The United States became World Baseball Classic champions with an 8-0 win over Puerto Rico on Wednesday.
This is the first WBC championship for the United States, and it came in the first finals appearance ever for the Americans. Puerto Rico has now been the runner-up in two consecutive tournaments. To win the title, the USA knocked off previously undefeated Japan and Puerto Rico on back-to-back evenings.
Marcus Stroman was brilliant for the United States, and he even flirted with some history. The right-hander took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, before allowing a double. Manager Jim Leyland went to the bullpen after the two-base hit, and the relievers preserved the win. Stroman walked one and struck out three during his terrific outing. Team USA's pitchers held Puerto Rico to three hits in the entire contest.
Ian Kinsler got the scoring started for Team USA with his two-run home run in the third inning. Kinsler's HR was his first of the tournament, and it gave the Americans an early 2-0 advantage.
In the fifth inning, Christian Yelich singled home Kinsler to make it a 3-0 game. The Miami Marlins outfielder had himself a 2-5 day, which included a double in the first inning. Andrew McCutchen had a run-scoring single as well later in the inning, to give the USA a four-run lead.
Team USA extended the lead to six runs in the seventh inning, when Brandon Craword brought home two runs on a single with the bases loaded. Giancarlo Stanton continued the seventh inning rally with a run-scoring single after Craword to make it a 7-0 game. McCutchen would add another run in the eighth with a single as well.
With the tournament over, players will now head back to their respective big-league camps. The Major League Baseball regular season will begin on April 2nd.
