The World Baseball Classic rolled in to Miami yesterday to kick off this semifinal round. In the afternoon game, Italy jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning against starter Edinson Volquez. The Dominicans chipped away with a run in the third, and another run in the 6th on home runs by Jose Reyes and Robinson Cano, who raised his average to .632 in the classic. The Dominicans scored 3 more times in the seventh to take the lead and held on from there. Nelson Cruz drove in the game winner with a bloop single. The Dominican bullpen threw 4 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, topped off by Fernando Rodney, who closed out the game in the ninth. In the nightcap, Gio Gonzalez started for the US team in his home town, and he didn’t disappoint. Gio tossed five scoreless innings, giving up only 3 hits, struck out 5 and didn’t walk a batter. David Wright drove in five runs, including a bases-loaded double in the eighth inning that put the game away. Victory for the US team over Puerto Rico, 7-1. Puerto Rico will face Italy in the losers bracket game tonight at 7:00 pm. with the loser going home. Tomorrow night, Dominican Republic will face the US in the winners bracket game at 7:00 pm. You can catch all the action on MLB Network and on ESPN Deportes.
Here is MLB.com’s coverage of the classic:
In Major League exhibition baseball yesterday, Ricky Nolasco basically threw batting practice against the Houston Astros. Nolasco gave up 7 runs and 8 hits in his 3 innings of work, including four of the five home runs the Astros connected, and Houston beat the Fish 9-4. Kevin Kouzmanoff homered for the Marlins, his 3rd of the spring, and Donovan Solano went 2-3 to raise his spring training average to .500. The Marlins play host to Fredi Gonzalez and the Braves tonight at 7:05. Nathan Eovaldi will start for the Fish, Kris Medlen will toe the rubber for the Braves. The game will be televised on Fox Sports Florida.
Here are all the scores from yesterday’s spring training games. You can “click” on the box scores and the recap under each individual game’s line score.
In other baseball news, Oakland A’s outfielder Yoenis Cespedes had a family reunion in Miami. Jim Caple of ESPN has the details:
The Miami Dolphins made the splash they were looking to make. The Dolphins got their man, signing free-agent wide receiver Mike Wallace to a five-year contract worth in the neighborhood of $60 million. They also signed linebacker Dannelle Ellerbee to a contract. Sources are reporting that it is a five-year deal as well, worth $35 million. Miami also came to terms with linebacker Phillip Wheeler on a 5-year, $29 million contract and re-signed safety Chris Clemons. The Dolphins released linebackers Karlos Dansby and Kevin Burnett to make some room, both on the roster and add cap space. It wasn’t all good news for Miami, who lost out on former Tennessee tight end Jared Cook, who signed with the Rams. Their former tight end, Anthony Fasano, signed with the KC Chiefs. Apparently, the Dolphins are moving on without LT Jake Long and RB Reggie Bush. Long has meetings set up with various teams, including the Rams, and Bush is in Detroit meeting with the Lions. The Fins are still interested in keeping CB Sean Smith, but other teams have expressed interest in him. Overall, a very good first day in free agency for the Dolphins.
In other NFL news, future hall-of-fame tight end Tony Gonzalez, who had previously said that he was 95% sure of retiring, went with the other 5% and officially notified the Atlanta Falcons that he is returning next season. The Falcons also re-signed left tackle Sam Baker. The city of Atlanta let out a sigh of relief that was felt and heard down here in Miami.
Free agent LB and former FIU Panther Antwan Barnes, has received interest from at least six other NFL teams. “El Monstruo” has 18 1/2 sacks for the San Diego Chargers over the last three seasons, but finished the 2012 season on the DL with a hamstring injury he suffered in November.
TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION: The Dolphins went 3-11 in 1969 (it was a 14-game regular season way back when), and they definitely needed to make a splash and turn things around immediately. The Fins went out and signed a “free agent” that made all the difference and they went 10-4 the following year. Who was that “free agent”? Tell you later, alligator.
Another day at the office for the Miami Heat, as they won their 19th straight game, 98-81 over the Atlanta Hawks. Dwayne Wade led a balanced Miami attack with 23 points, with 6 assists and 5 steals. LeBron James had 15 points, along with 7 rebounds and 7 assists, Chris Bosh and Mario Chalmers both had 14 points, and Ray Allen scored 12 off the bench look to make it 19 wins in a row. The Heat arrived in Philadelphia early this morning to take on the 76ers in the first of five games away from home. Tipoff tonight is at 7:00 pm, and you can watch the Heat try and extend the streak to 20 games on Sun Sports. However, playing back-to-back nights with a flight in the middle is never easy. On Friday, they will be in Milwaukee against the Bucks, and on Sunday they will cross the border into Toronto to take on the Raptors. Monday the 18th, they will be in Boston to take on the Celtics, and on Wednesday the 20th, they will close out the road trip with a game in Cleveland against the Cavaliers.
In the rest of the NBA yesterday,
Charlotte 100 Boston 74
Gerald Henderson had a career-high 35 points, and the Bobcats snapped a 10-game losing streak.
LA Lakers 106 Orlando 97
Dwight Howard scored a season-high 39 points,had 16 rebounds and went to the free throw line 39 times, hitting 25 of them.
Cleveland 95 Washington 90
Dion Walters scored 20 poonts, Alonzo Gee added 17.
Brooklyn 108 New Orleans 98
Brook Lopez scored 26 points, playing against his twin brother, Robin. Deron Williams added 21 points and 13 assists.
Dallas 115 Milwaukee 108
Vince Carter scored 23 points, Dirk Nowitzki had 19 points and 11 rebounds.
Minnesota 107 San Antonio 83
Ricky Rubio recorded the first triple-double of his career, finishing with 21 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists. J. J. Barea had 17 points in the win.
Memphis 102 Portland 97
Marc Gasol had 20 points, Zach Randolph finished with 19 points and 11 assists.
TONIGHT IN THE NBA:
Miami @ Philadelphia 7:00 pm Sun Sports
Milwaukee @ Washington 7:00 pm
Minnesota @ Indiana 7:00 pm
Toronto @ Boston 7:30 pm
LA Lakers @ Atlanta 7:30 pm
Phoenix @ Houston 8:00 pm
Utah @ Oklahoma City 8:00 pm ESPN
Chicago @ Sacramento 10:00 pm
New York @ Denver 10:30 pm ESPN
Memphis @ LA Clippers 10:30 pm
Detroit @ Golden State 10:30 pm
In college hoops, the University of Miami are preparing for this week’s ACC tournament, where they are seeded #1 as the champions of the regular season. The Canes’ first game in the tournament will be on Friday, at 12 noon, on ESPN2, against the winner of the game between Boston College and Georgia Tech tomorrow night.
In college baseball, FIU beat South Florida 5-4 in 11 innings. The Panthers had tied the game in the bottom of the ninth with three runs. The two teams will meet again today at FIU stadium. FIU will then hit the road for three games this weekend against Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton. Meanwhile, over in Coral Gables, the Hurricanes got trounced by Illinois State, 17-6. They meet again tonight at 6:00 pm over at A-Rod field at Mark Light Stadium. The Canes travel to Chapel Hill to take on North Carolina in a three-game series this weekend.
THE ANSWER TO TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION: The Dolphins went 3-11 in 1969 (it was a 14-game regular season way back when), and they definitely needed to make a splash and turn things around immediately. The Fins went out and signed a “free agent” that made all the difference and they went 10-4 the following year. Who was that “free agent”?
Some guy named Don Shula. Shula’s Colts loss in Super Bowl 3 against Joe Namath and the New York Jets pretty much soured his relationship with Colts ownership. He signed with the Dolphins to become their head coach, and the Dolphins were hit with a fine and it also cost them the team’s first round draft choice the following year. It was well worth the draft pick.
Don’t miss my two “Descarga Deportiva” segments (for the Spanish-challenged, “Sports Jam Session”) every day, Monday through Friday, at 9:25 am and 12:15 pm on Radio Esperanza, 1550 AM or on the internet on www.miradioesperanza.com.
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Behave yourselves, and always remember that tomorrow will bring us a brand new day.
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