Baseball: U.S. shuts out Puerto Rico, wins its 1st WBC title
LOS ANGELES — The eagle has landed on top.
The United States routed Puerto Rico 8-0 to win its first World Baseball Classic title Wednesday night as Marcus Stroman took a no-hitter into the seventh inning in front of 51,565 at Dodger Stadium.
The Americans planted their eagle statue mascot on the mound in celebration, a blue cap hanging from one of its wings.
“It’s a different feeling when the USA is on your chest,” first baseman Eric Hosmer said. “We wanted to get the U.S. back on top of the baseball world, and we did that.”
The U.S. had struggled since the WBC began in 2006. Twice, the Americans lost in the second round and they went out in the semifinals in 2009. This time was different. “These guys were here to do their best,” Team USA general manager Joe Torre said. “The thing I marveled at was how quickly they came together, and Jimmy (Leyland) deserves a lot of that credit. They’re just a great group who understood what this event is all about.”
Accepting the gleaming trophy from Commissioner Rob Manfred, Leyland, the U.S. manager, told the crowd, “This is for the men and women who serve our country.”
After the final out, the Americans massed on the mound, hugging and highfiving while fireworks exploded in center field. Some of them grabbed a U.S. flag and circled the warning track, waving it in celebration with fans in the stands.
Puerto Rico’s fans saluted their team with a standing ovation and the players responded by clapping.
Puerto Rico lost for the first time in eight games after outscoring the opposition 55-26. The U.S. territory finished runner-up for the second time, having lost to the Dominican Republic in the 2013 final at AT&T Park.
Stroman was named the tournament MVP even though he was shaky during a 6-5 loss to Puerto Rico during pool play. On Wednesday, the righthander from the Blue Jays gave up one hit in six-plus innings.
He allowed just three balls past the infield until former Giants outfielder Angel Pagan doubled into the left-field corner leading off the seventh. Stroman departed to a standing ovation with the U.S. up 7-0, helped by Ian Kinsler’s tworun homer. The U.S. pounded out 13 hits. Kinsler took Seth Lugo deep to left-center in the third.
The Americans made it 4-0 in the fifth on RBI singles by Christian Yelich and Andrew McCutchen.
The Giants’ Brandon Crawford hit a two-run single in the seventh. extending the lead to 6-0.
Giants catcher Buster Posey played in Tuesday’s 2-1 semifinal win over Japan, but did not play Wednesday. Jonathan Lucroy was the U.S. catcher.