WBC 2017: USA tops Colombia in 10; Puerto Rico KOs Venezuela

The United States and Puerto Rico earned wins in their opening games of the World Baseball Classic.  World No. 2 USA needed 10 innings to defeat No. 19 Colombia, 3-2, while No. 12 Puerto Rico only needed 7 innings to beat No. 7 Venezuela, 11-0.

Baltimore Orioles center fielder Adam Jones’s RBI single in the bottom of the 10th gave the U.S. the high-pressured victory and erased a dominating performance by Colombia starter Jose Quintana (Chicago White Sox – MLB), who had a no-hitter through 5.2 innings at Miami Marlins Park.

Puerto Rico’s T.J. Rivera (N.Y. Mets – MLB) blasted a 2-run homer in the 7th inning to enact the 10-run ‘mercy rule’ against Venezuela, while Mets teammate Seth Lugo (5.1 IP, 1 H, 3K) was credited with the victory in Jalisco, Mexico.

.@seth_lugo is going STRONG for Puerto Rico, who lead Venezuela, 2-0 in the 5th. #WBC2017 pic.twitter.com/123r5NCZhM

— WBC Baseball (@WBCBaseball) March 11, 2017