Team USA rallies to beat Puerto Rico 6-5 in WBC

[March 18, 2009]  MIAMI (AP) -- Hobbled and humbled in the World Baseball Classic, Team USA is still swinging.

David Wright sliced a two-run single that capped a three-run rally in the bottom of the ninth inning Tuesday night, and the injury-plagued Americans qualified for this weekend's semifinals with a 6-5 win over Puerto Rico.

Wright's hit with one out eliminated Puerto Rico.

"That situation is what you dream about when you're a kid," he said.

The Americans advanced to the next round at Dodger Stadium. It was an especially sweet victory after Saturday's humiliation against Puerto Rico that triggered the mercy rule when the Americans fell 10 runs behind, ending the game in the seventh inning.

"Getting a crack at a team that embarrassed us a few days earlier, to have the resiliency to bounce back in the ninth and steal one from them was pretty big," Wright said.

This time the teams played a full nine, and the Americans saved their best for last in the 3-hour, 54-minute marathon.

"They kept on the heat, and they didn't give up," Puerto Rican manager Jose Oquendo said.

Trailing 5-3, Team USA began its rally when Shane Victorino and Brian Roberts singled to the start the ninth against J.C. Romero (1-1). Derek Jeter flied out, Roberts stole second and Jimmy Rollins walked on a 3-2 pitch.

"We just had to string them together, and we were able to do that," Rollins said.

Fernando Cabrera came on to pitch, and he walked Kevin Youkilis to force in a run.

Wright then lined a 2-1 pitch just inside the right-field line, raising his fist when the ball dropped in. The New York Mets star called the hit the biggest of his career.

"You're talking about representing the United States of America," he said. "You've got that across the front of your chest. To be able to get that hit, that's got to be right up there at the top of the list."

Wright was mobbed by teammates near second base after two runs scored.

"You're celebrating a game," Youkilis said. "You're celebrating a nation."

The rally came after the Americans stranded seven runners in scoring position in the first eight innings.

The WBC has some marketing to do, as Tuesday's modest crowd of 13,224 showed, and the tournament's version of the Yankees provided a boost by making the final four for the first time.

"We're taking this very seriously," Wright said. "This isn't an exhibition to us."

Team USA will play Venezuela in Miami's final game of round two Wednesday night to determine seedings for the semifinals.

The Americans will advance despite a recent wave of injuries that has sidelined infielders Dustin Pedroia and Chipper Jones and reliever Matt Lindstrom for the rest of the tournament. Left fielder Ryan Braun was also unavailable Tuesday with a sore right side, but he hopes to return this weekend.

Alex Rios homered and then singled home the go-ahead run in the sixth for the Puerto Ricans. They totaled only five hits, but three walks led to runs, and U.S. starter Ted Lilly gave up three runs on two homers.

Carlos Delgado hit a two-run homer for the Puerto Ricans, and they broke a 3-all tie in the sixth. Ivan Rodriguez led off with his third walk, took second on a surprise sacrifice by Carlos Beltran and scored on Rios' single.

Ramon Vazquez singled home the Puerto Ricans' final run in the ninth. Youkilis homered for Team USA.

"We were practically on the plane to Los Angeles," Delgado said. "When you have an opportunity like this to bring a championship to Puerto Rico, it's frustrating and emotional. But that's baseball."

Lilly gave up only two hits, but both were homers, and he departed after 3 1-3 innings with the score 3-all. Jonathan Broxton (1-0) earned the win despite allowing a run in the ninth, his lone inning.

Puerto Rican starter Jonathan Sanchez lasted only 2 2-3 innings. He allowed five hits and three runs.

Nifty baserunning by Wright put Team USA on the scoreboard in the second. He singled, stole second and took third on a single by Mark DeRosa. When Brian McCann flied out to left field, Wright tagged up and scored by eluding the catcher's tag with a headfirst slide.

Victorino followed with a two-out RBI single to put the Americans ahead 2-1. Youkilis was 3-for-19 in the tournament before he homered with two out in the third, but Lilly failed to hold a 3-1 lead.

[Associated Press; By STEVEN WINE]

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