The Dominican team obtained its first victory against Nicaragua on Monday, winning 6-1 in Miami, and now it is committed to maintaining the consistency of its game in the World Baseball Classic. “We play as a team. We have to keep playing the way we played this game,” third baseman Manny Machado said after the game. Machado, who homered and doubled, with a run scored and an RBI against Nicaragua, does not allow himself to be wrapped up in the joy of victory and focuses on the need to continue being productive on the pitch to ensure that the Dominican Republic achieves its ticket to the next phase.
“We know that we have to win the two games that we have left and tomorrow (Tuesday) we have to go out and play like we played today,” reiterated the third bat for the Dominicans. Manager Rodney Linares expressed his satisfaction with the victory, a result that gives credit to the work done by his players. “All victories are good, no one puts on the uniform to lose. All the boys were in good spirits and were able to do their job”, said the manager of the Caribbean. Linares pointed out as a fundamental aspect the adjustments made by the offensive players, who connected the ball with authority, at the same time that he gave credit to the defensive work of the Nicaraguan outfielders, who with their great catches prevented a greater number of runs in favor of the ninth quisqueyana.
“We took a lot of good swings. You have to give credit to Nicaragua, they played tremendous defense in the outfield,” acknowledged Linares. The Dominicans had good pitching work from their starter, right-hander Cristian Javier, who indicated that he tried to stay on top of the hitters in counting balls and strikes. “For me success was staying focused, attacking hitters, and staying in the zone. That was the key,” said the winner of the last World Series with the Houston Astros, who pitched four scoreless innings against Nicaragua. The team faces Israel this Tuesday, a duel for which they will not be able to count on outfielder Juan Soto from the beginning since the San Diego Padres do not allow him to play on consecutive days, this being one of the conditions for him to be with the Dominican ninth.
“The plan does not change, that was agreed with San Diego. He would be available tomorrow from the bench, to come in as a pinch hitter, but Juan (Soto), tomorrow, would not be playing,” Linares said of the outfielder, who hit a home run on Monday and has been on the team’s main offensive player. These limitations for Soto are due to the discomfort he suffered in his left calf before the tournament. The Dominicans will go out this Tuesday with the right-hander of the Pittsburgh Pirates Roansy Contreras as the bet to beat Israel, in search of his second victory in the World Baseball Classic.