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SPORTS Wednesday 22 March 2017
Injured Yanks shortstop Gregorius expected to miss 1st month

MARK DIDTLER and it happened.” BETANCES BACK
Associated Press The timetable for Grego- Reliever Dellin Betances re-
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — New rius would have him back turned after playing for the
York Yankees short- in the lineup in early May, Dominican Republic in the
stop Didi Gregorius is ex- although Cashman said WBC and said the experi-
pected to miss the first it could be sooner or later ence “was more” than he
month of the regular sea- than that. Gregorius won’t expected. The Dominican
son because of a strained do any baseball activities Republic played its open-
right shoulder. for two weeks. ing games in Miami before
Yankees general manager “It’s someone we’re go- going to San Diego for the
Brian Cashman said Tues- ing to miss,” manager Joe second round.
day that Gregorius is likely Girardi said before Tues- “Miami was intense,” he
to be sidelined six weeks. day night’s game against said. “The crowds, defi-
Opening day for the Yan- Boston. “Guys are going to nitely on our side in Miami.
kees is April 2 at Tampa have to step up.” San Diego was fun as well.
Bay. The 27-year-old Gregorius Overall, a fun experience.”
“It’s not what I wanted to hit .276 with 20 home runs Betances had the op-
hear,” Gregorius said. “It is and 70 RBIs last season. tion to play for the United
what it is now.” The Yankees have backup In this March 13, 2017, file photo, Netherlands’ designated hitter States, but chose the Do-
Gregorius was hurt while shortstops Ronald Torreyes Didi Gregorius hits a three-run home-run off Israel’s pitcher Dan- minican Republic to honor
ny Burawa during the fourth inning of their second round game
turning a double play for and Ruben Tejada in camp, at the World Baseball Classic at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo. his parents.
the Netherlands in an ex- along with utilityman Tyler Associated Press “The love I got from the
hibition game Saturday Wade and top prospect Dominican fans, that was
against Arizona in prepa- Gleyber Torres. Cashman unbelievable,” Betances
ration for the World Base- said Torres will not be in the week and a half of spring eight runs and scoring five said. “The fan experience
ball Classic semifinals. He mix for the opening and will training. in the WBC. in Miami, I don’t think I’ve
returned to the Yankees’ start the season at Double- Cashman said Gregorius “Injuries are a part of base- played in a ballgame like
spring camp this week. A Trenton. had a dye contrast MRI ball,” Cashman said. the Miami games.”
“It just happened on one Second baseman Starlin exam and there were no Gregorius said he would Betances said he would
play,” Gregorius said. “It Castro will likely get some rips or tears. play again in the WBC if it “definitely love to play
was just a regular throw time at short over the final Gregorius hit .348, driving in was OK with all sides. again” in the WBC.

WBC final and celebrated with a bat
flip.
“Frustrating for me is the
Continued from Page 17 mental errors that we com-
“This is something that we The blond Puerto Rican mitted,” Netherlands man-
rehearse every day, so we players, who dyed their ager Hensley Meulens said.
will be able to do it well at hair in a show of unity that “We talked to the guys be-
the end.” has caught on back home, fore the game about the
Eddie Rosario, who went jumped up and down af- experience of Yadier Moli-
0 for 4, hit a sacrifice fly to ter a lively, emotional and na behind the plate. If you
center field in the 11th that sometimes-testy semifinal get too far off, he’ll pick
drove in Correa, triggering that included four replay you off, and that’s what
a massive celebration on reviews during the fourth happened.
the field and in the stands and fifth innings of a game Then Jurickson getting the
from red, white and blue- that lasted 4 hours, 19 min- base hit, celebrating and
clad fans pounding cow utes. When it was finally not getting back to the
bells and tooting horns and over, Kike Hernandez, who base, that’s unaccept-
whistles. plays for the Los Angeles able. That could have
T.J. Rivera’s solo shot in the Dodgers, and Hiram Bur- been the difference in us
second put Puerto Rico gos raced around the field winning or not.”
ahead 3-2. carrying Puerto Rican flags Balentien, who had three
Puerto Rico will play either above their heads. Puerto Rico team members celebrate their win over the Nether- hits, has been the top slug-
lands in a semifinal in the World Baseball Classic in Los Angeles,
two-time champion Japan Curt Smith grounded into Monday, March 20, 2017. ger in the WBC, batting
or the United States for the a bases-loaded, inning- Associated Press .615 (16 for 26) with 12 RBIs.
title on Wednesday night at ending double play for the His four homers were one
Dodger Stadium. The Puer- Netherlands in the 11th, giving orange-clad fans a Simmons later wandered shy of the tournament re-
to Ricans also reached the which began with runners reason to cheer. off the bag toward third cord. He last played in the
final in 2013, losing to the on first and second for “For me, that was the and Molina threw to sec- major leagues in 2009 and
Dominican Republic 3-0. both teams under tourna- game,” Puerto Rico man- ond, but Simmons couldn’t has been playing for Yakult
Puerto Rico has outscored ment rules. It was one of ager Edwin Rodriguez said. get back in time and got in Japan since 2011.
its opponents 55-18 while three double plays turned “Yadier Molina came to caught in a rundown. Edwin Diaz threw high and
going 7-0 in this year’s tour- by Puerto Rico. play.” Jurickson Profar singled to inside to Balentien in the
nament. Gold Glove catcher Yadier Molina capitalized on two right, but was slow getting 10th, causing Balentien
“It means a lot because Molina’s defense saved baserunning blunders by back to first while celebrat- to point at his head and
Puerto Ricans have gone Puerto Rico from a poten- the Dutch. ing and was picked off by shake his finger in a warn-
through a very difficult tial grand slam in the first Jorge Lopez allowed a Molina, who took Rosario’s ing to Diaz. Players from
situation currently and inning when Wladimir Bal- leadoff single to Andrel- relay from the outfield. Bal- both teams came out of
we were able to unite our entien’s homer helped the ton Simmons and hit Xan- entien followed with his the dugout, but the situa-
country,” Correa said. Netherlands to a 2-0 lead, der Bogaerts with a pitch. mammoth, two-out shot, tion didn’t escalate. q