2017 World Baseball Classic: Pair of Mets Shine for Puerto Rico

From the desk of:  PLANET BASEBALL

POOL-D

FINAL

Venezuela       0

Puerto Rico  11

New York Mets sophomore Seth Lugo and rookie J.T. Rivera are Puerto Rico's latest shining stars of the Caribbean.

Making the start in Puerto Rico's opening match of Pool-D play against Venezuela, Seth Lugo kept silent a formidable line-up featuring Miguel Cabrera, Carlos Gonzalez, Victor Martinez, Jose Altuve, Martin Prado, Odubel Herrera, Salvador Perez, et al.

Lugo threw 5.1 innings of scoreless, one-hit baseball, walking none and fanning three for the victory.  He faced 17 batters, throwing 65 pitches with 40 going for strikes.

Credit must also be given to catcher Yadier Molina for guiding Lugo through his way.

Venezuela was limited to just three hits all game.

Playing first base and batting eighth, T.J. Rivera went 1 for 3 three at the plate.  He drove in Puerto Rico's first run in the bottom of the third inning with a sac-fly to center scoring Eddie Rosario.  He then would plate Eddie Rosario yet again in the seventh with a home run to center, capping a six run outburst en route to an 11-0 whitewashing of Venezuela.

An original Brooklyn Cyclone from 2001 and former Met, Angel Pagan went 0 for 4 with a pair of strikeouts.  Third baseman Carlos Correa and Yadier Molina also homered for Puerto Rico.  Right fielder Eddie Rosario went 3 for 4 with two RBI.  Designated hitter Carlos Beltran went 1 for 2, with two walks and two RBI.

NEXT

Puerto Rico

vs.

Mexico