Dominican Republic's pitching does the job against Venezuela
SAN DIEGO — The Dominican Republic was billed to be a team that would bludgeon everyone to death in the World Baseball Classic, featuring an All-Star at almost every spot in the lineup.
Well, someone forgot to let the rest of the tournament know these dudes can pitch a little bit too.
On Thursday night, the Dominican Republic pitchers struck out 14 in a 3-0 win against Venezuela, its first shutout of the tournament. The win sets up a high-stakes rematch Saturday against the United States.
Dominican Republic shuts down Venezuela 3-0 in World Baseball Classic
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The Dominicans, who scored 26 runs in the first round of the tournament, have scored just four runs in their two games in San Diego, their lowest output in consecutive games in a single round in their WBC history.
No matter.
Their pitching has been absolutely lethal, particularly their bullpen.
“There's no question,’’ Dominican manager Tony Pena said. “We have a great bullpen. I was ready to go with all those guys right from the get-go. I told them before the game I will not save anybody today. I want to use everybody at any time. Just be ready.’’
Oh, they were ready all right. While starter Edinson Volquez of the Miami Marlins pitched 4 1/3 stellar innings, yielding just four hits with six strikeouts, he sat back and watched the bullpen suffocate Venezuela.
The Dominican bullpen, using five different pitchers, permitted just four baserunners the rest of the game, with closer Jeurys Familia ended the contest by striking out Alcides Escobar.
Until the ninth inning, Venezuela’s only threat occurred in the fifth when they put runners on the corners with one out, chasing Volquez. Pena summoned left-handed reliever Fernando Abad to face hitter Ender Inciarte.
Abad, on a 1-1 pitch, fired a 93-mph fastball on the corner, inducing a sharp grounder to shortstop Jose Reyes, who flipped the ball to second baseman Robinson Cano, who threw to first baseman Carlos Santana for the inning-ending double play.
“We thought we could at least make a run there,’’ Venezuela manager Omar Vizquel said, “but Reyes couldn't be any more perfect with his double play.’’
The Dominicans wildly celebrated, knowing it was a game they couldn’t afford to lose, not after their 11-game winning streak ended Tuesday night against Puerto Rico.
“Well, we understood the importance of the game,’’ said Dominican designated hitter Nelson Cruz, who hit his third homer of the WBC in the third inning. “We woke up. We needed to move and move quickly.’’
The double play proved to be the moment that ignited the Dominican Republic, unveiling their emotions in front of 16,390 at Petco Park.
“We get excited any play that we make,’’ Cruz said. “It feels like we're little kids. We enjoy it, we have fun. I mean, that's the way we play growing up, and that's the way we play right here.’’
The play appeared to deflate Venezuela, and when Gregory Polanco stepped to the plate to lead off the fifth, he inflicted further pain with a home run to right-center. It proved to be the only run the Dominicans would need.
“I knew from the very moment,’’ Polanco said, “I was going to have my moment and my opportunity. [Pena] told me directly, 'I'm going to give you the opportunity to play.' And thank God I was able to open the game.’’
The loss virtually dooms Venezuela’s chances of advancing to the finals. They’re the only team in the pool that remains winless, and need a miracle to even force a tiebreaker, as it did in the first round in Mexico.
“Well, we've lived that experience,’’ Vizquel said. “We didn't want to relive that experience again. We've only [scored] two runs here, and we're going to have a difficult time if we don't really tighten that piece up.’’
If the Dominican Republic keeps pitching like this, and their offense awakens Saturday night against Team USA, they could make life miserable for opponents the rest of the way as they push to defend their title.
“You’re playing for not only your championship,’’ Dominican right fielder Jose Bautista told USA TODAY Sports, “but there’s a lot of pride when it comes to your country. There’s a lot of bragging rights trying to be the best. And us being be the defending champs, I think that has brought everybody’s energy to a different level.
“I think we would be drained if we played like that every single day in the baseball season. It’s a 162-game grind. But in this style of tournament, it’s our nature to get up and play with the kind of emotion you’re seeing.
“This is who we are.’’
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