The Netherlands came back from a two run eighth-inning deficit and upset Cuba 7-6 to advance to the semi finals of the World Baseball Classic. The Netherlands becomes the first European team to reach the final four advancing with defending champion Japan. Cuba, was top-ranked team in the IBAF (International Baseball Federation).
Cuba took a 6-4 lead in the top of the eighth, but Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons came through with a two-run homer to tie the game for the Dutch in the bottom of the eighth. In the bottom of the ninth, Andruw Jones reached on an error with one out. Curt Smith and Red Sox prospect Xander Bogaerts then singled to load the bases before Kalian Sams hit a sacrifice fly to plate Jones and win the game.
“This game will go down as the biggest game in Dutch history,” Netherlands manager Hensley Muelens said. “To come back like that after being down in the eighth is amazing.”
All semi final games will be in San Francisco on March 17-18. they will be joined by two teams from among the United States, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Italy.
