World Baseball Classic: Rodney blows save, Goldschmidt quiet on Sunday
Mar 12, 2017, 7:42 PM | Updated: 9:07 pm
Dominican Republic pitchers Jumbo Diaz (70) and Fernando Rodney (56) stand in the dugout with plantains tucked in their pants before a first-round game of the World Baseball Classic against the United States, Saturday, March 11, 2017, in Miami. The jerseys hanging are in memory of MLB players Yordano Ventura and Andy Marte, who died recently in car crashes in the Dominican Republic. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Fernando Rodney can sigh in relief.
As the first round of the World Baseball Classic wrapped up for the pitcher’s Dominican Republic team on Sunday, the Arizona Diamondbacks closer didn’t fool Colombia’s Jorge Alfaro in the eighth inning with his team holding a 3-2 lead. Rodney’s changeup was smashed for an Alfaro solo home run, tying the game with no outs.
Afterward, Alfaro mirrored Rodney’s patented arrow-shooting motion.
Rodney, the Arizona Diamondbacks closer, would pitch out of the inning but needed to survive in the dugout for two more nervous innings after the blown save before the Dominican Republic (3-0) victory.
The Dominican Republic moves to the next round of the tournament after a seven-run 11th frame to win, 10-3.
GOLDY QUIET IN TEAM USA WIN
Paul Goldschmidt had a quiet Sunday for the United States, but an 8-0 win against Canada gave the 2-1 Americans advancement into the second round of the World Baseball Classic.
The Arizona first baseman, batting as the designated hitter, saw three plate appearances with one strikeout and one walk.
The walk, in the first inning, came with the United States already leading 2-0, and it loaded the bases with one out. Goldschmidt took four straight balls from Canadian starter Ryan Dempster, who was immediately pulled for Andrew Albers. Buster Posey followed Goldschmidt’s walk with a groundout RBI to put Team USA ahead 3-0 in the 8-0 win.
DESCALSO GOES HITLESS IN LOSS
D-backs infielder Daniel Descalso, who recorded three RBI a day prior, went 0-of-4 as Italy (1-2) fell 9-3 to Puerto Rico.
Italy can advance if Mexico can defeat Venezuela in the late game Sunday.
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