Classic contest: Best half-frames of WBC '17
With Team USA's 8-0 championship game win over Puerto Rico on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium, a thrilling 2017 World Baseball Classic is in the books after 40 games of great action.
With that in mind, here's a new way to remember some of the tournament's best highlights. We've combed through the archives to come up with a "game" comprised of the most unforgettable individual half-innings of the Classic.
:: 2017 World Baseball Classic ::
Let's recall the best of this year's Classic, frame by frame.
Top of the first
Netherlands at Puerto Rico, March 20
The semifinal matchup between the Netherlands and Puerto Rico was wild right from the start. The Dutch had their first three batters reach, but the team ran into two outs on the bases thanks to a pair of heads-up plays by P.R. catcher Yadier Molina. Cleanup hitter Wladimir Balentien then picked up his teammates with a two-run homer to give the Netherlands an early lead. (P.R. won, 4-3) Watch »
Bottom of the first
USA at Puerto Rico, March 17
Puerto Rico got off to a great start, scoring four runs in the first before holding on for a tight win. Carlos Correa opened the scoring with an RBI single to score Angel Pagan, followed by RBI singles from Carlos Beltran and Molina and a sacrifice fly from Eddie Rosario. (P.R. won, 6-5) Watch »
Top of the second
Korea at Chinese Taipei, March 9
Korea scored five runs to take a 6-0 lead and went on to win, 11-8, in 10 innings. Watch »
Bottom of the second
Canada at Dominican Republic, March 9
The D.R. broke a scoreless tie with four runs, highlighted by a Welington Castillo two-run homer and RBI singles from Gregory Polanco and Jose Bautista. (D.R. won, 9-2) Watch »
Top of the third
USA vs. Puerto Rico, March 22
Team USA second baseman Ian Kinsler opened the scoring in the finale with a towering two-run home run to center field off Puerto Rico starter Seth Lugo. Those runs would prove to be all the U.S. would need, as it cruised to an 8-0 win behind the pitching of tournament MVP Marcus Stroman to win its first Classic title.
Bottom of the third
Japan at Netherlands, March 12
After giving up four runs in the top of the inning and falling behind, 5-1, the Netherlands answered with four runs of its own, highlighted by an RBI single from Andrelton Simmons, a sacrifice fly from Xander Bogaerts and a two-run homer from Balentien. (Japan won, 8-6, in 11 innings) Watch »
Top of the fourth
USA at Dominican Republic, March 18
Giancarlo Stanton hit a two-run homer with an exit velocity of 117.3 mph, per Statcast™, off the Western Metal Supply Co. building at Petco Park. The blast broke a 2-2 tie and gave Team USA a lead it would not relinquish. (Team USA won, 6-3) Watch »
Bottom of the fourth
Dominican Republic at Puerto Rico, March 14
Rosario scored Javier Baez with a ground-rule double to give Puerto Rico a 2-1 lead in a rematch of the 2013 Classic title game, won by the Dominican Republic. With the victory, Puerto Rico snapped the D.R.'s 11-game winning streak in the World Baseball Classic. (P.R. won, 3-1) Watch »
Top of the fifth
Venezuela at Italy, March 11
Trailing 5-0, Venezuela scored three runs to spark a come-from-behind win. Alcides Escobar got Venezuela on the board with an RBI single to score Royals teammate Salvador Perez. Martin Prado then plated Escobar and Jose Altuve with a double, en route to a 5-for-5 game with a walk and three RBIs. (Venezuela won, 11-10, in 10 innings) Watch »
Bottom of the fifth
Australia at Cuba, March 9
Down one run with two outs, Cuba put three men on base and Alfredo Despaigne then hit a go-ahead grand slam. Cuba held on for a 4-3 win.
Top of the sixth
Venezuela at Dominican Republic, March 16
With the Dominican Republic holding onto a 1-0 lead, third baseman Manny Machado fielded a grounder and made an incredible throw from deep in foul territory to get Jose Cabrera at first base. First baseman Carlos Santana helped out, making a nice scoop and then tagging the bag. (D.R. won, 3-0). Watch »
Bottom of the sixth
Israel at Japan, March 15
In a scoreless game, Yoshitomo Tsutsugoh led off the frame with a homer to ignite a five-run inning. (Japan won, 8-3). Watch »
Top of the seventh
Puerto Rico at Venezuela, March 18
Leading 5-2, Puerto Rico scored five runs to blow open its game vs. Venezuela. Mike Aviles opened the scoring with a single to plate Kennys Vargas, followed by an RBI double from Rene Rivera, a run-scoring single from Pagan and a sacrifice fly from Correa. P.R. won, 13-2, to finish pool play with a 6-0 record and move on to the semifinals. Watch »
Bottom of the seventh
USA at Dominican Republic, March 18
Adam Jones made the catch of the tournament, robbing Orioles teammate Machado of a solo homer with a grab that led Machado to tip his cap. The catch preserved a 4-2 U.S. lead that was immediately cut to one run by Robinson Cano's solo homer. (Team USA won, 6-3)
Top of the eighth
Dominican Republic at Puerto Rico, March 14
With the tying run at the plate for the Dominican Republic, Molina caught Nelson Cruz attempting to steal with a perfect throw to end the inning. Baez made a no-look tag while pointing at Molina in celebration. (P.R. won, 3-1) Watch »
Bottom of the eighth
Venezuela at USA, March 15
After falling behind 2-1, the Americans tied the game on a solo homer by Jones, then took the lead on a two-run shot from Eric Hosmer that scored Christian Yelich. (Team USA won, 4-2) Watch »
Top of the ninth
Venezuela at Italy, March 13
Trailing 2-1, Venezuela tied the game on a solo homer by Cabrera. Venezuela then took the lead on an RBI single by Rougned Odor, scoring Yangervis Solarte, and added a key insurance run when Escobar plated Odor with a suicide squeeze. (Venezuela won, 4-3) Watch »
Bottom of the ninth
Mexico at Italy, March 9
Down 9-5, Italy scored five runs to win in walk-off fashion, 10-9. Brandon Nimmo's RBI single cut the deficit to 9-8, followed by John Andreoli's two-run single to walk it off.
Top of the 10th
Israel at Korea, March 6
Scott Burcham plated Mike Meyers with a single, giving Israel a 2-1 lead in the opening game of the tournament and its first World Baseball Classic appearance. (Israel won, 2-1). Watch »
Bottom of the 10th
Colombia at USA, March 10
After tying the game at 2 with two runs in the sixth, the Americans won it in the 10th on Jones' walk-off single that scored Yelich. (Team USA won, 3-2)
Top of the 11th
Dominican Republic at Colombia, March 12
The Dominican Republic broke a 3-3 tie by scoring seven runs. The big inning was highlighted by a two-run single from Castillo, a two-run double from Jean Segura and an RBI single from Santana. (D.R. won, 10-3) Watch »
Bottom of the 11th
Netherlands at Puerto Rico, March 20
After getting an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded in the top of the 11th, Puerto Rico walked off on a sacrifice fly by Rosario to plate Correa. An undefeated Team Puerto Rico reached the WBC '17 final. (P.R. won, 4-3) Watch »