Win-or-go-home matchup awaits P.R. and D.R. (7 p.m. ET, FS1)
MIAMI — Geographically, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic are neighbors within the Caribbean. Culturally, the 2 islands share a ton of similarities.
Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic share a number of the identical slang phrases. The meals is essentially the most related of any of the international locations within the Caribbean. The related style in music has helped the 2 international locations come nearer through the years.
But it’s the eagerness for sports activities — particularly baseball — that unites the 2 international locations most. That ardour for baseball is what makes matchups between the 2 islands a must-watch sport each time they face off towards one another.
And there maybe has by no means been a extra anticipated matchup between the 2 rivals than Wednesday’s sport, which is able to determine which group strikes on to the quarterfinals and which group bows out of the match a lot sooner than anyone anticipated.
“Both teams are loud. We’re both from the Caribbean, and we love playing baseball,” mentioned Dominican heart fielder Julio Rodríguez. “I think it’s going to be an exciting game, and both teams are going to go out there and give a show for their fans. I’m excited to play tomorrow.”
Rodríguez is correct. Both fan bases can be extraordinarily loud. The ambiance at loanDepot park can be not like something most individuals have seen. Players have in contrast it to a Game 7 within the World Series however with much more ardour. It can be baseball in its purest type.
“For us, [this has] been the most important game of the tournament,” Puerto Rico supervisor Yadier Molina mentioned. “We are going to be ready for that.”
Here is every part else you want to find out about Wednesday’s matchup:
How you possibly can watch: The sport between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic can be stay on FS1. Games can be found on FOX, FS1, FS2 or FOX Deportes, and each sport might be streamed on-line within the FOX Sports App. For worldwide viewing choices, click on right here.
How you possibly can hear: Live audio protection of all video games can be carried on Sirius XM, TuneIn, MLB.com and within the MLB App.
What’s at stake: The 20 groups have been positioned in 4 swimming pools of 5 groups for the primary spherical of the 2023 World Baseball Classic, with every group taking part in the others in its pool as soon as every and the groups with the 2 greatest data in every pool on the finish of this spherical advancing to the knockout stage. Both Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic have a 2-1 document in pool play. The different groups in Pool D are Nicaragua, Venezuela and Israel.
Matchup historical past: Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic have loads of historical past within the WBC. The D.R. has the slight edge over P.R., successful three of the previous 5 conferences between the 2 rivals.
Puerto Rico did get the most effective of the Dominican Republic, 7-1, of their first assembly within the inaugural WBC. In 2013, nonetheless, the D.R. avenged that loss — and extra — by beating Puerto Rico thrice within the match, together with a 3-0 win within the championship sport to cap off the one undefeated run in Classic historical past.
In 2017, Puerto Rico punched again, beating the Dominicans, 3-1, within the second spherical of the match. With loaded rosters on each side, the sixth chapter of this rivalry has all of the makings of being the most effective one but.
Francisco Lindor, SS, Puerto Rico: When Lindor goes, so does the remainder of the offense. Lindor has hit safely in all three of Puerto Rico’s video games this match, they usually’ll be leaning on him but once more on Wednesday.
Manny Machado, 3B, Dominican Republic: Machado loves carrying the Dominican Republic’s jersey, and he’s displaying out as soon as once more within the 2023 WBC. His 437-foot blast on Tuesday gave him three profession homers within the Classic. If Machado hits his fourth on Wednesday, it simply is perhaps the increase the D.R. wants to maneuver on to the quarterfinals.
