David Wright, who has been nicknamed "Captain America" for his brilliant performance in the World Baseball Classic this year, was scratched from Team USA's big game against the Dominican Republic last night with a sore back. Team USA clearly missed his impact bat in a 3-1 loss.
Upon finding out he wouldn't be taking the field for the game Wright said, "This has been one of the best times I've ever had playing baseball. I can only hope I haven't played my last game with Team USA." Wright has batted .438 during this World Baseball Classic with 10 RBI.
Dominican starter Samuel Denudo kept Team USA's powerful lineup at bay for four innings during which he gave up five hits and just one run on a bases-loaded walk to Eric Hosmer. He struck out seven and walked two.
The walk to Hosmer gave Team USA a 1-0 lead in the first inning, but Denudo was able to catch Adam Jones staring at a vicious breaking ball for strike three to escape the early jam. From then on, the American bats were silent. Team USA starter R.A. Dickey pitched well too, surrendering five hits and one run over five innings while striking out five and walking one. He allowed a solo home run to Hanley Ramirez in the second inning that tied the game.
Neither team scored until the top of the ninth inning, when the Dominicans were able to scrape two runs off of Craig Kimbrel. Nelson Cruz began the ninth with a double and a groundout by Carlos Santana pushed him to third. Erick Aybar smacked a pinch hit RBI single then stole second base. Jose Reyes singled him home to make the score 3-1 which wound up being the final score.
Aybar, who had the game-winning RBI, had to shake off a bad strike call by the home plate umpire before delivering his key hit. After the game, he said "As you can imagine, you have to have to focus on the pitch that comes after that one. That first pitch, I had to forget about that. I just calmed myself down." He and his teammates celebrated wildly on the field after the win, especially closer Fernando Rodney, who recorded the save and was joined by several teammates in shooting imaginary arrows at the sky.
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