U.S. loss sets up epic World Baseball Classic showdown with Dominican Republic
SAN DIEGO — It might be only March 18, a day where all of their major-league teammates will be playing in mundane, meaningless spring training games throughout Arizona and Florida, but for Team USA and the Dominican Republic, this could be one of the most meaningful games they play the entire season.
Let’s face it: It is the rematch everyone in baseball desired after last week’s epic game in Miami.
Team USA vs. the defending World Baseball Classic champion Dominican Republic at 10 p.m. ET on Saturday in front of a sellout crowd at Petco Park.
The winner advances to the WBC championship round at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.
The loser goes home.
It’s the dream game of the tournament.
The win-or-go-home scenario unfolded Friday night when Puerto Rico knocked off USA, 6-5, earning an automatic berth against the Netherlands on Monday night in the WBC semifinal.
The winner Saturday night will play Japan on Tuesday in the other semifinal game.
The loser will have four years to think about their missed opportunity.
“We figured we were going to see them down the road sooner or later,’’ said USA third baseman Nolan Arenado, who made a critical two-run throwing error in the sixth inning. “And obviously now, it’s do or die.
“It’s going to be good. It’s going to be exciting. And we’ll be ready to go.’’
These two teams played last week in Miami, with USA jumping out to a 5-0 lead, only for the Dominican Republic to win, 7-5, with Nelson Cruz hitting a three-run homer in the eighth inning off USA reliever Andrew Miller, making him a legend in the Dominican.
It was an atmosphere that most had never experienced in their lives, with about 70% of the fan base cheering for the Dominican Republic. This time, in the military town of San Diego, the sentiments should be reversed, with most fans cheering for the USA in their bid to win the WBC title for the first time in the tournament’s history.
“I mean, if it’s going to be crazier than Miami,’’ Arenado said, “then I don’t know what to think. That’s the craziest atmosphere I’ve ever been to.
“We’ve been through it already. We’ll be ready to go. They beat us last time. It will be nice to beat them this time.’’
Team USA will start Danny Duffy of the Kansas City Royals, who pitched four shutout innings in an 8-0 victory over Canada. Ervin Santana, who’s scheduled to be the Minnesota Twins’ opening-day starter, will pitch for the Dominican Republic in his WBC debut.
There might still be two weeks left until opening day, but these two teams have no choice but to have the same intensity of a September playoff race, even though the calendar tells them differently.
“It ain’t the easiest thing,’’ said USA center fielder Adam Jones, who homered in the sixth inning. “But we’re professionals. At the end of the day, this is our job. So when you know you’re participating in this event, you know what you have to bring. You know what you have to do. You got to get yourself ready a little bit earlier, because it’s go-time.
The emotional part is the biggest difference because even playing these games, the emotions are a little bit different than a normal spring training. You got to amp the emotions because it feels like you’re in September, October right now.’’
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For the Dominican Republic, this is their World Series. This is a powerful team that won the 2013 World Baseball Classic, sweeping the field, and winners of 12 of their last 13 games. Their lone loss in eight years was Tuesday night, 3-1, to Puerto Rico.
“That is a dream team right there,’’ Jones said. “You can sculpt anyone because they have all of the guys that said yes [to the tournament]. We got guys on our side that turned it down. You got [Adrian] Beltre. [Nelson] Cruz. [Jose] Bautista. [Robinson] Cano. Those are guys that are still passionate for their country. It’s beautiful to see that. Even the older guys are still participating.’’
“It’s a great time, a great experience on both sides to play with passion. You see when they’re together, the passion, the love for this great game.’’
The frenzied crowd of 32,463 at Petco Park witnessed the passion of Puerto Rico. They retreated to their clubhouse after their victory, only to quickly return to the field, wildly celebrating with their fans.
“Nothing compares to this moment right now,’’ Puerto Rico infielder Carlos Correa of the Houston Astros said, “playing for my home country. Being able to represent Puerto Rico. And to be able to bring a lot of joy and happiness to the people back home that are going through a tough time right now.
“So for me, this is up there in my baseball career.’’
Certainly, for most of Team USA, they don’t quite share the same pride. Sure, they want to win, but Brandon Crawford and Buster Posey, who have won three World Series championships together with the San Francisco Giants, aren’t about to compare the intensity of their game against the Dominican Republic to a postseason game.
Then again, this will be nothing like anything they ever experienced in the month of March, either.
“It’s March, not everybody is going to be 100 percent on top of their game,’’ Crawford said, “whether it’s the umpires, us as hitters, or us as fielders. It’s the middle of spring training. We won’t be in mid-season form in the middle of March.
“But the effort and the passion to win will definitely be there.’’
Still, the anxiety and stress, Jones says, will be similar to the Baltimore Orioles’ wild-card game last October against the Blue Jays in Toronto, win or go home.
“It seems like secretly they [MLB broadcasters] were hoping for this to happen,’’ Jones said, “hoping we would lose to have a showdown with the Dominican. Hey, it happened, so. It’s going to be a great game. We’ll give it all we got. They’ll give it all they have.
“It’s all-or-nothing type of game. It’s for everything. Hopefully, it’s a great game. I know both teams will be amped.’’
For a game in mid-March, what more can you possibly want?
Follow Bob Nightengale on Twitter @Bnightengale and on Facebook.
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