when the Dominicans bunched six hits to score four runs off Ryan Dempster.
“That’s a pretty good ballclub they ran out there,” said Ernie Whitt, Canada’s manager. “There are no soft spots for sure.”
Carlos Martinez pitched four innings in first career WBC outing and allowed one run.
“I achieved my dream — to play for the Dominican Republic,” Martinez said in Spanish.
“I said, ‘This is my game.’ I wasn’t nervous. I simply worked as I always do.”
The Dominicans were the home team and had the majority of support from a boisterous crowd of 27,388 at Marlins Park, with fans chanting, blowing horns and pounding drums throughout the game.
Dempster, a 16-year major league veteran who came out of retirement to pitch for Canada at age 39, lasted only two innings and gave up four runs. It was his first game since the 2013 World Series.
“I wish I would have made a couple of better pitches,” Dempster said. “They’re a really good lineup. They almost have an all-star team.”
The Canadians are in danger of being eliminated in the opening round for the fourth time in as many WBCs. Canada plays Colombia on Saturday and the U.S. on Sunday.
The game also had a sombre side for the Dominicans, who hung jerseys in their dugout honouring Kansas City Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura and former major leaguer Andy Marte. They died in separate traffic accidents on the same January morning in the Dominican Republic.
Israel reaches 2nd round with Mensch power
TOKYO — With a little help from “The Mensch on the Bench” mascot, Israel is into the second round of the World Baseball Classic.
Just 41st in the world rankings, Israel beat third-ranked South Korea 2-1 in its opening game then defeated fourth-ranked Taiwan 15-7 on Tuesday. On Thursday, Israel beat the Netherlands 4-2 to finish first in Pool A with a 3-0 record.
Next up for Israel is the second round in Tokyo with a chance to advance to the semifinals.
South Korea won the bronze medal at the 2006 WBC and silver in the 2009 edition, and was one of the pre-tournament favourites to win a medal again.
Israel’s 73-year-old manager, Jerry Weinstein, said he’s not surprised by the early success.
“The only unknown was the calibre of the competition,” Weinstein said. “We never doubted our ability. Our strengths are that we are a well-balanced team. We can pitch and have pitching depth; we have team speed, team power and can catch the ball. We’re a very close knit group.”
The team is getting plenty of inspiration from its popular mascot. Infielder Cody Decker brought The Mensch with him from home and it’s been a big hit in South Korea.
Mensch means a person of integrity or honour. The Mensch on the Bench started during Israel’s qualifying round in New York.
“He’s on the team,” Weinstein said. “Everybody brings something to the team, and certainly The Mensch is a unifying factor for the ball club.”