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SPORTS Monday 20 March 2017

Stanton’s homer, Jones’ leap carry U.S. into WBC semifinals

BERNIE WILSON by Carlos Santana. One
AP Sports Writer run was unearned due to
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Crawford’s throwing er-
United States is going to ror at shortstop. Crawford
the semifinals of the World threw out Nelson Cruz try-
Baseball Classic for the ing to score on Starling
second time thanks to an- Marte’s grounder, though.
other impressive home run The United States tied it in
by Giancarlo Stanton at the third on Ian Kinsler’s
Petco Park and a spectac- RBI grounder and Christian
ular catch at the fence by Yelich’s run-scoring dou-
hometown favorite Adam ble.
Jones. The Dominicans had three
Stanton hit a go-ahead, more scoring chances but
two-run shot into the third- failed each time.
level balcony of the West- Gregory Polanco singled
ern Metal Supply Co. and Welington Castillo
Building in the left-field cor- doubled to open the sec-
ner in the fourth inning and ond before Danny Duffy
Jones robbed Baltimore retired the side.
Orioles teammate Manny They threatened again in
Machado of a home run the fifth when Machado hit
in the seventh to help the a leadoff single to chase
Americans beat the Do- Duffy. Cruz hit a one-out
minican Republic 6-3 on U.S. outfielder Adam Jones grabs a catch above the wall for the out on the Dominican Republic’s double off Pat Neshek,
Saturday night, eliminating Manny Machado during the seventh inning of a second-round World Baseball Classic baseball who then retired Carlos
the defending champions. game Saturday, March 18, 2017, in San Diego. Santana on a popup and
Team USA will face Japan Associated Press struck out Marte.
on Tuesday night at Dodg- Neshek pumped his fists as
er Stadium for a spot in the The slugger’s shot was rem- That’s just the style I play Earlier on Saturday, Puerto he walked off the mound.
championship game. iniscent of his Home Run with. I don’t mind running Rico completed a 3-0 run “This was a very difficult
A number of big-name Derby victory at Petco Park into a wall or two. I just kept through Pool F by beat- game,” Dominican Re-
players declined to play for on July 11, when he pep- going after the ball. ing Venezuela 13-2. Puerto public manager Tony Pena
the United States. pered the far reaches of “I saw the replay after Rico clinched first place said.
Manager Jim Leyland ap- the big downtown ballpark, the game. It was a hell of in the pool with a 6-5 vic- “You have (eight) players
preciates those who did including hitting one onto catch,” he added. tory against the United on base and we couldn’t
sign up. the top of the 108-year-old Robinson Cano then hom- States on Friday night and do the best. I feel very
“There were a lot of people brick warehouse. ered to left to pull the Do- will play the Netherlands proud of each one of them.
that respectfully declined “Yeah, it did kind of feel minican Republic to 4-3. in the semifinals Monday I won’t point to any one of
and we’re not going to like the Home Run Derby,” Andrew McCutchen gave night at Dodger Stadium. them. Simply the U.S. team
throw anybody under the Stanton said. Team USA some breath- The championship game is (made) the right pitches at
bus,” Leyland said. Three innings later, Jones ing room with a two-run Wednesday night. that particular time frame
“We’re going to honor the leaped and reached over double in the eighth, and Brandon Crawford hit a and that’s what cost us the
people that accepted the fence in the deepest Luke Gregerson pitched a two-out single to left-cen- game.”
and are here. So we’re part of the park in right- perfect ninth to close it out. ter ahead of Stanton’s Duffy allowed two runs,
moving forward and that’s center to rob Machado This is the second time in homer, which was estimat- one earned, and six hits in
all we’re talking about. ... of a home run. Machado four editions of the WBC ed at 403 feet and chased four-plus innings. He struck
And right now that’s the tipped his helmet to Jones. that the United States has Dominican starter Ervin out one and walked one.
only team I care about. “I’m still in kind of shock advanced to the semifi- Santana.The Dominicans Ervin Santana gave up four
And these players that are that I even got to that ball,” nals. It lost to Japan in 2009. jumped out to a 2-0 lead runs and six hits in 3 2/3 in-
here are the only players I said Jones, who played at The Dominican players, in the first on an RBI double nings. He struck out two
care about right now.” Morse High about 8 miles who rallied to beat the by Cano and an RBI single and walked none.q
Those who were with Team east of Petco. “I mean, off United States one week
USA certainly put on a the bat I’m just like, ‘This earlier in Miami in the first
show. ball’s hit really far, so just round, will disperse back
Stanton’s homer gave the keep going, keep going. to big league camps. They
United States a 4-2 lead You know this California finished 1-2 in the second
and put a charge into the air’s going to slow it down round after going 3-0 in the
sellout crowd of 43,002. and just never quit.’ opening round.