usa routs puerto rico to claim classic crown
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

To capture their first World Baseball Classic title

USA routs Puerto Rico to claim Classic crown

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today USA routs Puerto Rico to claim Classic crown

Jim Leyland, manager of team United States
Los Angeles - Arab Today

The United States clobbered Puerto Rico 8-0 to capture their first World Baseball Classic title, avenging an earlier loss and ending Puerto Rico's perfect run to the championship game.

The Americans won the title in their first trip to the final, which was a rematch of a second-round game Friday in which the US rallied late but lost 6-5.

"If you think about what we did, we beat them all," said US manager Jim Leyland, who came out of retirement to guide the US team, which finished with a 6-2 record.

"Puerto Rico had a terrific team. Up until tonight they played better baseball than anybody in the tournament. We pitched better, we played better."

Puerto Rico finished with a 7-1 record as they were trying to become just the second team in tournament history to roll undefeated through the quadrennial global showcase of elite talent.

Asked if there was extra motivation on the part of the US to avenge Friday's loss, center fielder Adam Jones answered frankly: "You want to know the truth? There were some champion shirts made and we didn't make them."

"A flight booked and a parade planned and that didn't sit well with us."

This was also the second loss in a row in the final for the bleached-blond haired Puerto Ricans, who were beaten by the Dominican Republic in the 2013 final.

Marcus Stroman pitched a no-hitter through six innings and Ian Kinsler belted a home run as the United States carved up Puerto Rico before a crowd of 51,000 at Dodger Stadium.

Stroman, who has Puerto Rican roots, had his no-hit bid ended when leftfielder Angel Pagan opened the bottom of the seventh with a double.

But the damage had already been done as Stroman set the early tone with superb pitching and Kinsler opened the scoring with a 402-foot two-run homer to centerfield in the third inning.

"I love pitching in these moments," Stroman said. "I love the atmosphere. I pride myself on being a big game pitcher. This was probably one of the biggest, if not the biggest, games I ever pitched in."

"I was confident. I was locked in. I am glad we got the win."

The last out of the three-hour, 30-minute contest came when Puerto Rico's Carlos Correa grounded out to third base, touching off a wild celebration for the Americans on the field followed by a victory lap on the warning track.

Right-hander Stroman was named Most Valuable Player and, like his teammates, he played Wednesday as if he had a chip on his shoulder.

His added motivation came partly after his Puerto Rican mother was harassed on social media over his decision to compete for the Americans. 

Puerto Ricans were angered because after the last tournament in 2013 he had indicated in a tweet that he might pitch for them.

- MVP booed -

Stroman, who was booed by Puerto Rican supporters as he spoke on the field during the MVP trophy presentation, allowed only one hit and struck out three batters in six innings for the USA.

"Added a little fuel to the fire. They pretty much counted us out before the game started," said Stroman of the T-shirts and Caribbean parade plans.

The victory ends years of frustration for the USA on their home soil in the tournament, which has been going since 2006.

The US is considered baseball's birthplace and the nation has a world-leading 626 players in Major League Baseball -- but until Wednesday its team had never played in a Classic final. 

Puerto Rico, in contrast, has just 50 major leaguers.

The Americans' best previous performance was a semifinal run in 2009 in which they lost to Japan.

Puerto Rico had advanced to the final by showing swagger and passion, but their defense -- which had been so solid through the first seven games -- crumbled Wednesday. 

The US scored a total of four runs in the seventh and eighth innings with two outs on the board.

"They outplayed us. They outscored us. They outhit us," said Puerto Rican manager Edwin Rodriguez. "They beat us in all phases of the game."

Source: AFP

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

usa routs puerto rico to claim classic crown usa routs puerto rico to claim classic crown

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

usa routs puerto rico to claim classic crown usa routs puerto rico to claim classic crown

 



GMT 12:48 2016 Sunday ,27 November

Cilic, Dodig push Croatia to brink of Davis Cup

GMT 05:24 2017 Thursday ,28 December

Erdogan says 'terrorist' Assad cannot be part of Syria

GMT 12:59 2016 Saturday ,05 November

WB welcomes economic reforms in Egypt

GMT 18:40 2016 Saturday ,05 November

Egyptian GDRs in London down

GMT 10:57 2017 Wednesday ,06 December

Peru striker Guerrero has doping ban extended

GMT 17:51 2017 Tuesday ,07 March

Trump Signs New Travel Ban on Six Muslim Countries

GMT 10:30 2017 Wednesday ,06 September

Saudi Information Ministry praises media role during Hajj

GMT 15:29 2017 Tuesday ,24 January

Mind games really do help your brain

GMT 06:55 2015 Thursday ,01 October

Boston Red Sox beat Yankees

GMT 08:17 2017 Monday ,28 August

Bahrain celebrates World Humanitarian Day 2017

GMT 02:07 2017 Tuesday ,28 February

Opposition seeks Russian support at Syria talks

GMT 11:06 2017 Wednesday ,27 December

Bahrain tourism projects valued at over $ 13 billion

GMT 20:35 2011 Tuesday ,10 May

New exhibition of Islamic ornaments

GMT 19:52 2016 Friday ,19 August

Nice joins wave of French towns banning burkinis

GMT 03:46 2017 Wednesday ,06 September

US-backed Syrian forces seize Raqqa mosque

GMT 22:22 2017 Friday ,15 December

BDF Military Museum open on National Day

GMT 09:47 2015 Wednesday ,02 December

Ryanair launches court action against Google, eDreams

GMT 10:46 2017 Wednesday ,22 March

Japan's February trade surplus hits multi-year high
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday