Netherlands, Israel stay perfect in WBC tourney
Tebow has a crummy day in his exhibition debut
TOKYO — Jurickson Profar drew a basesloaded walk in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Netherlands to a 6-5 win over Taiwan on Wednesday in the World Baseball Classic.
The Netherlands improved to 2-0 in Pool A and advanced to the second round in Tokyo along with Israel, which also has a 2-0 record.
South Korea and Taiwan failed to advance to the second round, which starts Sunday at the Tokyo Dome.
Designated hitter Didi Gregorius had three doubles, including the game-tying hit in the eighth inning, to power the Netherlands. The New York Yankees shortstop had three RBIs.
Israel has been the surprise of the tournament, beating South Korea 2-1 in its opening game and overpowering Taiwan 15-7 on Tuesday.
In Pool B, Japan improved to 2-0 with a 4-1 win over Australia at the Tokyo Dome. Sho Nakata hit a solo home run in the seventh inning and Yoshitomo Tsutsugo added a two-run homer in the eighth for the twotime champions.
In an earlier game, Roel Santos hit a tworun triple as Cuba scored four runs in the fourth inning in a 6-0 win over China.
Cuba improved to 1-1 to keep alive its chances of advancing to the second round.
Major leagues
Tim Tebow made his first rookie mistake even before stepping into the batter’s box.
The New York Mets newcomer walked behind home plate and took his practice swings near Boston’s on-deck circle.
“I didn’t know who that was back there. I thought it was the ball boy,” AL Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello said.
The debut of the former NFL quarterback as a big leaguer didn’t go much better Wednesday.
Tebow went 0-for-3, twice looking at strike three and also grounding into a double play with the bases loaded in a spring training exhibition against the Red Sox.
The 2007 Heisman Trophy winner did safely reach when he was hit by a pitch in the right shoulder from fellow Florida alum Brian Johnson. But Tebow’s stay on base was brief — he got doubled off first on a line drive.
“It was a first day for me getting to compete. I’ll learn a lot from it. It’s kind of what I expected from a competition level,” Tebow said after an 8-7 win.
The 29-year-old Tebow batted eighth as the designated hitter. Signed last fall, he’s in camp on a minor league contract, hoping to make it as an outfielder. He’s next scheduled to play for the Mets in a split-squad game Friday against Houston, and manager Terry Collins said Tebow would be in the field.
Mets starter Noah Syndergaard threw 47 pitches and lasted 2⅓ scoreless innings, and Jay Bruce hit his first home run of spring training and had three RBIs.
Washington’s Stephen Strasburg was hit hard in his second start, giving up six runs and seven hits in two innings to St. Louis. The Cardinals’ Michael Wacha allowed two hits in three scoreless innings.
Houston said 2015 AL Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel pitched a simulated game Tuesday with no issues and he is to make his exhibition debut Sunday against Miami. The left-hander did not appear in a game after Aug. 27 last year because of pitching shoulder inflammation.
Former AL MVP Justin Morneau had a single and struck out twice for Canada, and Seattle’s Tyler O’Neill hit a two-run homer in their exhibition.
Baltimore All-Star Manny Machado hit a two-run homer for the Dominican Republic against Pittsburgh. The Pirates’ Gregory Polanco went 3-for-3 and starter Gerrit Cole allowed two hits in three shutout innings.
Dodgers starter Rich Hill allowed three runs and walked four in 1⅔ innings and Joc Pederson homered for Los Angeles against Milwaukee.
Miguel Cabrera hit a solo homer and a two-run single for Venezuela against Kansas City. Also, Alcides Escobar tripled twice and drove in three runs against his big league team.
Arizona ace Zack Greinke struggled, allowing two runs and six hits in 2⅔ innings against Mexico. Luis Alfonso Cruz had an RBI double and scored a run for Mexico and Efren Navarro had an RBI single.