Hi there from loanDepot Park in Miami, the place I’m masking Pool D of the World Baseball Basic. Within the two video games right here Friday, Venezuela beat the Netherlands, 6-2, and the Dominican Republic defeated Nicaragua, 12-3. I’m writing about these two video games in a separate piece that can go dwell later immediately. You could find all of our WBC preview tales, in addition to our protection all through the event, on the weblog roll right here.
After all, these have been simply two of the eight video games that came about on Friday. (Effectively, Friday in the US, anyway.) Elsewhere within the WBC, Workforce Japan was each bit as dominant as anticipated within the first sport of its title protection, blowing out Taiwan 13-0 in seven innings. Shohei Ohtani went 3-for-4, together with his grand slam getting Japan on the board and kicking off a 10-run second inning. Cuba opened the motion from Pool A in San Juan, Puerto Rico, with a 3-1 win over Panama. Puerto Rico, regardless of being with out a lot of its finest gamers due to insurance coverage points, shut out Colombia, 5-0, within the second sport of that pool. Over in Houston for Pool B, Nice Britain saved issues tight with a superior Mexican staff for the primary seven innings earlier than Mexico exploded for 3 runs within the eighth and 4 extra within the ninth to win, 8-2. Then, within the second sport at Daikin Park, Workforce USA routed Brazil, 15-5, in one of many oddest-looking blowout field scores that I can recall. The leadoff batter for Brazil, Lucas Ramirez, son of Manny, hit extra house runs (2) than your entire United States staff. The lone U.S. homer got here when Aaron Choose a two-run shot within the first inning. The important thing distinction within the sport was the People drew 17 walks whereas issuing just one. Later, again in Tokyo for the ultimate sport of the evening, a matchup of 0-2 groups, Taiwan trounced Czechia, 14-0, in seven innings.
We’ll be speaking extra in regards to the World Baseball Basic in immediately’s mailbag, once we reply your questions in regards to the future Corridor of Famers enjoying on this yr’s event, in addition to the Dominican Republic’s probabilities of contending for the title with Japan, the US, and Pool D rival, Venezuela. Additionally in immediately’s mailbag, we’ll have a look at the very best baseball birthdays and honor Invoice Mazeroski with the all-time Az staff. However first, I’d prefer to remind you that this mailbag is unique to FanGraphs Members. If you happen to aren’t but a Member and wish to maintain studying, you’ll be able to join a Membership right here. It’s one of the best ways to each expertise the positioning and help our employees, and it comes with a bunch of different nice advantages. Additionally, when you’d prefer to ask a query for an upcoming mailbag, ship me an e-mail at mailbag@fangraphs.com.