U. S. blows five- run lead in loss to Dominicans
Nelson Cruz hit a three- run home run and Starling Marte a solo shot against Andrew Miller in a four- run eighth inning that rallied the Dominican Republic to a 7- 5 victory Saturday against the United States in pool play the World Baseball Classic in Miami.
The United States ( 1- 1) led 5- 0 after 5 ½ innings, but the Dominican Republic ( 2- 0) scored twice in the sixth and once in the seventh before its big eighth.
Marcus Stroman allowed three hits and struck out four in 4⅔ innings, and Brandon Crawford drove in two runs with a single and a double for the United States.
Jays reliever out of hospital
Toronto Blue Jays reliever T. J. House was released from the hospital after being hit in the head by a line drive during a spring- training game Friday.
House was taken off the field in an ambulance after being struck in the ninth inning of a game against the Detroit Tigers. He was taken to Lakeland ( Florida) Regional Medical Center for tests and was held overnight for observation.
‘‘ No fractures of the skull or anything, which is great, especially for the force it took,’’ House said.
Bosox’ Price takes step forward
Boston Red Sox left- hander David Price took a first step in his recovery from a sore elbow by throwing into a net in a batting cage, but he is still a ways away from pitching off a mound. Manager John Farrell said Price made 25 easy tosses before the Red Sox played the Tampa Bay Rays.
In the game, former White Sox ace Chris Sale struck out five in four scoreless innings in the Red Sox’ 2- 1 victory.
Pirates’ Kang on restricted list
The Pittsburgh Pirates put infielder Jung Ho Kang on the restricted list while he’s delayed in South Korea by visa issues related to a recent DUI arrest.
Kang received an eight- month suspended prison sentence last week after a DUI arrest in December, his third such arrest in South Korea. The sentence was suspended for two years.