Italy Upsets Puerto Rico, Advances to WBC Semifinals: What Went Wrong for the Caribbean Side?
HOUSTON – Despite being without several stars from previous tournaments, Puerto Rico appeared to have everything aligned for a strong showing on Saturday in the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic at Daikin Park against Italy.
With a rested bullpen and their ace on the mound, Seth Lugo – who had completely dominated Colombia in Puerto Rico’s first game on March 6 – the Puerto Rican team entered the win-or-move-home game with considerable confidence. When Willi Castro opened the game with a home run against Italian starter Sam Aldegheri, the boisterous Daikin Park erupted in applause with a heavily pro-Puerto Rican crowd.
A Quick Collapse for Puerto Rico
Still, from that point forward, the Italians, managed by Venezuela’s Francisco Cervelli, continued their magical run in the tournament, scoring four runs off Lugo and then four more against the Puerto Rican bullpen to take an 8-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Although Puerto Rico rallied with four runs in the eighth inning, Italy’s bullpen did enough to hold off the Caribbean side and seal their passage to the semifinals in Miami with an 8-6 victory.
“We were able to react late in the game, but for me it was already too late,” said Puerto Rico manager Yadier Molina.
Missing Pieces and Offensive Struggles
Without Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa, Javier Báez, Enrique “Kike” Hernández, José Berríos, and several other big-league names, Puerto Rico surprisingly finished second in Group A in San Juan, based on a pitching staff that had a collective ERA of 1.22 in the group stage.
But offense proved to be a problem at Hiram Bithorn Stadium. On Saturday, the Puerto Ricans did produce six runs, but they batted 9-for-1 with runners in scoring position and left 10 men on base.
“We weren’t consistent,” Molina acknowledged. “The pitching got us to the second round. I feel we left a lot of people on base and in a tournament like this, you have to be a little better on offense and not make mistakes.”
Puerto Rico hit .209/.316/.278 in their five tournament games, with only two home runs and a total of seven extra-base hits.
What If?
The million-dollar question for Puerto Rico is what would have happened if the team had been able to count on its Major League stars.
“I wouldn’t seek to disrespect these kids who represented the jersey in a good way and gave 100% in all the games,” Molina said when asked about the absent players. “One way or another, we went out with the guys who were there and to see their commitment to the uniform, to see them day by day trying to improve, learning from this coaching staff… I think these kids are going to take a lot of good things from this tournament.
“But thinking about those who weren’t here wouldn’t be fair to these guys.”
This was Molina’s second World Baseball Classic as manager of the Isla del Encanto team, after the former catcher played in the first four as a player. For the second time in a row, the team was eliminated in the quarterfinals. The task was very difficult on this occasion, but given the circumstances, it is difficult to criticize the final result.
“It hurts them. It hurts the jersey, the result,” Molina commented about his young team. “I told them that I am very proud of my team. I am very proud of what we did. A team that represented the island regardless of anything. We fought until the end. We were able to come together again (as a territory). It hurts. Credit must be given to Italy.”
FAQ
Q: What was the final score of the game between Puerto Rico and Italy?
A: Italy defeated Puerto Rico 8-6.
Q: Who was Puerto Rico’s starting pitcher?
A: Seth Lugo was Puerto Rico’s starting pitcher.
Q: What key factors contributed to Puerto Rico’s loss?
A: Offensive inconsistency, leaving runners on base, and Lugo’s early exit were key factors.
Q: What is Yadier Molina’s assessment of his team’s performance?
A: Molina expressed pride in his team’s effort despite the loss and acknowledged the impact of missing key players.
Did you realize? Italy is the first team from Europe to reach the WBC Semifinals.
Explore more coverage of the World Baseball Classic on ESPN Deportes.
