David Wright's one out, 2-run single in the bottom of the ninth capped a three run rally that has sent Team USA over Puerto Rico and into the Pool 2 finals against Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic.
Puerto Rico led 5-3, but Shane Victorino and Brian Roberts opened the ninth with back to back singles off of J.C. Romero. Romero retired Derek Jeter on a fly out with Victorino moving to third base. Roberts then stole second base, just ahead of the throw from Yadier Molina. Jimmy Rollins followed with a tough at-bat, eventually drawing a walk to load the bases.
Puerto Rico manager Jose Oquendo sent for right-hander Fernando Cabrera to face Kevin Youkilis, but Cabrera walked in the tying run. Then it was Wright's turn to play the hero, slicing a pitch towards the right field corner that fell well in front of Alex Rios for a game winning single. Wright's teammates flew out of the dugout, nearly crushing him under a celebratory pile.
Rios had given his native country a 1-0 lead with a solo home run off of Team USA starter Ted Lilly in the second inning. The US immediately countered with a pair of runs in their half of the inning on a sac fly by Brian McCann and an RBI single by Victorino.
The US added a run in the third inning on Youkilis' solo home run off of starter Jonathan Sanchez. But the lead was short lived as Carlos Delgado took Lilly deep in the top of the fourth for a game tying home run.
Puerto Rico went ahead in the sixth on Rios' RBI single off of Heath Bell and added an insurance run in the ninth on Ramon Vazquez' single against eventual winner Jonathan Broxton.
The US will meet Venezuela at 8 PM EDT on Wednesday. The two teams have split a pair of games previously in the tournament.
Box Score
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
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