WBC 2013: Puerto Rico Beats Japan To Advance To Title Game

The surprising Puerto Ricans first eliminated the United States, then took care of two-time World Baseball Classic champion Japan with a 3-1 victory two days later in the event’s first semifinal.

Alex Rios hit a two-run homer, Mike Aviles singled twice and drove in the game’s first run, and Puerto Rico reached its first WBC final with help from the bullpen.

Team Puerto Rico will play in Tuesday night’s championship against either the Netherlands or the Dominican Republic. Those countries meet in the tournament’s second semifinal Monday night at AT&T Park.

Aviles hit a two-out bloop single to center to put Puerto Rico on the board in the first and singled again to start the seventh before Rios hit a towering drive into the left-field seats.  A beaming Rios rounded the bases and reached home to a line of jubilant, jumping teammates eager to celebrate.

“It was a very emotional at-bat,” Rios said. “We’re very proud of what we’ve done. It means a lot for us and to our fans.”

A Puerto Rico team that didn’t even gather as a full squad for the first time until March 4 in Fort Myers, Fla., reached the championship round for the first time. Now, Puerto Rico needs one more win to be WBC champion.