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LOS ANGELES —- Puerto Rico had to go extra-innings to win their seventh straight game 4-3 over the Netherlands. They will face either Japan or the United States in the WBC Final.
Edwin Diaz pitched two scoreless innings, including the special two baserunners with no out 11th, to get the win. Carlos Correa, who hit a two-run home run to tie the game in the first inning, scored the winning run on a sacrifice fly.
The baserunners on first and second to start the 11th inning was used for the third time in the World Baseball Classic and for the first time, the visiting team did not score.
In the bottom of the inning, Puerto Rico followed the Netherlands script with a successful sacrifice bunt followed by an intentional walk. T.J. Rivera, who had hit a solo home run in the second inning, hit a fly ball to center that was deep enough to score Correa.
A highlight for the Dodger fans in the ballpark was the bottom of the ninth inning when they heard the familiar entrance song “California Love” and saw Kenley Jansen enter the game. Jansen was very sharp, needing only nine pitches to retire the side with two strikeouts and a ground out.
The Netherlands manager Hensley Meulens said after the game that the team’s deal with the Dodgers was that “we would not use him for more than one inning, and I had to take him out.”
The other Dodger who played on Monday was Kiké Hernandez. Hernandez pinch-ran for Carlos Beltran in the 8th inning and then stayed in the game as the designated hitter. Hernandez flew out in the 10th inning and was on base due to the special rule when Correa scored the winning run.