The Puerto Ricans won Wednesday night in Miami after defeating Italy 4-3 in their second round meeting at the World Baseball Classic. Unfortunately for Italy, they spoiled another victory late in the game after their faulty defense and relentless Puerto Rican offense combined in a loss and elimination.
Puerto Rico, similar to the Dominican Republic on Tuesday, added three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. It was a mixture of errors and Puerto Rican hustle. Alex Rios scored the game-winning run for Puerto Rico in the bottom of the eighth. With Andy Gonzalez at the plate and Rios on second, he sent a grounder deep in the hole between second and short.Rios kept running as the ball made its way to first base. Anthony Rizzo couldn't handle the ball cleanly, but by then it was too late anyways as Rios was racing home.
Puerto Rico stringed a couple of hits together to get men on base and drove in runs on a sac fly and a force out.
Italy had this game under control as they led 3-0 in the fifth inning. Puerto Rico finally got on the board in the bottom of the sixth and went into the eight inning trailing 1-3 before their bats came alive and made things happen on offense.
Both starting pitchers were masterful in their performance. Alex Maestri went 4.1 scoreless innings allowing just three hits, walking two and striking out three Puerto Ricans.
Giancarlo Alvarado also went 4.1 innnings, but was charged with two earned ones (three runs in total) after he left the bases loaded and Xavier Cedeno gave up a double with the bases loaded, which put up Italy 3-0.
With the victory, Puerto Rico stays alive and remain in the tournament where they will face the loser between the Dominican Republic and Team USA.
