In Pool B, Mexico defeated South Africa 10-4 and in Pool D, Italy was shutout 6-0 by Venezuela, which was highlighted by a solo-homerun by Miguel Cabrera in the fifth inning.
(March 8)

It didn't came easy for Cuba, which trailed 4-2 after six innings, came alongside, took a 6-4 lead in the ninth, only to see Panama tie the score in the home ninth. Finally, Cuba decided the game with two runs in the eleventh inning.
Panama threatened early by getting the bases loaded with one out in the first inning, but a double play ended the at bat.
But in the next inning, Panama did open the score. With one out, Carlos RUiz walked and scored on a double by Yoni Lasso, but again two runners were left behind in scoring position.
Cuba then scored twice in the third to take a 2-1 lead on RBI-doubles by Eduardo Paret and Yulieski Gourriel, who played an outstanding game and made some wonderful defensive plays. While the lead was only 2-1, it appeared that the game was going Cuba's way. Especially as Vicyohandry Odelin retired eleven of the twelve batters he faced since taking over from starter Pedro Luis Lazo after Panama had taken the lead in the second inning. Lazo was a surprise starter, as he normally is used as a closer in international tournaments. But in the current Cuban season, which is interrupted for the World Baseball Classic, he already started 16 games for his club.

Panama came back with three runs in the sixth when Odelin was tiring. Carlos Ruiz led off with a single and Sherman Obando walked, then Ruben Rivera followed with a 3-run homerun to give Panama a 4-2 lead.
Cuba came alongside in the seventh inning. With runners on first and second, Eduardo Paret hit an RBI-single, while the tying run was scored on a basesloaded sac-fly by Yulieski Gourriel, who had four RBI's.
In the ninth inning it looked that Cuba was taking a decisive 6-4 lead when Gourriel hit a 2-run homerun, but again Panama didn't gave in that easily. With the bases loaded and one out, Olmedo Saenz hit an RBI-single, then the tying was scored when Earl Agnoly was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. It was the seventh time in the game that a batter was hit by a pitched ball, including Cuban 3B Michel Enriquez three times! Panama left the bases loaded, but forced extra innings to get a decision.
That came in the eleventh inning when Cuba scored twice with two outs. Then, Michel Enriquez was hit by a pitch for the third time and Yulieski Gourriel walked. Next, rookie Yoandry Garlobo was put in to pinch-hit for Rudy Reyes, who had entered the game in the ninth as a pinch-runner for Osmani Urrutia, Cuba's best hitter, but because of the change now out of the game. Garlobo didn't disappoint, as he singled throught the middle to score Enriquez with the go-ahead run. Frederich Cepeda then made it 8-6 when he also singled.
In the home eleventh, Orlando Miller led off with a double and went on to reach third base, but the score wasn't changed anymore, meaning Cuba got its first win. But it took almost four hours top get it in.
(March 8)

Canada opened the score in the first inning when Stubby Clapp tripled and scored on a groundout by Justin Morneau. Another run was added in the next at bat on back-to-back triples by Aaron Guiel and Adam Stern.
In the third inning, the lead was lifted to 5-0. With two runners (both singles) on base and two outs, Pete LaForest hit an RBI-single, followed by a walk and a 2-run single by Adam Stern.
In the next inning, Canada scored again, this time twice. Jason Bay singled and Justin Morneau doubled, the both scored on a single by Matt Stairs to make it 7-0.
The offensive highlight came in the fifth inning when Adam Stern hit a lead-off inside-the-park-homerun in the deepest corner of leftfield.

Trailing 8-0, the USA finally was able to do something back in the home fifth. Ken Griffey, Jr. hit an RBI-double, followed by an RBI-single by Derrek Lee, but then, with the bases loaded and after a pitching change, Jason Varitek hit a grand slam homerun to bring the USA within two runs of Canada.
The Canadians, however, recovered from this rally and kept the Americans from further scoring, because of some fine defensive plays. In the eighth, centerfielder Adam Stern showed he not only could handle the bat, but also played well defensively. With two runners on and two out Chase Utley drove the ball into centerfield and already was a little celebrating a possible homerun, but Stern made an outstanding catch against the wall to end the inning.
It wasn't expected that the USA would loose a game in Round One, but it did happen and it proved that everything is possible in baseball, even if you have a Major League All Star Team.
(March 8)

Complete Recap, Box Score, Play-by-Play

In Pool B, Mexico surprised with a 9-1 victory vs. Canada, which a day earlier had booked an upset-win vs. the USA. Mexico rallied for four runs on four doubles in the first inning and the win might even mean that the USA is eliminated for Round Two, but let's wait official words for that. The Mexicans had 14 hits, including two homeruns. (more on this game and the situation in Pool B)
In Pool D, Venezuela shutout Australia to advance to Round Two with the Dominican Republic. Ramon Hernandez homered in the second inning for Venezuela. Bradley Harman had the lone Australian basehit in the third inning.
(March 9)

Again, the Dominicans showed their powered, as they outhit Italy 11-5. Six of the eight Dominican runs were scored on homeruns.
In the third inning, Albert Pujols (who went 3-for-4 and scored twice) hit a 2-run homerun. In the fifth inning, Carlos Beltre added a 3-run shot (his third homer in two games) and in the seventh Moises Alou contributed with a solo-homerun.
Italy's Major League-catcher Mike Piazza went 0-for-4.
Dutch umpire Fred van Groningen Schinkel was at third base in this game.
(March 9)

Most of these specific rules have been put in place to protect the pitchers, as the tournament takes place early in the season (for most countries).
Therefore, a pitcher can throw a maximum of 65 pitches a game in Round One. In Round Two, pitchers are limited to 80 pitches and in the Final Round, that is raised to 95 pitches.
When a pitcher reaches its limit during an at bat, that at bat bat can finished and the pitcher will be replaced after it.
When a pitcher throws more than 50 pitches in a game, he will have a 4-day rest before appearing in his next game. If he throws more than 30, a one day resting period is required.

The mercy rule comes into place when a team leads by 10 (more more) runs in (or after) the seventh inning (like the rule that is being used everywhere in international tournaments).
An additional mercy rule has been made for a game in which a team leads by 15 (or more) runs. When that is reached in (or after) the fifth inning, the game also comes to a close.

When the score is tied after nine innings, a game will go into extra innings with a maximum of 14 innings in Round One and Two. In the Final Round, there is no limit.

In case teams are tied for the same position in the final ranking, the tie-breaking rules being used are those which are used on international tournaments by the International BAseball Federation.
When two teams are tied, the game played between is the tie-breaker.
When three teams are tied, the first tie-breaker is the games played between them, but that normally generates a new tie. The next tie-breaker in that case is 'Runs Allowed'. The team with the lowest Runs Allowed comes in first, followed by the next team and so on.
(March 9)

...Fred van Groningen Schinkel... (Foto: Marco Stoovelaar)

Van Groningen Schinkel is the most experienced Dutch umpire and holds the record for most seasons in the Dutch big league, as well as games umpired. He made has his big league-debut in 1972 and since than has worked more than 1000 games in 34 seasons. Since 1973, he was assigned to more than 70 international tournaments, including the Olympic Games in 1996 (Atlanta, USA) and 2004 (Athens, Greece).
,,It is a great honor to be here'', Van Groningen Schinkel is saying in his hotel in Orlando, which is located closely to not only Disney World, but also the Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex, where the games in Pool D are being played. ,,It gives you the opportunity to have a look in the Major League umpiring world. Everything is organized very well here, the accomodation, the transport and the clothing. All the umpires are dressed in new, specially made uniforms for this tournament. Two trousers, four shirts. And that for three games. All provided by Major League Baseball. This tournament costs a lot of money.''

In his first game between the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, he was involved in a crucial call. Venezuelan third baseman Miguel Cabrera drove the ball into leftfield, where it bounced back from the top of the wall into the field. Cabrera and Venezuela thought it was a homerun (the ball would have bounced back from behind the wall), but Van Groningen Schinkel ruled (correctly) that it came back from the wall and remained in play. Van Groningen Schinkel: ,,Yeah, it was something special to have in your first game, but we got it correct.''
Venezuela's Manager Luis Sojo (the former player of the New York Yankees) came out to argue the call. Fred: ,,He just told me I hadn't seen it right, but I explained him what happened and he asked to go over it with the other umpires. That's what we did. Beforehand it already has been decided that whenever there is a situation which is followed by an argument, there would be a discussion within the umpiring crew, just to make sure we all saw it correctly. So, we also came together in this situation and it was confirmed the ball came back from the wall. Then the umpire who made the call have to explain that to the Manager. That's what I told Sojo. I knew for myself that the ball had come back from the wall by the way it bounced back into the field. When it would have hit something behind the wall, the ball wouldn't have made the jump it did now.''
Television replays showed that the call was correct and Fred and his crew got great compliments from the TV-announcers for making such a difficult call, especially as the umpires have to do it without replays. And therefore, replays never have to become part of baseball, such as in American Football or Hockey. Let the umpires judge a situation how they see it (most of the times they're right!) and let's get discussions in close situations, that not only keeps the game fun, but also keeps the umps sharp!

Van Groningen Schinkel worked three games in Round One and will do that with the same crew. All foreign umpires will work third base, while an umpire with Major League-experience always will be behind the plate. Fred: ,,Well, it doesn't matter to be on third base for all three games, this is something so unique to be part of, I don't care.'' Fred's American colleagues are Lance Barksdale, Troy Fullwood and Dusty Dellinger. ,,A good crew'', Fred said. ,,During the game, there is a good communication between the umpires. We have eye contact and watch each other. That works good.''
Besides watching the plays, the umps also had to check a stopwatch. ,,We all had a stopwatch'', Fred said. ,,There were exact two-and-a-half minutes between innings. We couldn't start the next at bat before, because of the commercial breaks on television.''

Fred's three games in Round One were Dominican Republic vs. Venezuela, Dominican Republic vs. Italy and Australia vs. Dominican Republic.
Round Two and the Final Round will be officiated by American crews.
(March 10)

Mexico surprised with a 9-1 victory vs. Canada, which a day earlier had booked an upset-win vs. the USA and was unbeaten.
A Canadian win would have meant they would have been the pool-winner and advance to Round Two.
But now the situation is a complete different story. As the USA likely will beat South Africa, there will be a 3-way tie between Mexico, Canada and the USA. The tie-breaker is the fewest runs allowed in the games played between them, which is in favor of Mexico, which therefore is the pool-winner. Next is that case is the USA, meaning Canada will be eliminated.
(also see the tournament rules)

But to reach this scenario, the USA (Roger Clemens will be the starting pitcher) first has to win vs. South Africa. On paper, this likely will happen, but in the opener, South Africa almost defeated Canada. It still is baseball and anything can happen. In case the USA is defeated and therefore eliminated, Mexico did it again to them. In 2003, Mexico defeated the USA in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament and eliminated them for the Athens Olympics in 2004.

Mexico rallied for four runs on four doubles in the first inning and the win might even mean that the USA is eliminated for Round Two, but let's wait official words for that. The Mexicans had 14 hits, including two homeruns.
(March 9)

Complete Recap, Box Score, Play-by-Play
(March 10)

The USA-offense crushed the South African pitching, collecting 18 basehits and needed only five innings to reach the 15-run (or more) difference that is needed to end the game in or after five innings. After scoring four runs in the first inning, two 6-run rallies followed in the next two at bats.
Ken Griffey, Jr. had a big day, going 4-for-4 with two 3-run homeruns (second and third inning), getting seven RBI's and scored three runs.
Derek Jeter went 3-for-3 and scored four runs, while Derrek Lee hit a 2-run homerun in the first inning and had four RBI's. Alex Rodriguez went 3-for-4 and scored three runs.

43-year old, seven times Cy Young Award-winner Roger Clemens started for Team USA and pitched 4 1/3 inning.
The righthander, who currently is without a contract, gave up only one basehit, a lead-off single to 1B Nicholas Dempsey in the second inning.
In the fifth, Mike Timlin took over for 'The Rocket', who got a standing ovation. Timlin gave up one additional hit to Jason Cook, before being relieved by Chad Cordero, who finished the game.
(March 10)

Puerto Rico was leading only 2-1 after three innings, but then rallied for five runs in both the fourth and fifth inning to increase their lead to 12-1.
Bernie Williams (2-run, 2nd inning), Alex Cintron (2-run, 4th inning) and Carlos Beltran (3-run, 5th inning) all homered for Puerto Rico.
The game ended with two ejections. In the home seventh, with two outs, Puerto Rican pitcher José Santiago hit batter Juan Carlos Moreno with a pitch. American Home Plate Umpire Rob Drake ejected both Santiago and Puerto Rican Manager José Oquendo.
Moments later, Cuba added its second run, but it was too late for a comeback.
With the victory, Puerto Rico broke a 19-game international winning streak by Cuba. According to Cuban reporters, this was the first time Cuba lost a mercy-rule game.

At Lake Buena Vista (Florida, USA), the Dominican Republic claimed first place in Pool D by winning 6-4 vs. Australia. The Dominicans were leading 5-1 after four innings, before Australia came back, but not enough to let its lead get in jeopardy.
(March 10)

Final Standings Round One

Pool A
1. Korea, 2. Japan, 3. Chinese Taipei, 4. China.
Pool B
1. Mexico, 2. USA, 3. Canada, 4. South Africa.
Pool C
1. Puerto Rico, 2. Cuba, 3. Netherlands, 4. Panama.
Pool D
1. Dominican Republic, 2. Venezuela, 3. Italy, 4. Australia.

At San Juan, Cuba came back from its 12-2, 7-inning, loss vs. Puerto Rico on Friday-evening, by winning 7-2 vs. Venezuela in Group 2.
Leading 1-0, the Cubans rallied for five runs in the sixth inning on back-to-back homeruns. Giovanni Carrara, who started the inning for Venezuela, walked lead-off hitter Eduardo Paret, who stole second and scored on a single by Michel Enriquez. With one out, Osmani Urrutia reached base on a fielder's choice, but no out was recorded. Urrutia was then forced out on a grounder by Yoandy Garlobo, before Frederich Cepeda hit a 3-run homerun, followed by a solo-shot by Ariel Pestano.
Cuba made it 7-0 in the seventh, before Venezuela got two runs back in the home seventh on a 2-run homerun by Endy Chavez.

At Anaheim, USA trailed 3-0 vs. Japan in the second inning and was close to its second defeat of the tournament. They got some help from a controversial call by the Home Plate Umpire in the eighth who overruled his colleague and eventually won 4-3 in the ninth.
Ichiro Suzuki led off for Japan in the first inning with a homerun and his teammates lifted the score to 3-0 in the second at bat. In the home second, Chipper Jones homered for the USA, but the team had to wait until the sixth inning to come alongside when Derrek Lee hit a 2-run homerun.
In the eighth inning, Japan appeared to take 4-3 lead. With the bases loaded and one out, Akinori Iwamura flied out to leftfield and runner Tsiyoshi Nishioka tagged up from third base and scored. The ball was thrown to home, but then catcher Brian Schneider threw it to short stop Derek Jeter, who stepped on third base, stating that Nishioka has left the base too early. 2B Umpire Brian Knight gave the safe signal, after which USA Manager Buck Martinez came out to appeal the call with HP Umpire Bob Davidson. Next, Davidson went over to Knight and after a brief discussion reversed the decision and called Nishioka out. ,,In a basesloaded situation, the mechanism is that the tag-up call is for the home plate umpire'', Davidson said afterwards in a statement. TV-replays showed that Nishioka probably did left on time.
With the score still tied, the USA won the game in the next inning. With the bases loaded and two outs, it was Alex Rodriguez who singled and produced the winning run.

At San Juan, Puerto Rico remained unbeaten and won 7-1 against the Dominican Republic, which lost its first game.
Adrian Beltre gave the Dominicans a 1-0 lead in the second when he homered, but that was to be their lone run.
Puerto Rico tied the score in the fourth, then added three runs in the sixth inning. They decided the game by scoring three more runs in the seventh inning, which were all unearned after an error by second baseman Alfonso Soriano. José Cruz Jr had three RBI's, while Javy Lopez had three hits.
Dutch umpire Fred van Groningen Schinkel was at third base in this game between two Caribbean rivals, meaning he also will be active in Round Two.

At Anaheim, Korea scored twice in the first inning and that was enough to win 2-1 vs. Mexico.
With one out in the first inning, Jong-Beom Lee singled, followed by a 2-run homerun by Seung-Yeop Lee, his fourth of the tournament.
In the third inning, Luis A. Garcia led off with a homerun, but that was Mexico's lone run. Both teams had five hits.
(March 11)

At Anaheim, only one game was played in Pool 1. In that game, Korea won convincingly 7-3 vs. USA and now is the only unbeaten team in the tournament.
Korea again had good pitching, just as they had in Pool A in Tokyo in Round One. After winning 2-0 vs. Chinese Taipei, 10-1 vs. China and 3-2 vs. favorite Japan, Korea opened Round Two with a 2-1 win vs. Mexico.
The Major League All Star Team of the USA isn't dominating so far. In Round One, they won only 2-0 vs. Mexico, trailed 8-0 vs. Canada and lost 8-6 after Jason Varitek hit a grand slam and qualified for Round Two by winning 17-0 vs. South Africa. In Round Two, the USA trailed 3-0 vs. Japan, but won in the last inning 4-3. And now, it was Korea that was the better team.
In the first inning, Seung-Yeop Lee homered and Bum-Ho Lee had an RBI-single to make it 2-0. The USA came back when Ken Griffey, Jr. homered in the third, but in the home third, Korea got the run back on another RBI-single by Lee. In the fourth, Korea made it 6-3 on a 3-run, pinch-hit homerun by Hee-Seop Choi, then added another run in the sixth.
The USA had the bases loaded with two outs in the first and fourth inning, but times the at bat ended with a strikeout. In the first Jason Varitek, in the fourth Vernon Wells.
In the ninth, the USA made it 7-3 on a single by Ken Griffey, Jr. and a grounder by Alex Rodriguez.

At San Juan, the Dominican Republic won 7-3 vs. Cuba in an interesting game.
The Dominicans took a 4-0 lead in the third inning on a 2-run double by Miguel Tejada and a 2-run throwing error. In the next three innings, they added three runs, including one on a mammoth homerun by David Ortiz in the fifth.
Trailing 7-0 and facing another 7-inning, 10-run difference loss, the Cubans came back with a run in the seventh when Yulieski Gourriel homered. The tension rose when Cuba scored twice in the ninth inning and threatened to score more. With one out, a run was scored on an error and another on a single by Alexei Ramires. Cuba then got the bases loaded with two outs, but the game ended when pinch-hitter Joan Carlos Pedroso struckout.
During the game, security personnel had to remove anti-Cuban banners which were held by some spectators. The same had happened during a game in Round One, after which Cuba filed a complaint. The organization promised to remove disrespectful banners, which also is the policy of MLB, and that happened.

At San Juan, Venezuela shutout Puerto Rico 6-0 in the evening.
Venezuela took the lead in the fifth inning on a 2-run homerun by Endy Chavez, then lifted the lead to 6-0 in the eighth when Victor Martinez hit a grand slam homerun.
Puerto Rico outhit Venezuela 7-6, but was unable to score.
(March 13)

Dominicans advance to semi-final
Nederlands
SAN JUAN (Puerto Rico) / ANAHEIM, California (USA) - The Dominican Republic became the first team to clinch a spot in the semi-final of Pool 2 by winning 2-1 vs. Venezuela on Tuesday-evening. The Dominicans will meet the winner of the game between Cuba and Puerto Rico, which will be played on Wednesday-evening.
Pool 1 remains undecided after Japan won 6-1 vs. Mexico on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Korea can qualify if they win against Japan. On Thursday, the USA meet Mexico in the last game of Round Two. In this Pool we can have a 3-way for first place, as well as for second place.

At San Juan, the game between the Dominican Republic and Venezuela was tense from beginning till end.
The Dominicans opened the score in the first inning op an RBI-single by Moises Alou.
Venezuela tied the score in the sixth when Omar Vizquel doubled and scored on a grounder by Bobby Abreu. Vizquel's double was the only Venezuelan basehit in the game.
In the seventh, the Dominicans re-took the lead when Alberto Castillo scored on a basesloaded passed ball with two outs. Castillo missed the game the day before as he was in the States where he attended the ceremony of getting his American citizenship.
Dominican starter Daniel Cabrera dominated in the first four innings, striking out seven batters and giving no hits.
In the ninth, the tension rose as Venezuela got the bases loaded, but a flyout ended the game. The Dominicans reached the semi-final.

At Anaheim, Japan opened the score with four runs in the fourth inning, including two on a homerun by catcher Tomoya Satozaki, who went 3-for-4 and scored twice.
Mexico's lone run was a homerun by Miguel Ojeda in the eighth inning.
(March 14)

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Cuba eliminates Puerto Rico; Korea advance
Nederlands
SAN JUAN (Puerto Rico) / ANAHEIM, California (USA) - Two more exciting games resulted in two more semi-finalist on Wednesday. Cuba held on to a 4-3 lead and eliminated Puerto Rico, while Korea remained unbeaten and won 2-1 vs. Japan.
With their victories, Cuba and Korea advance to the semi-finals. The second semi-finalist in Pool 2 will be determined on Thursday-evening.

At San Juan, again it was excitement from beginning till end. This time between Cuba and Puerto Rico.
Cuba opened the score in the first inning on a grounder by Ariel Borrero, but Puerto Rico tied the score in the home first when Bernie Williams homered.
In the fourth inning, Cuba scored three runs to take a 4-1 lead, which proved to be decisive. Osmani Urrutia and Yoandy Garlobo led off with singles, then Ariel Pestano grounded out. The bases were loaded when Alexei Ramirez walked, which led to a pitching change. But then Eduardo Paret was hit by a pitch to bring in the go-ahead run. Next, Garlobo was forced out at home on a grounder by Michel Enriquez and the inning appeared to come to an end on a grounder by Yulieski Gourriel. However, short stop Alex Cintron made a throwing error which resulted in two runs and gave Cuba a 4-1 lead.
Puerto Rico came back in the seventh inning. José Valentin led off with a double, then Alex Cintron singled. Eduardo Perez was then announced as a pinch-hitter for Alex Cora, after which Yuneski Maya came in as new pitcher. Perez was called back and replaced by a new pinch-hitter, Ricky Ledee. He grounded toward second where Yulieski Gourriel threw the ball to short stop Eduardo Paret for the putout at second base an apparent double play. However, Paret was off the base when he made the catch and Cintron was called safe, while Valentin scored. Cuban Manager Higinio Velez argued the call angrily and was ejected by 2B umpire James Hoye. After the Cuban players, who alse were upset, were back in the dug-out, Bernie Williams grounded into a double play, but then Ivan Rodriguez walked. Carlos Beltran then singled enabling Cintron to score 4-3, but Rodriguez, who also tried to score, was thrown out at the plate in what was the most crucial play in the game, but the relay by the Cuban defense was perfect.
Puerto Rico got a second chance to come alongside or take the lead in the eighth inning. With one out, José Cruz, Jr. singled. Carlos Delgado, who didn't play yet because of an injury, was then brought in as a pinch-hitter for his first WBC-appearance and also singled. After Delgado was replaced by a pinch-hitter, Puerto Rico got the bases loaded when José Valentin's grounder was misplayed by Cuban first baseman Joan Carlos Pedroso. The inning then ended when Alex Cintron grounded into a double play.
Cuba now will meet the Dominican Republic in the semi-final in San Diego. The Dominicans added closer Francisco Cordero (Texas Rangers) to its roster for the Final Round. He replaces Damaso Marte (Pittsburgh Pirates), who has a sore shoulder.

At Anaheim, the game was scoreless for seven innings. Korea then scored twice in the eighth inning. With one out, Min-Jae Kim walked and Byung-Kyu Lee singled. Kim reached third base and Lee advanced on the throw to third. After a pitching change, the two scored when Jong-Beom Lee hit a double.
Japan came back with a run in the ninth when Tsuyoshi Mishioka led off with a homerun. With one out and a runner on first base, Seung-Hwan Oh took over as pitcher and struckout the next two batters to end the game and underscore again the strength of the Korean pitching.
(March 15)

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Mexico eliminates USA; Japan advance!
Nederlands
ANAHEIM, California (USA) - Mexico has done it again: eliminating the USA! In 2003, Mexico defeated and eliminated the USA in Panama City (Panama) in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament, meaning the Americans would miss the 2004 Olympics in Athens (Greece).
Now, almost 2 1/2 years later, Mexico won 2-1 against the USA in the last game of Pool 1 of Round Two in the World Baseball Classic. This time, it resulted in the elimination of the American squad for the Final Round of this event, which will open on Saturday in San Diego.
Because of the American loss, Japan advanced to the semi-final and will meet Korea (for the third time) in San Diego. The winner of that game will advance to the final in which it will meet the winner of the semi-final between the Dominican Republic and Cuba. It also means that there will be no dream-final between the USA and Cuba.
Because of the loss, there was a 3-way tie for second place. The first tiebreaker then is the results of the games played between the teams concerned, but that resulted in a new tie. Next are the runs given up in those games. The USA and Japan each allowed five runs, Mexico gave up seven in the three games played between them. There were a few scenarios in which either the USA, Japan or Mexico would advance, but the 2-1 Mexico-win resulted in an American elimination and a place in the semi-final for Japan, as Japan gave up its five runs in one less inning than the USA.

The Major League All Stars that formed Team USA produced only three basehits off eight different Mexican pitchers on Thursday-evening. And that, of course, wasn't enough.
The American team, and 43-year old starter Roger Clemens already trailed 1-0 in the third inning. Mario Valenzuela led off with a double, which really was a homerun. The ball hit the foul pole in rightfield and came back on the field. 1B umpire Bob Davidson (who also made the controversial call in the game between Japan and the USA) ruled it no homerun, but instead that the ball was in play. TV-replays showed it was a homerun. Then, a groundout and a strikeout followed. Valenzuela eventually did score from second base on a single by Jorge Cantu.
The USA tied the score immediately in the fourth inning. Chipper Jones opened with a double, advanced to third base on a flyout and scored on a sac-fly by Vernon Wells.
In the home fourth, Erubiel Durazo also led off with a double for Mexico, but then three outs followed.

In the fifth, the Americans had another scoring opportunity. This time, it was Jeff Francoeur who led off with a double, then Michael Barret was hit by a pitch. But then Francoeur was caught trying to steal third base, followed by two groundouts.
In the home fifth, Mexico re-took the lead and it were the same two players who did it in the first inning. Mario Valenzuela led off with a single and moved on a sac-bunt. After a single by Alfedo Amezaga moved Valenzuela to third, Scot Shields came in to relief Roger Clemens (was this his last pitching appearance ever?). Amezaga then stole second base and Jorge Cantu followed with an RBI-groundout which gave Mexico a 2-1 lead.
The USA got a last chance in the ninth inning. With one out (Ken Griffey, Jr. struckout), Chipper Jones and (after a pitching change) Alex Rodriguez walked. Rodriguez was replaced by pinch-runner Johnny Damon, who was slightly injured and therefore didn't start. Another pitcher was brought in to face Vernon Wells, but he grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the game and the tournament for the Americans.
(March 16)

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Cuba in Final World Baseball Classic!
Nederlands
SAN DIEGO, California (USA) - Cuba became the first team to clinch the Final of the inaugural World Baseball Classic.
On Saturday-afternoon, more than 41.000 spectators in PETCO Park in San Diego saw the Cubans win 3-1 in an upset vs. the powerhouse team of the Dominican Republic to qualify. The Final will be played on Monday-evening.

Cuba trailed 1-0, but scored three runs in the seventh inning to take a 3-1 lead. Cuba did what is does best in international games over the years: strike in the latter innings, take a decisive lead and then hold onto it for the win.
After five scoreless innings, the Dominicans took a 1-0 lead in the sixth inning. In the at bat, the team got six baserunners, but the powerhitters were unable to get the ball out of the infield, resulting in some plays on the bases.
Placido Polanco and Miguel Tejada led off with singles to put runners at the corners. Polanco was then thrown out at home on a grounder to third by Albert Pujols. Next, Pujols was forced out at second when David Ortiz grounded towards short. Tejada then scored when an error was by second baseman Yulieski Gourriel on a grounder by Adrian Beltre. With runners on first and second, the inning ended when Moises Alou also grounded towards second base.
David 'Big Papi' Ortiz, who homered twice in the tournament-opener vs. Venezuela and hit a mammoth homerun vs. Cuba in Round Two, today went 0-for-4.

Cuba answered with three runs on four hits in a long seventh inning in which the Dominicans used three pitchers. Odalis Perez, who started the inning, gave up a lead-off single to Yulieski Gourriel, who advanced on a throwing error. He moved to third on an infield-hit down the third base-foulline by Eller Sanchez, then scored the tying run on a grounder by Frederich Cepeda. Sanchez was replaced on first by pinch-runner Rudy Reyes, who reached second on a passed ball and third on Cepeda's grounder. Perez was relieved by Salomon Torres, who gave up an RBI-single to Osmani Urrutia, who also was replaced by a pinch-runner, Carlos Tabares. A single by Yoandy Garlobo (3-for-4) moved Tabares to third and brought in another pitcher, Julian Tavarez. The bases were loaded when Tavarez walked Ariel Pestano. Next, Tabares scored on a sac-fly by Alexei Ramirez, before the inning ended when Eduardo Paret grounded into a force play.

Yadel Marti started for Cuba and gave up only three hits in the 4 1/3 inning he pitched. Impressive Pedro Luis Lazo took over in the fifth and completed the game. The Dominicans had eight hits, Cuba collected twelve.
(March 18)

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Japan second finalist WBC!
Nederlands
SAN DIEGO, California (USA) - In another surprise upset, Japan became the second finalist of the World Baseball Classic after winning 6-0 vs. Korea on Saturday-evening.
Korea entered the game as the only unbeaten team in the tournament, having won all of its six games. Japan now will meet Cuba in the final, to be played on Monday-evening in San Diego.

Before the tournament started, Japan, managed by legendary Sadaharu Oh, was the Asian favorite, but instead Korea opted for that role. With solid pitching and defense, the Koreans won Pool A in Round One in Tokyo (Japan), then won Pool 1 in Round Two in Anaheim (USA). In these series, Korea and Japan met twice. Both times, the Koreans won. But now, Japan took centerstage again. Japan reached the semi-final because of the win from Mexico against the USA, which therefore was eliminated.

After six scoreless innings, the Japanese bats suddenly came to live in a productive seventh at bat. Ten batters came to bat, produced six hits, including a homerun, and scored five runs.
Nobuhiko Matsunaka led off with a double, which led to a pitching change. Byung-Hyun Kim took over and struckout Hitoshi Tamura, but then pinch-hitter Kosuke Fukudome hit a 2-run homerun to give Japan the lead. Next batter Michihino Ogasawara was then hit by a pitch, which was followed by a ground-rule double by Tomoya Satozaki that scored Ogasawara (who had moved to second on a wild pitch). Another pitching change followed and Jung-Keun Bong came in to throw. He got Munenori Kawasaki to groundout, but Satozaki advanced to third base and again a new pitcher was brought in. Min-Han Son became the fourth pitcher in the inning and faced pinch-hitter Shinya Miyamoto, who delivered an RBI-single to score Miyamoto and make it 4-0. Miyamoto advanced to third base when Tsuyoshi Nishioka also singled and scored when Ichiro Suzuki did the same. The inning finally ended when Nobuhiko Matsunaka, the tenth batter in the inning, grounded out.

After it started to rain in the seventh inning, Japan added another run in the eighth when Hitoshi Tamura hit a lead-off homerun. With one out, the game was delayed as it started to rain heavier and the infield was covered. It doesn't happen much that a game in sunny San Diego has to be interrupted because of rain. Since 1969, when the San Diego Padres started play their, maybe six games have been canceled by rain.
The game resumed after a 45-minute delay, but Korea was unable to turn the score around and become a surprise finalist. After six straight wins, the team was left empty handed.

A major part in the game was played by Japanese starter Koji Uehara, who pitched seven innings and gave up only three hits, while striking out eight batters.
(March 18)

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Japan wins first World Baseball Classic!
Nederlands
SAN DIEGO, California (USA) - Japan is the first winner of the World Baseball Classic. On Monday-evening, Japan won 10-6 vs. Cuba in the all-deciding final of the inaugural edition of this prestigious tournament in PETCO Park in San Diego. More than 42.000 spectators watched the game in the home of the San Diego Padres.
The next Classic will be in 2009 and than every four years. While the playing sites of the second edition are not known yet, Asia is mentioned as a possible host, but so is Mexico.

For 18 days long, sixteen countries from around the world met in a four-pool, four-team tournament, resulting in two of them advancing to the final. Teams with active professional players on its roster, with the excemption of Cuba. From those professionals, most of them played in the Major League.
In this tournament, the first in which Major League-players were able to participate, players and landen got acquainted with difference approaches of the game and different styles of baseball. Major League Baseball wanted to show the world the American professional way of playing the game, but on the other side, the Americans learned how baseball is played internationally. Team USA was eliminated for the semi-finals, as were the pros of Puerto Rico and Venezuela. In the semi-final, the powerhouse Dominican Republic lost vs. Cuba. Korea was the big surprise of the tournament. After winning six in a row, they lost their semi-final to Japan. Despite having the best record (6-1) and making no errors (!) in the entire event, Korea missed the final. In the end, only one Major League-position player appeared in the final, being outfielder Ichiro Suzuki (Seattle Mariners) of Japan. But, whatever team played in the final, it was a fantastic tournament with great and exciting games and a wonderful promotion for baseball around the world.

Japan started off quickly against Cuba and scored four runs in the first inning. With one out, Tsuyoshi Nishioka singled to deep short and stole second. Ichiro Suzuki then walked and Nobuhiko Matsunaka then loaded the bases with another infield-hit. Cuba immediately went to the bullpen and replaced starter Ormari Romero with Vicyohundri Odelin. But he hit next batter Hitoshi Tamura with a pitch to bring in Japans's first run. After a strikeout, Michihiro Ogasawara walked, resulting in another automatic run. Next, Toshioki Imae singled through the middle to bring in two more runs, raise the lead to 4-0 and force another pitching change. Norberto Gonzalez took over and ended the inning with a grounder.

In the home first, Eduardo Paret led off with a homerun, but the next five batters were retired in a row.
In the third inning, Alexei Ramirez led off with a double, but again, the Cuban bats were silenced.

Japan added two more runs in the fifth inning. Ichiro Suzuki led off with a double and Nobuhiko Matsunaka singled. Yadier Pedroso then became the fourth Cuban pitcher in the game and saw Suzuki score on an infield-hit towards third base by Hitoshi Tamura. Matsunaka advanced to third on a sac-bunt, then scored on a sac-fly by Michihiro Ogasawara.

In the sixth and seventh inning, the Japanese defense suddenly committed three errors. The first of them eventually led to two Cuban runs in the sixth inning. With one out, a grounder by Yulieski Gourriel was misplayed by the short stop, then three basehits followed. First, Ariel Borrero singled, then Frederich Cepeda hit an RBI-double. Next, Osmani Urrutia singled to make it 6-3. But then, a sharp grounder by Yoandy Garlobo was turned into an inning-ending double play.
In the seventh inning, Japan made two errors, but again a double play saved the lead.

With the two runs, Cuba proved that it was on its way back in the game. The tension rose when Cuba narrowed Japan's lead to only 6-5 in the eighth inning. Yulieski Gourriel reached on an infield-hit, then scored on a towering one-out, 2-run homerun by Frederich Cepeda. Righthander Akinori Otsuka was then brought in and ended the inning. Otsuka was the only other player, besides Ichiro Suzuki, with Major League-experience. Last season, he pitched for the San Diego Padres, this year he is with the Texas Rangers.
However, in the ninth, Japan also took advantage of a Cuban error and scored an insurance run. And more. Tatsuhiko Kinjoh's grounder ended in a throwing error and next batter Munenori Kawasaki's grounder resulted in a force out and could have been the second out. But Kawasaki then moved on a bunt-single by Tsuyoshi Nishioka and scored on a single by Ichiro Suzuki to make it 7-5. Nobuhiko Matsunaka was then walked intentionally, but pinch-hitter Kosuke Fukudome followed with a 2-run single to make it 9-5. And it wasn't over yet, as Michihiro Ogasawara connected for his second sac-fly in the game to lift the score to 10-5. It resulted in another pitching change, as the eighth Cuban pitcher was brought to the mound, who ended the inning.

But the game wasn't over yet. In the home ninth, Ariel Pestano led off with a double. He moved on a flyout, then scored on a single by Eduardo Paret. But then Akinori Otsuka struckout Michel Enriquez and Yulieski Gourriel to end the game and win the Classic.

The last two games, everything worked for Japan's Manager Sadaharu Oh, whose team was one of the favorites before the tournament started, but got some tough breaks in the first two rounds.
On the other hand, Cuba was frequently regarded as a mystery how they would hold up against professionals from the highest level, but, despite losing the final, they proved that they can play with anyone.
(March 20)

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