South Africa – Spain 3-13
Spain 044 100 013 13 14 2 South Africa 000 102 000 3 2 5
Spain has joined Israel in the final of the World Baseball Classic Qualifier in Jupiter, Florida. On Saturday evening the team of manager Mauro Mazzotti downed South Africa with a 13-3, eliminating the lone African participant in the tournament.
Four runs in the second and the third decided the outcome quickly. Yasser Gomez led the way by going 4-for-5 with two runs and three RBI. Paco Figueroa, Blake Ochoa and Jesus Golindano had two RBI each. Jonathan Phillips scored twice for South Africa.
On the mound Ricardo Hernandez cruised to an easy win. He issued just an unearned run on two hits and two walks in five innings. Kieran Michael Lovegrove took the loss, surrendering two hits, four runs and two base on balls in 1 1/3 innings.
France – South Africa 2-5 (11)
South Africa 000 020 000 03 5 5 1 France 200 000 000 00 2 11 2
Earlier on the day South Africa had beaten France 5-2 in 11 innings, as both teams concluded the suspended game from Friday. The French team couldn’t plate a run in the 10th, as they wasted a one-out bases loaded situation. Afterwards South Africa scored three times in the top of the 11th to seal the deal. Paul Bell with a two-run double and Jonathan Phillips with a RBI single gave them a three-run lead and France couldn’t come back.
The final game between Spain and Israel is scheduled for 5pm local time at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida. As usual the game will be available as live video stream at www.worldbaseballclassic.com, where you also can find all the other WBC Qualifier games as video on demand. Additionally the final games also will be broadcasted live at MLB Network.