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Premier12, First Round, Pool B: USA-Dominican Republic 11-5
Dominican Republic 030 011 000 5 14 3 USA 306 020 00X 11 12 0
In a game dominated by both offenses, the United States defeated the Dominican Republic on Tuesday evening in Taoyuan 11-5. It was the first game for both teams in first-round play in Pool B. Team USA used a six-run third inning to decide the outcome early. The Dominican team actually out-hit their opponents 14-12, but left too many runners on base.
After the US scored three times in the first and D.R. tied the contest in the second, the team of manager Willie Randolph rolled through the third in a big way. Elliot Soto and Kyle Martin delivered the big blows with two-run singles after Tyler Pastornicky and Adam Frazier had back-to-back extra base hits with one out to start the rally. Martin finished the game with three RBI. Jacob May scored three times.
Former Major Leaguer Wilson Betemit and Teoscar Hernandez hit solo home runs for the Dominican Republic. Betemit went 3-for-5 overall in the game. Both starting pitchers didn’t reach the fifth. Zeke Spruill issued nine hits, four runs and a walk in 4 2/3 innings. Joey Denato earned the win in relief. Victor Mateo got charged with the loss, surrendering six hits, six runs (5 ER) and three base on balls in 2 1/3 innings.
The US will be back on the field on Wednesday afternoon with a contest against Venezuela. The Dominican Republic faces South Korea in a meeting of game-one defeats in the evening. Both games will be played in Taoyuan.