World Baseball Classic Morning Recap: Dominican Republic, South Korea, USA, and Puerto Rico Advance

"The turning point came in the second inning when the Dominican lineup completely flipped the game. After a bases-loaded walk by Geraldo Perdomo opened the scoring, Fernando Tatis Jr. crushed a grand slam on a 78 mph changeup from Israel starter Ryan Prager, sending it over the left-field wall to break the game open."

"Tatis wasn't finished. Later in the game, he added a two-run single, finishing with six RBIs, setting yet another Team Dominican Republic record and one of the highest totals in Classic history, narrowly below the record seven RBIs set by Ken Griffey Jr. in 2006 vs. South Africa."

"Another standout moment came in the fourth inning when Oneil Cruz launched a solo homer measured at 115.9 mph off the bat, showcasing the raw power that has made the Dominican lineup one of the most feared in the tournament."

The 2026 World Baseball Classic pool play reached critical stages with teams competing for quarterfinal positions. The Dominican Republic defeated Israel 10-1 in Miami, securing their quarterfinal spot and remaining undefeated at 3-0. Fernando Tatis Jr. delivered a pivotal grand slam in the second inning, the first by a Dominican player in Classic history, and finished with six RBIs, setting a team record. Oneil Cruz added a solo homer measuring 115.9 mph off the bat. Israel managed only two hits and posed no offensive threat. Dominican pitcher Brayan Bello struck out seven over five innings. The Dominican Republic will face Venezuela on March 11 to determine Pool D's winner.

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