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World Baseball Classic: Hanley Ramirez homers, Dominican Republic beats USA, 3-1

Dodgers shortstop Hanley Ramirez hit his second home run in five World Baseball Classic games, helping the Dominican Republic into the semifinals of the tournament.

By Eric Stephen
Mike Ehrmann

Hanley Ramirez hit a home run Thursday night as the Dominican Republic beat the United States 3-1 at Marlins Park in Miami in the second round of the World Baseball Classic. The win ensures the Dominican Republic a place in the WBC semifinals in San Francisco beginning Sunday, joining Japan and The Netherlands.

Ramirez homered off R.A. Dickey of the Blue Jays in the second inning to tie the score at 1-1. It was the second home run by a Dodger off the knuckleballer in the WBC, as Adrian Gonzalez took Dickey deep for Team Mexico at Chase Field in Phoenix on Mar. 8.

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The Dominican Republic scored two runs in the ninth inning off Craig Kimbrel of the Braves, on RBI singles by Erick Aybar and Jose Reyes. The Dominican Republic on Saturday will play the winner of Friday's U.S. - Puerto Rico elimination game.

Should the Dominican Republic win on Saturday, it will play The Netherlands on Monday at AT&T Park, with a possible matchup between Dodgers teammates Ramirez and Kenley Jansen, who was just added Thursday to The Netherlands' roster.

Ramirez for the tournament is just 3-for-15 (.200) in five games, but has hit two home runs and five walks, good for a .381 on-base percentage and a .600 slugging percentage.

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