The eagle has landed on top.
The US on Wednesday night routed Puerto Rico 8-0 to win their first World Baseball Classic (WBC) in four tries behind six hitless innings from Marcus Stroman.
The US planted their eagle statue mascot on the mound in celebration, a blue cap jauntily hanging from one of its large wings.
Photo: AFP
“It’s a different feeling when the USA is on your chest,” first baseman Eric Hosmer said. “We wanted to get the US back on top of the baseball world, and we did that.”
For a sport known as “America’s pastime,” the US had struggled since the WBC began in 2006. Twice, the US lost in the second round and they went out in the semi-finals in 2009.
This time was different.
“These guys were here to do their best,” US general manager Joe Torre said. “The thing I marveled at was how quickly they came together, and Jimmy [Leyland] deserves a lot of that credit. They’re just a great group who understood what this event is all about.”
Accepting the gleaming silver trophy from baseball commissioner Rob Manfred, Leyland told the crowd: “This is for the men and women who serve our country.”
After the final out, the US’ players massed on the mound, hugging and high-fiving while fireworks exploded in center field. Some of them grabbed a US flag and circled the warning track, waving it in celebration with fans in the stands.
Puerto Rico’s fans saluted their team with a standing ovation and the players responded by clapping.
Puerto Rico lost for the first time in eight games after outscoring their opposition 55-26. The US territory finished runners-up for the second time, having lost to the Dominican Republic in the 2013 final.
Tournament Most Valuable Player Stroman avenged his shakiness in the US’ 6-5 loss to Puerto Rico during pool play. The right-hander from the Toronto Blue Jays gave up one hit in six-plus innings, struck out three and walked one on 73 pitches.
He allowed just three balls past the infield until Angel Pagan’s double in the left-field corner leading off the seventh, when Stroman departed to a standing ovation, having staked the US to a 7-0 lead with the help of Ian Kinsler’s two-run homer.
Stroman walked Carlos Beltran leading off the second, but the defense helped him out. Yadier Molina hit the ball to shortstop Brandon Crawford, who started a double play before Stroman struck out Javier Baez to end the inning.
The US pounded out 13 hits in front of 51,565 spectators at Dodger Stadium.
Kinsler homered off a 0-1 pitch from Seth Lugo into left-center field in the third, scoring Jonathan Lucroy, who singled leading off.
New York Mets’ Lugo allowed four runs and five hits, struck out seven and walked four in four innings. The right-hander won his first two starts of the tournament, including in the second round against Stroman and the US.
The US made it 4-0 in the fifth on RBI singles by Christian Yelich and Andrew McCutchen.
Fans wore flags of both countries as capes and decorated their faces in team colors. Puerto Rico boosters pounded cowbells, tooted horns and blew whistles early on before their team fell behind 4-0.
Fans were on their feet chanting “U-S-A” when the US loaded the bases in the seventh with two outs. They were rewarded with Crawford’s two-run single that chased J.C. Romero, extending the lead to 6-0.
The US tacked on another run on Giancarlo Stanton’s RBI single off Hiram Burgos past diving shortstop Francisco Lindor.
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