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The first World Baseball Classic game in six years hits the diamond in Taichung, Taiwan as Cuba and The Netherlands open play in baseball’s marquee worldwide competition.
Padres star Xander Boagerts heads the squad for The Netherlands, while White Sox outfielder Luis Robert and former big-leaguer Yoenis Céspedes swing the big bats for the Cuban team. The two teams comprise Pool A along with Chinese Taipei, Panama and Italy. The top two squads from Pool A will take on Pool B teams in the quarterfinal.
Here are the best plays from the game!
Cuba vs. The Netherlands
Out of the jam!
Cuba built some early momentum on Netherlands starting pitcher Tom de Blok by loading the bases in the first inning. But de Blok escaped trouble by coaxing a needed double-play ball up the middle to get out of the inning.
Tom de Blok, Netherlands get out of bases-loaded jam with impressive double-play sequence against Cuba
Tom de Blok and the Netherlands were able to get out of a sticky situation in the first inning, thanks to an impressive double-play sequence against Cuba.
Sound the horns!
The WBC site was a neutral location for both teams, but that didn’t take away from the crowd’s energy in the slightest. And when baseball hits the global stage, you’ll see and hear all kinds of new things. For example: the strikeout horn.
First of many!
There will be plenty of runs scored during this WBC, but there’s only one first! The first RBI of the event belonged to Yadil Mojica, who plated Yoelkis Guibert with a screaming liner down the right field line.
Yadil Mujica helps Cuba strike first with RBI double against the Netherlands
Yadil Mujica helped Cuba off to a fast start, thanks to a RBI double against the Netherlands in the second inning.
Just missed it
Former Padre Jurickson Profar has a propensity for hitting balls far, but this deep shot that would’ve tied the game barely missed the outfield fence.
DIDI!
With a runner in scoring position, Didi Gregorious came up with a clutch single to opposite field in the bottom of the third.
Didi Gregorius’ RBI-single helps the Netherlands get level with Cuba
Didi Gregorius smacked a RBI single in the third inning to help the Netherlands tie the game against Cuba.
Stretching for it
Bogaerts is known more for his offense than defense, but he flashed his glove at short with a pretty scoop and side-armed throw to beat the runner to the bag. And check out this impressive stretch from Gregorious at first.
Dribbler!
In tournament baseball, it’s the little breaks, not the big explosions that generally are the difference, and The Netherlands’ Josh Palacios found green grass up the middle in the bottom of the sixth to give his team the lead.
Hit ‘em where they ain’t
Like we said, the little breaks. This two-RBI hit from Chadwick Tromp wasn’t pretty, but it accomplished what it needed to, putting The Netherlands up 4-1 heading into the top of the seventh.
Josh Palacios, Chadwick Tromp hit key RBI singles to help Netherlands grab a 4-1 lead against Cuba
The Netherlands’ offense showed up in the sixth inning, thanks to Josh Palacios and Chadwick Tromp’s RBI single.
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