Monday night’s World Baseball Classic game between Puerto Rico and Israel was canceled after eight innings because of the tournament’s 10-run mercy rule. José De León and three relievers combined to throw a perfect game.
Yacksel Ros, Edwin Daz, and Duane Underwood Jr. completed the first perfect game in WBC history, which occurred a day after Puerto Rico’s late rally against Venezuela fell short, 9-6.
“Very thrilled for the lads, especially given what occurred on Sunday,” stated the manager of Puerto Rico in Spanish, Yadier Molina. The manner in which we started the game aggressively and won the game makes me extremely proud.
De León tied a WBC record with ten strikeouts in five and two-thirds innings to secure the win. The right-handed pitcher was removed after striking out Spencer Horwitz on his 64th pitch, one less than the tournament maximum for first-round starting pitchers. He exited to a standing ovation from the 27,813-strong Puerto Rico crowd in Miami.
Following the game, he had his teammates autograph the game ball.
“Representing Puerto Rico in 2017 was the pinnacle of my career,” stated De León. There was only one way to surpass it, and that is to do it again. I am really appreciative for the chance.”
Ros relieved De León in the sixth inning and struck out the lone hitter he faced.
In the seventh inning, with his side leading 9-0, Molina called on Daz, the New York Mets’ great closer, who retired one batter in a 1-2-3 frame. In the ninth, Underwood retired Israel in order on 10 pitches.
Two doubles by Javier Báez and a triple and a single by Francisco Lindor helped Puerto Rico finish with 11 hits and advance to 2-1.
Three runs were scored in the first inning against Israel starter Colton Gordon by Puerto Rico. Báez doubled in two runs and scored on Eddie Rosario’s double.
In the second inning, Puerto Rico continued to produce extra-base hits, resulting in three more runs. Kiké Hernández’s two-run double and Emmanuel Rivera’s triple pushed the score to 5-0.
Lindor’s two-run triple was the catalyst for a three-run fifth inning, and Hernández’s run-scoring single in the eighth inning concluded the game.
USA 12, CANADA 1 (7)
PHOENIX — Monday night in the World Baseball Classic, Mike Trout smacked a three-run home run and Lance Lynn tossed five excellent innings as the United States defeated Canada 12-1 behind a nine-run first inning.
The game was cancelled after seven innings due to the 10-run mercy rule of the tournament.
The United States advanced to 2-1 and rebounded from Sunday’s 11-5 setback to Mexico with their greatest attacking effort of the tournament. In front of a crowd of 29,621 at Chase Field, Canada dropped to 1-1.
The Americans batted twelve times in the first inning. Starting the scoring with a two-run double, Nolan Arenado was followed by Mike Trout, who deposited a low fastball into the left-center bleachers.
Lynn earned the victory, allowing one run and two hits while preserving the bullpen for Wednesday’s game against Colombia. On Sunday, during the defeat to Mexico, United States manager Mark DeRosa utilised eight pitchers.
Jared Young’s home drive earned Canada’s lone run. Mitch Bratt received the loss after surrendering six earned runs while recording only one out.
SOUTH KOREA 22, CHINA 2
TOKYO — In a game between two eliminated teams, Kunwoo Park and Ha-Seong Kim hit consecutive grand slams, and South Korea established a World Baseball Classic scoring record with a 22-2 rout of China.
South Korea shattered the runs mark that had stood since 2006, when Japan defeated China 18-2 in the opening round of the inaugural WBC.
South Korea (2-2) placed third in Group B and was eliminated in the first round for the third consecutive WBC. In 2006, the South Koreans placed third in the first competition, while in 2009, they were runners-up.
China (0-4) has never progressed past the opening round. Due to being in last position in the group, the team will have to qualify for the 2026 event.
The South Koreans seized the lead for good with eight runs in the third, six runs in the fourth, and four runs in the fifth innings. The game was called after five innings due to the tournament’s mercy rule, which requires games to terminate if one side leads by 15 runs after five innings or 10 runs after seven.
Park had five RBIs, Ha-Seong Kim of the San Diego Padres had four, and Hyeseong Kim and Jung Hoo Lee each had three for South Korea, who outhit China 20-4. Park blasted his grand slam in the fourth inning against Hailong Sun, while Ha-Seong Kim hit his against Changlong Su in the fifth.
Starting the second inning, winning pitcher Hyeong Jun So retired nine consecutive hitters.
In 1.1 innings, minor league pitcher Alan Carter of the Los Angeles Angels surrendered four runs on four hits and two walks.
BRITAIN 7, COLOMBIA 5
Britain won their first WBC game when Jaden Rudd struck a two-run double in the fifth inning and Harry Ford added a single home run.
Graham Spraker won the victory after throwing 2.2 shutout innings of relief, while Ian Gibaut earned the save. Yapson Gomez of Colombia, who allowed Rudd’s double in the fifth inning, earned the loss.
Dayan Frias got two singles and two RBIs for Colombia, which dropped to 1-1 in the tournament despite his contributions. Britain’s record is now 1-2.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 6, NICARAGUA 1
MIAMI — Juan Soto and Manny Machado of the San Diego Padres homered, and the Dominican Republic earned its first win in WBC pool play.
Rafael Devers delivered a two-out RBI double in the top of the first inning against Nicaragua starter JC Ramirez, scoring Soto and giving Boston a 1-0 lead. In the second inning, Eloy Jimenez’s single scored Soto again and gave the Dominicans a 2-0 lead.
In four innings, winning pitcher Cristian Javier allowed only two hits and struck out four batters.
Francisco Mejia singled off Fidencio Flores to score Willy Adames, and Julio Rodriguez singled to score Jeimer Candelario in the fourth inning for the Dominican Republic (1-1).
Soto homered to right field off Junior Tellez to put the score 5-0 in the fifth game, and Machado singled off Tellez in the sixth inning.
Australia 8, Czech Republic 3
TOKYO — Alex Hall of the Milwaukee Brewers drove in four runs as Australia (3-1) moved to the second round for the first time in five World Baseball Classic appearances, placing second in the group behind Japan (4-0). The Czechs (1-3) came in fourth place.
Logan Wade broke the game with a two-run double off the right-field wall in the seventh inning against losing pitcher Marek Minarik, plating Robbie Glendinning and Aaron Whitefield to give the home team a 3-1 advantage.
Hall’s home run in the opening inning was Martin Schneider’s sole hit in 5.1 innings. Schneider was taken out of the game after 68 pitches, reaching his maximum.
Mitch Neunborn allowed Petr Zyma to score on Eric Sogard’s single in the third inning. Hall hit a two-run triple and a run-scoring grounder in the eighth and ninth innings, respectively.
For the Czechs, Marek Chlup produced a two-run single in the eighth inning.