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Live from Hiram Bithorn Stadium! Also live on ESPN Deportes and will show up on ESPN2 at some time as they are changing the schedule on the fly.
They will be staying up late in San Juan as this game is starting at 9 pm local time. Javier Vazquez will start for Puerto Rico with Bartolo Colón starting for the Dominican Republic team.
It should be a very noisy crowd despite the late starting time as both teams have some of the most passionate fans in the world.
The big bats of the D.R. lineup, Pujols, Ortiz, Beltré, Alou, and Tejada, should enjoy batting at hitter-friendly Hiram Bithorn. Puerto Rico will counter with hitters like Carlos Beltran and Pudge Rodriguez, but are more concerned if Carlos Delgado will finally play. Delgado sat out the first round with a sore left elbow. If he starts, the lineup will be reshuffled because Bernie Williams, playing DH, was used as the leadoff man. Williams would sit if Delgado started and Javy Lopez would DH. It's possible that Puerto Rico manager Jose Oquendo might use Alex Cora in the leadoff spot as an homage to his own career.
But whomever is starting for Puerto Rico may not be important unless the Boricuas can put points up on the board as fast as the Dominican team should.
FINAL SCORE Puerto Rico 7, Dominican Republic 1
WP -- Javier Vazquez
LP -- Damaso Marte
HR -- Adrian Beltré, his tournament leading fourth
After Beltré's home run, the powerful D.R. offense was shut down. Meanwhile the Boricuas piled up 13 hits, three each by Javy Lopez and Jose Cruz. Carlos Delgado sat out the game.
PR
Williams DH
Rodriguez C
Beltran CF
Lopez 1B
Cruz RF
Ledee LF
Valentin 3B
Cintron SS
Cora 2B
DR
Soriano 2B
Tejada SS
Pujols 1B
Ortiz DH
Alou LF
Beltre 3B
Encarnacion RF
Brito C
Taveras CF
As soon as I read that I saw a fan waving a Thunderstix and I was disturbed.
Carlos Lee didn't hit any.
Just think if they were in a dome.
What do you call those things that you spin around and they make a racheting noise?
I think the final four will be the US, Korea, DR and PR.
I was pretty surprised that Cuba won today, but I can't see them beating DR or PR.
Venezuela can't seem to hit.
The winner of the Mexico-Korea game will be the other semifinalist I think.
I would take my predictions with an enormous grain of salt. I already said that Cuba wouldn't win another game.
I was pretty impressed by japan and i think they can take Mexico and korea. They play great defense and they have the pitching. I know they lost to korea earlier but i think they just came out flat.
It would be tough for Cuba to beat DR and PR but im pulling for them because they are the underdog. I like the way they play as a team too.
The Cubans approach the games much more differently than the other seven. They used their best reliever when he was needed, in the fifth. But Martí and Lazo look to be their best two pitchers, so they are going to need to find some help for tomorrow against the DR.
There are two former Dodgers are on the DR squad: Beltré and Encarnacíon.
And the PR team has two other former Dodgers in Valentin and Cora.
It's called a bullroarer.
I knew that anthropology course would be useful someday.
Thanks!
And Cuba and Puerto Rico have similar flags, but with the colors reversed. When they play each other Wednesday, it will be confusing.
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