Xander Bogaerts had three hits, together with a double and a solo homer, because the Netherlands knocked off Panama 3-1 within the World Baseball Classic in Taiwan on Thursday.
It was the second straight win for the Dutch, who opened with a 4-2 over Cuba on Wednesday. Panama was coming off a 12-5 win over Taiwan.
Those 4 groups plus Italy comprise Pool A of the match. The prime two groups in every of the 5 teams advance to the quarterfinals, which can be performed March 15-16 in Tokyo and March 17-18 in Miami. The semifinals (March 19-20) and the ultimate (March 21) will all be held in Miami.
Bogaerts, who’s starting his first season with the San Diego Padres after 10 with the Boston Red Sox, homered within the third inning off the Los Angeles Angels’ Jaime Barria to offer the Netherlands a 1-0 lead. Jurickson Profar’s solo shot within the fifth elevated the result in 2-0.
Winning pitcher Shairon Martis (1-0) allowed three hits in 3 1/3 scoreless innings. He struck out 4 and walked two. Barria (0-1) surrendered one run on 4 hits and two walks in 2 2/3 innings. He fanned one.
Australia 8, South Korea 7
Robbie Glendinning hit a go-ahead, three-run homer within the seventh inning, Robbie Perkins added a three-run shot within the eighth and Australia held on to beat South Korea within the opener of Pool B at Tokyo.
Glendinning is an infielder within the Kansas City Royals’ farm system. Perkins performs catcher for the Canberra Cavalry in Australia. Josh Guyer, a right-hander with the Sydney Blue Sox in Australia, pitched a scoreless ninth inning for the save.
Catcher Euiji Yang socked a three-run dwelling run for South Korea.
The different groups in Pool B, which can be performed totally in Tokyo, are Japan, China and the Czech Republic.
–Field Level Media