Marcus Stroman pitches United States to World Baseball Classic final victory
Thursday 23 March 2017 08:39, UK
The United States have been crowned World Baseball Classic winners for the first time after an 8-0 win over Puerto Rico at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.
Marcus Stroman of the Toronto Blue Jays pitched six hitless innings as the hosts made up for three previous disapppointments in the international tournament and finally secured a title in the sport known as 'America's Pastime'.
They had previously been knocked out twice in the second round and lost in the semi-finals back in 2009.
Puerto Rico, a territory of the United States, had not been beaten in the tournament until the final, but they proved no match for a red-hot Stroman.
He allowed just three balls to leave the infield, all ending in outs, until Angel Pagan's double to left-field leading off the seventh, after which he departed to a standing ovation.
By then, the USA led 7-0 on the back of a two-run homer from Detroit's Ian Kinsler and RBI singles from Christian Yelich, Andrew McCutchen, Brandon Crawford (two) and Giancarlo Stanton.
McCutchen added a second RBI single after Stroman's departure, and a trio of USA relievers kept Puerto Rico from getting on the board.
"There was only one thing on our mind, was to win this thing and to do whatever we can to win," Miami left fielder Yelich said. "That helped us come together."
