Dutch shock Dominican Republic

Ponson, 'pen help Netherlands make early unearned runs stick

By Will Gonzalez / Special to MLB.com

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SAN JUAN, P.R. -- Netherlands manager Rod Delmonico credited his whole team for the 3-2 upset it pulled off against the Dominican Republic on Saturday in Game 1 of Pool D play in the World Baseball Classic.

"I am really proud of my guys today," Delmonico said. "We were ready to play. We came and were aggressive offensively, and our pitching staff did a phenomenal job, especially out of the bullpen. We were aggressive in the zone."

Netherlands starter Sidney Ponson was not spectacular, but he held the Dominicans down long enough for the Dutch. He scattered five hits and three walks over four-plus innings, yet he was responsible for only two earned runs. One of the runs came on a home run by Dominican third baseman Miguel Tejada in the fourth inning. The other was attributed to him after he left the game with Miguel Olivo on second base and Willy Taveras on first. Olivo scored on a sacrifice fly by Hanley Ramirez off reliever Alexander Smit, who faced only three batters.

"It wasn't easy because those guys know me," said Ponson, who is looking for a Major League job. "I know them. It was a game of cat and mouse today. To tell you the truth, I got lucky today a couple of times, because I threw the ball down the middle and these guys got a couple of ground balls. There were some key double plays. I would rather be lucky than good sometimes. Today, I was lucky."

One of those double plays occurred in the fifth inning, when Rob Cordemans came in to relieve Smit after Smit allowed a Robinson Cano single, a Ramirez sacrifice fly, and an intentional walk David Ortiz to put runners on first and second.

Cordemans induced Tejada to hit into the double play with the help of spectacular defense from third baseman Yurendell de Caster, who scooped up a hard ground ball from Tejada's bat, pivoted off third base to force out the runner coming from second, and threw across the diamond to catch Tejada and complete the inning-ending double play.

Cordemans walked a tight rope in his 2 2/3 innings of relief, but he never let The Netherlands' lead fall. He retired Tejada again in the seventh to end the inning with two men on base, when Tejada hit a fly ball to center after Ramirez hit a single to right and Ortiz walked.

Cordemans credited the Dominicans' unfamiliarity with him and his fellow relievers for The Netherlands' bullpen's success.

"It helped big time, because we have never really faced them," Cordemans said. "I have never faced them. I don't throw 90 mph, so I have got to put something else in there -- changeups."

Leon Boyd, the man Delmonico entrusted to close the game, agreed with Cordemans.

"I guess we gave them something that looked a little different," said the right-handed submariner. "This is the first time that I ever closed. I am normally a starter."

Boyd closed the game against the top of the Dominican order. He walked the first batter, Taveras, but retired Cano with a grounder to second.

Netherlands catcher Kenley Jansen caught Taveras trying to steal third base for the second out. Boyd then walked Ramirez, but struck out Jose Bautista, thereby sealing the victory for the Netherlands.

"This feels good," said Delmonico. "It is a great moment for us, because it was able to be played on TV in The Netherlands and Curacao, and so a lot of people back home were able to watch the game."

Delmonico announced that Florida Marlins prospect Rick VandenHurk would start the next game for the Netherlands. That game will take place on Monday, at 6:30 p.m. ET, and will pit the Dutch against the winner of the Saturday evening game between Panama and Puerto Rico.

"We are just starting the tournament. Our goal now is to get to Miami. It has been," said Delmonico, referring to the site of the second round of the Classic. "So we have to focus on enjoying this now. Whoever wins after tonight, we have to focus on them tomorrow in practice and get ready for Monday."

Will Gonzalez is a contributor for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.