Although Dolphin Stadium was 60% empty, it felt like October last night as the United States advanced to the semi-finals of the World Baseball Classic by defeating Puerto Rico, 6-5, thanks to a dramatic game-winning hit (I really dislike the term walk-off) in the ninth inning as David Wright blooped a hit to right field plating Brian Roberts and Jimmy Rollins to end the game. They came back from a 4-3 deficit in the ninth inning off relievers J.C. Romero — who will be suspended for 50 games at the start of the 2009 season — and off former Baltimore reliever Fernando Cabrera.
The United States avenged their big loss against Puerto Rico. It’s too bad that there has been a lot of controversy about the injury of players, the perception of nationalism within the United States, and big stars sitting out; however, I do believe that the World Baseball Classic is good for the sport.
The game was something last night, and although the crowd was nothing like the night before, it was still lively. The fans of United States represented and cheered from start to finish — the World Baseball Classic may not have the name recognition of the World Series, but it seemed the players were really into it, and they seemed extremely emotional at the end.
